Seminar, four hours. Application of existing research, and sociological and economic theories to analysis of community colleges. Scholars have employed diverse set of concepts, theoretical frameworks and methods to understand these educational institutions. Examination of this sector of higher education in U.S. through range of qualitative, quantitative, historical, and case studies. Covers economic and sociological foundations of research on community colleges and their missions (transfer, remediation/developmental, adult basic education, English as second language, workforce development, etc.), institutional dynamics and organizational culture, government and business impact, for-profit colleges, social media use among students and administrators, student support and community-building, and effective reform efforts. Letter grading.