Renxin Yang, Ph. D.
Professor of Sociology

Courses currently taught at NMU:

SO 101 (Introductory Sociology)
SO 208 (Methods of Social Research I)
SO 372 (Minority Groups)
SO /SW 308 (Methods of Social Research II)
SO 302 (Life Cycle and Social Structure)
SO 353 (Globalization and Asian Societies)
SO 408 (Survey Research Design & Analysis);
SO 495 (FLSA: Social Cultural Studies in China);

Other courses taught include Introductory Statistics (SO 369); Social Psychology (SO 301); Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy and Landscape Painting (UN050/GD989), and Tai Chi (HP 259; HP 295).

Professional Experience and Research

14 years of college teaching experience in the United States and 5 years of college teaching experience in Mainland China. Research interests: impact of critical life events on status attainment; race and gender differences in SES, alienation, self-esteem, and depression. Publications in professional journals include Sociological Spectrum, Race and Society, Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, International Journal of Sociology of the Family, and Gender and Society. Current research interests include globalization and the third world; social transformations in China. Most recent research projects focus on impact of economic reform on marriage/family and women’s status in China. Professional conferences: Since 1993, delivered over a dozen research papers. Majority of these papers were presented at annual meetings of ASA (American Sociological Association), others of PCA/ACA, MWSA, NCSA, BSA, and NACSA, including numerous guest/invited presentations on diverse topics in the local community.

Education Background

Ph. D. Bowling Green State University, 1995
M.A. University of Toledo, 1991
(Post B.A. Certificates: Wuhan University and Shanghai East China Normal University, 1983)
B.A. Jiangxi Normal University, 1982

Teaching and Professional History

1996- current: Northern Michigan University
1994-1995: Bowling Green State University
1985-1989: Jiangxi Normal University

Office: Room 145 Gries Hall
Phone: 227-1120
e-mail: ryang@nmu.edu
Web Page:http://myweb.nmu.edu/~ryang/