Social network analysis at the undergrad level

[asd]

I think that social network analysis is one of the greatest areas in sociology in a long time. But with very few exceptions, it seems to be a class that is mostly taught at the graduate level (and the only exceptions I've found are ultra elite schools who will have a very different student population than my not so elite employer). I have been thinking about creating an undergrad version at my institution, and wanted to turn to the collective wisdom of SJMF for help. If you have any sort of experience teaching social network analysis, especially at the undergrad level:

- What do you think are important prerequisites? I go back and forth on whether I should have stats, a math class or contemporary theory as prereqs.
- Is there a text book you recommend for undergrads? I want the class to focus on how to do SNA, as opposed to just reading papers showing that networks matter, but I am afraid Wasserman and Faust is a bit too advanced for undergrads.
- Is there any software that is free or very cheap to obtain that is better suited for novices?

[haven't done this but]

You might want to check in with Fabio Rojas. I believe he's done this at Indiana.

Also, I learned on UCINet which I think is pretty basic and very cheap. I bet undergrads could get the hang of it.

[Yup]

You can get a trial version of UCINet for 60 days I believe which should be long enough if you time it carefully. Then you can use Hanneman's tutorial/textbook which is free on his website. Also Pajek is free.

[resources]

Take a look at the comments of this post here:

orgtheory.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/social-networks-for-undergrad/

I've always found nodexl to be very accessible to the novice, and it is free and has a module to plug into twitter.

And while you mention that you've only found syllabus at ultra elite schools, that will generally be the case for most new classes. So maybe try to adapt one of them? Here's princeton's, which seems pretty reasonable:

www.princeton.edu/~mjs3/soc204_sp13.shtml

[yo]

You could check out this class from UVA

sociology.virginia.edu/node/383

Taught by Adam Slez and Simone Polillo