Mississippi College
Sociology 205A Social Problems
Fall 2011
Course Syllabus
Rick Parker-ABD, Texas Tech University
Course Credit: 3 hours
Course Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Rick Parker, adjunct
Cell phone: 601-953-7060
Email: Parker10@mc.edu
Office Hours: None by appointment
The most effective methods of communicating with the instructor are in person before or after
class or by email.
Course Description
An interactive introduction to the discipline of sociology that is international in scope and
content utilizing sociological theories to examine the similarities and differences among world
regions that are creating a global society. International topics addressed include social and
cultural theories, socialization and deviance, stratification and inequality, social institutions and
community, and organizational and social change from a sociological standpoint.
Course Textbook
Other readings as assigned by the instructor.
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this introductory course, students should be able to, through successful
performance in class discussions, group and individual activities, written examinations,
demonstrate appreciation for, and understanding of, the:
1. foundations of the theoretical and practical aspects of the field of sociology including the
Structure and processes of society such as organization and socialization;
2. identities and inequalities of society in terms of social class, race and ethnicity, sex and
gender, and generational age;
3. interdependence of such social institutions as the family, the economy and work, politics and
government, the mass media and sports, and religion and science; and
4. discipline of sociology as a contributor to the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and societies of the United States, and the world from the two primary perspectives of globalization and multiculturalism.
Course Rationale
This is a more broadened course to the academic discipline of sociology. The course will focus
on the contributions of sociology to the well-being of individuals, families, groups,
organizations, communities, and societies of the United States and the world from the two
primary perspectives of globalization sociological theories pertaining to social problems.
Method of Instruction
This course will use a variety of learning activities (e.g., class lectures and discussions, five
written examinations, reflective activities, videos, individual and group activities, etc.) for
students to be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the acquisition of basic sociological
conceptual problems and their applications in today’s global society).
Course Topics
Course Requirements
There will be five non-comprehensive chapter tests given during this semester. Test dates will
be tentatively announced on this syllabus. Each test will comprise 10% of the student’s final
grade. This means that the average of all 5 tests will compose 50% of your final grade.
Five tests will be calculated in the student’s overall test average. There is no final
comprehensive examination! Your final examination will be test 5; it will be scheduled on
the final exam day of the MC schedule.
Students will be given penalized for skipping class. If a student misses a class, then he or she
will lose 5 points off of his/her attendance average. Students must realize that they start off
with 100 points attendance average. A student can miss two classes, unexcused, and still
have a “90” attendance average which is an “A” average. However, all absences are
counted “unexcused” except for absences that pertain to MC sporting/school events such as
basketball games, volleyball games, etc. These MC events are considered “excused”
absences. Basically, you can only miss two classes “unexcused” and still have an “A”
attendance average. Students can only miss a certain number of classes according to
Mississippi College’s handbook. If a student misses more classes than the handbook
reports, then he or she automatically receives an “F” grade for this course. Please check
the M.C. handbook for the required number of absences that are allowed.
If a student is tardy, he or she gets counted tardy. Two tardies count as an absence. The
total number of tardies and absences will be combined together to figure a student’s overall
attendance grade. Keep in mind that the MC handbook only allows a certain number of
absences. If the total number of tardies plus absences exceeds the limit, then the student
will receive an “F” for this class.
There will be several in-class activities, reflective activities, video assignments, etc. These
assignments will compose 20% of the student’s final grade in the course. Most assignments
will be worth approximately 5 or 10 points, but some may be worth 20, 30, etc. Therefore,
students need to be in class in order to receive credit. If a student misses a class, it is his/her
responsibility to contact me, Rick Parker, in order to discuss the work missed for make-up credit.
My current cell phone number is (601) 953-7060; my email is Parker10@mc.edu. I can also be
emailed at rick.parker@ttu.edu. I am available any time as I will be checking my email
periodically Monday- Friday and Sunday. I prefer that students send me e-mails, but if email is
not working, then my cell phone is always handy.
There will also be assignments on the MC Moodle website which are required to be turned into
me. These are 10 point assignments that need to be completed and turned into me before each
test that covers these chapter assignments. They are located on the MC Moodle website, and
they need to be completed before each test that covers these assignments. Students can access
the Moodle website and complete these assignments. Each assignment covers a chapter in the
book. A total of 150 points are going to be calculated for these assignments. These
assignments are worth 20% of your overall final average. Students need to complete these
assignments on the day or before the day that the test is administered in order to receive full
credit for them. If they are not completed by the day of the test, then students will lose 5
points off of their 10point assignment.
All assignments, not including the 10 point chapter assignments discussed above, need to be
completed either during class or at the beginning of the following class period. Late work will
be docked 5 points if it is not turned in by the beginning of the following class period. If a
student does not turn in a classwork/homework assignment two days after a class period,
then he or she will not receive credit for the assignment. Students are responsible for
calling me, Rick Parker, or emailing me if they miss a classwork/homework assignment.
He or she must call or email me or call or email another classmate in order to get a missed
assignment. Rick Parker may email an assignment to a student if possible. If not, then the
student must discuss the assignment with me, Rick Parker, in order to receive instructions
about how to complete and make up a missed assignment.
If a student does not call me or email me, Rick Parker, before two days elapse after a
missed class, then he or she will not receive credit for a missed classwork/homework
assignment. If a student can not understand directions or instructions from Rick Parker
through e-mail, the student must then call Rick Parker (601-953-7060) to work out an
arrangement in order to make up the assignment.
Students must understand that if they miss class, they must contact me ahead of time or on
the day that they miss to discuss the missed assignment. The missed assignment is due two
days after the missed class unless prior discussion and arrangements have been made with
Rick Parker, your instructor.
The lowest classwork/homework assignment will be dropped!!! Attendance is 10% of your
overall final average!!
Make up Day for examinations
Students need to keep all pagers, cell phones, ipods, etc. turned off while in class. If students
need to use these devices, please use them before class or after class. Please remember to turn
them off before entering class. If a student misses a test/s, he or she can make it up on the last
day of class. All makeup examinations will be made up on the last day of class, the examination
day.
Extra Credit
There will be no extra credit in this course. Please turn in your classwork/homework
assignments on time and attend class. Please realize that I do want and expect all students
to do well in my course. However, many students do not turn in homework/classwork
assignments on time. As a result, this places extra time/demands on me, yet it is your
responsibility to turn in your homework/classwork. Remember, you have to have all
assignments turned in on the day they are due!
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Mississippi College expects all students to be scrupulously honest. Plagiarism and other forms
of cheating will be dealt with in accordance with the policies of the university. Further details on
the school’s honesty policy are found in the undergraduate catalog, on the M.C. webpage, and in
the Office of Student Affairs.
OTHER COURSE INFORMATION
ATTENDANCE IS 10% OF YOUR OVERALL AVERAGE.
If a student is late to the class and is marked absent during roll-call, it is that student’s
responsibility to inform the instructor that he or she was in class; otherwise the absence will
remain on the roll. A student who is more than 15 minutes late to class will be considered absent.
Instructor Information
Once again, my email is Parker10@mc.edu or rick.parker@ttu.edu. My phone number is (601)
953-7060 (cell).
Disability Services
Disabilities under the ADA are categorized as physical, mental, and learning
disabilities. In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section
504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he or she must schedule an individual
meeting with the Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon
recognition of their disability (if their disability is known they must come in before
the semester begins or make an appointment immediately upon receipt of their syllabi
for the new semester). The student must bring with them written documentation from a
medical physician and/or licensed clinician that verifies their disability. If the student
has received prior accommodations, they must bring written documentation of those
accommodations (example Individualized Education Plan from the school
system). Documentation must be current (within 3 years). The student must meet
with SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional follow up meetings (one mid
semester before or after midterm examinations and the last one at the end of the
semester). Please note that the student may also schedule additional meetings as
needed for support through SCS as they work with their professor throughout the
semester. Note: Students must come in each semester to complete their
Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC student completes fall semester IAP
plan and even if student is a continuing student for the spring semester they must
come in again to complete their spring semester IAP plan).
Student Counseling Services is located in Alumni Hall Room #4 or they may be
contacted via email at christia@mc.edu or rward@mc.edu. You may also reach them by
phone at 601-925-7790.
Tentative Schedule of Topics, Tests, and Assignments
#Dates are subject to change but will be announced#