Professor Roger Waldinger
Department of Sociology
UCLA
Hershey Hall 2525
Office Hours, Wednesday 10-12 and by appointment
Telephone: 206-9233

Sociology 151
Comparative Immigration

Spring Quarter 2000
Class meeting: M, W, 1-2:30

This course focuses on the two major immigration waves that have converged on the United States in the 120 years since 1880: the old "new immigration" of the 1880-1920 period, largely dominated by immigrants from southern and eastern Europe; and the new "new immigration" of the post-1965 years, largely dominated by immigrants from the Western Hemisphere and from Asia. The central concern is comparative: how do the two waves differ from and resemble one another? And what differences and similarities can be found as we examine the integration of the immigrants from these two waves into American society?

Level of difficulty: This course is deliberately pitched at a high level, largely because I am a believer in the "Pygmalion effect". This hypothesis, suggested by the title of George Bernard Shaw's play, suggests that students change their behavior to respond to the expectations that the instructor or teacher sets. In a school like UCLA, with its extremely selective student body, there is every reason to think that students are indeed capable of meeting the high standards that excellence demands.

Consequently, this course involves lots of reading, all of it stimulating, I believe, much of it challenging, I am sure. There are two writing assignments, a book review due by the end of week 4; and a comparison/contrast essay, due the last day of class. You will also have to write a take-home midterm and take-home final; the questions in those exams will ask you to synthesize the issues that we will have explored in the first and second halves of this course. Notwithstanding the expected, large size of the class, I will insist that you participate during our meetings.

In sum, this class is likely to be significantly more difficult than the average class at UCLA. But do not lose heart: past experience suggests that my expectations lie well within the reach of UCLA students. And in return for asking you for more, I will try hard to give you good money on the dollar.

Teaching style: The large size of classes at UCLA is a source of frustration for both faculty and students. Large class size impedes the active exchange of ideas so central to the learning process; it makes it difficult for the instructor to assess, prior to exams, whether ideas, concepts, and information are being successfully taught; and it also hinders faculty and students from getting to know one another.

As you will see below, I will do everything I can to overcome the limitations of the large lecture class; I will work particularly hard to encourage discussion and interchange during lectures. My past experience suggests that a participative classroom is far more interesting and enjoyable for students, than one in which they just sit quietly. Since participation gives me a chance to get to know you, it also generates the information I need in order to write effective letters of recommendation.

Readings: Most of the readings consist or articles and chapters from books. I have assembled these in a reader, which can be purchased from Quinx Copies. (QUINX COPY, 1154 Westwood Blvd, 888-824-1441.) In addition, there are three assigned books: