Publication
Students are encouraged to follow up their research interests in seminars, theses, and dissertations by submitting, with guidance of appropriate faculty members, refined versions of their best efforts for publication.
Participation in Sociological Associations
Graduate students are eligible for membership at a reduced fee in all sociological associations. Membership in the American Sociological Association and the Eastern Sociological Society are especially encouraged. Membership makes available the journals published by the American Sociological Association (ASA), and opens channels of communication about conferences and other activities of interest to sociologists.
In addition to the ASA, students should consider joining specialized groups concerned with their major interest. These include the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the National Council on Family Relations, the American Society of Criminology, the Population Association of America, and various sections within the ASA. Generally, student membership rates are less than the cost the journals which are received as part of the membership.
Each of these associations holds annual meetings promoting research papers and panel discussions, book exhibits, informal discussions, job contacts, and the opportunity to see old friends. Graduate students should be aware of the meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society (held in the spring), the American Sociological Association meeting (in August), and meetings of societies representing special subject matter interests. Graduate students are eligible to present papers at these meetings and are urged to consider doing so. Information about how to do so is supplied to members of these organizations and can also be obtained from members of the faculty.
Graduate Student Participation in Department Governance
Graduate students participate in the meetings of the department and in all standing committees by means of annually elected representatives. Two of these representatives have full voting rights in department meetings. Elected representatives to the department meeting also serve as the student representatives on department standing committees, with the same rights and obligations as the faculty (with the exception of the Promotion and Tenure Committee). The relevant committees are: (1) Recruitment: seeks candidates for positions open in the department and handles preliminary arrangements with such candidates; (2) Graduate: responsible for the administration of the graduate program and for reviewing and proposing revisions in the program; (3) Undergraduate: responsible for administration of the undergraduate program and for reviewing and proposing revisions in the program; (4) Human Subjects: reviews research proposals involving human subjects in accordance with federal guidelines.
