Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences Division
Course Syllabus for Students Spring 2006
Course Prefix and Number: SOC 222
Course Title: Sociology of Death and Dying
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Monday, Wednesday, 2:00-3:15P
Introduction:
This course will examine the significance of death in society using sociological concepts,
theories, and research methodologies. Historical changes as well as cultural differences in
attitudes toward death and rituals surrounding death will be discussed. Also, coping with dying
and grief, age differences in dealing with death, and legal issues regarding death will be included.
Catalog Description:
Sociological aspects of death and dying. Includes historical changes in attitudes toward and
causes of death, cultural diversity in the meanings and rituals surrounding death, coping with
dying and grief, age differences in dealing with death, suicide, funerals, and legal issues
regarding death.
Instructor Information:
Instructor Name: Colleen S. Holtz, B.S.,M.S.
Phone number to contact instructor: 268-8595
Instructor e-mail address: Colleen.Holtz@Heartland.Edu
Location of instructor office: ICB 2100
Hours and days of instructor’ office hours: By Appointment Only
Textbook:
Required:
DeSpelder and Strickland. The Last Dance. 7th Ed. Mayfield.
And the Death and Dying Journey Through the Last Dance: Activities.
Supplies: Textbook required
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
(Indicate if course is General Education/IAI)
This course fulfills 3 hours of elective credit for the A.A. and A.S. degrees. It should transfer to
most colleges and universities as an elective course. However, since it is not part of either the
General Education Core Curriculum or a baccalaureate major program described in the Illinois
Articulation Initiative, students should check with an academic advisor for information about its
transferability to other institutions. Refer to the IAI Web page at www.itransfer.org for more
information.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Upon completion of this course, students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Know the historical changes in experiences surrounding death and how certain
historical events have influenced current death-related attitudes and practices.
Be aware of the impact of diverse cultural contexts on the meaning and
experience of death.
Know the institutional procedures which result from the ending of a life.
Be familiar with the causes of death as well as with the legal and moral issues
surrounding the various causes.
Know the age differences in experiences of death and in coping with death.
Know the principles of a hospice program.
Have acquired knowledge and skills helpful in caring for the dying and the
bereaved, including: being able to choose the appropriate strategy in providing such
care, adapting communication to meet the needs of the other person, and being
sensitive to nonverbal cues.
Methods of Instruction: Grades will be based on participation and attendance as well as 5
exams that will be evenly spaced out throughout the semester. Each exam will cover
approximately 3 chapters each. The final grade will be a paper that will be worth 100 points.
Each exam will be worth 100 points for a total of 600 possible points.
Course Policies:
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
We will follow the guidelines of 90 = A, 80 =B, 70 = C, 60 = D, and 50 = F. Each exam will
be worth 100 points. The total number of points is 800. Class attendance and participation is
critical. Especially if your grade is borderline. We will be doing in-class assignments and
activities as well. There are 5 chapter exams and a paper for a total of 600 points.
Participation (or Attendance):
Students are expected to attend all classes and participate meaningfully in the activities each
class day.
Incompletes: Will only be assigned due to extenuating circumstances and upon notification
to the instructor of these circumstances as soon as possible. Incomplete will not be
considered unless the student has completed over 50% of the course requirements. No
student has an automatic right to receive an incomplete.
Extra Credit: Extra credit is assigned only at the Instructor’s discretion.
Make-up of tests and assignments: Tests can be made up the next class period in the
testing center. If you are going to miss a test…you must let the instructor know ahead of time.
Deadlines: All assignments are due at the beginning of each class period.
Required Writing and Reading:
Students are required to read the text(s) and other assigned materials. Writing will be
required on exams and/or assignments.
Student Conduct: All students are to be respectful of the thoughts, opinions, and comments
of their fellow classmates. Under no circumstance will demoralizing, degrading, or
humiliating comments be tolerated toward other students or the instructor. Any such
behavior will be dealt with immediately and is cause for being expelled from the class. Each
student is expected to be courteous and respectful to one another and to the instructor.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1.
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2.
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3.
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own
4.
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source
5.
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6.
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if
it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of
work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Heartland Library Information
The Library, located in the Students Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist
in locating information.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Center
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at
the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Tutors
are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups, group tutoring facilitated
by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by request. For more information about services
available at each location, please call the ASC in Normal (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center
(815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center
(217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams,
online exams, and exams for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to
complete exams in the Testing Center if arrangements are made with their instructor. For more
information, contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
Specifications for written materials: Your presentation should be 3-5 minutes in length. It
should relate to the topic of Death and Dying and sources used should be cited accordingly. You
may utilize several resources, but do not use all internet sources. It must be related to the
concepts presented in the text. We will discuss the details in class, so be sure that you are in
class to get those.
Syllabi disclaimer: This syllabus is a contract between the instructor and the student. Changes
made will be discussed during class time. That is why it is imperative that you attend class, just
incase there are changes made regarding the course schedule. The instructor holds the right to
make adjustments in the course schedule if it is necessary to do so.
Course Calendar:
Jan. 18: Syllabus Review
Jan. 23: Chapter 1: Attitudes Toward Death: A Climate of Change
Jan. 25: Critical Thinking
Jan. 30: Chapter 2: Learning About Death: The Influence of Sociocultural Forces
Feb. 1: Chapter 3: Perspectives on Death: Cross-Cultural and Historical
Feb. 6: Exam 1: Chapters 1-3
Feb. 8: Chapter 4: Health Care Systems: Patients, Staff, and Institutions
Feb. 13: Movie
Feb. 15: Chapter 5: Death Systems: Matters of Public Policy
Feb. 20: Chapter 6: Facing Death: Living with a Life-Threatening Illness
Feb. 22: Critical Thinking
Feb. 27: Exam 2: Chapters 4-6
March 1: Chapter 7: End of Life Issues and Decisions
March 6: Movie
March 8: Chapter 8: Survivors: Understanding the Experience of Loss
March 13: No classes/Spring Break
March 15: No classes/Spring Break
March 20: Chapter 9: Last Rites: Funerals and Body Disposition
March 22: Critical Thinking
March 27: Exam 3: Chapters 7-9
March 29: Chapter 10: Death in the Lives of Children and Adolescents
April 3: Chapter 11: Death in the Lives of Adults
April 5: Movie
April 10: Chapter 12: Suicide
April 12: Field Trip/Guest Speaker
April 17: Exam 4: Chapters 10-12
April 19: Field Trip/Guest Speaker
April 24: Chapter 13: Risks of Death in the Modern World
April 26: Chapter 14: Beyond Death/After Life
May 1: Chapter 15: The Path Ahead
May 3: Critical Thinking
May 8: Exam 5: Chapters 13-15
May 10: Papers Due
March 13-18 Spring Break
May 10 is the last day of classes
Final exams are May 12-18
Exam 1: Chapters 1-3 = 100 points
Exam 2: Chapters 4-6 = 100 points
Exam 3: Chapters 7-9 = 100 points
Exam 4: Chapters 10-12 = 100 points
Exam 5: Chapters 13-15 = 100 points
Paper: 100 points
Papers should be 3-5 pages in length and cover any topic related to Death and Dying. I will
hand out a rubric grading system so that you will be aware of what I expect your papers to
include. I do require that you hand in an outline with at least 2-3 sources listed at the
bottom of the outline.
Adapted by the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee June 1998
Revised 6/98
Updated 7/1/03