Mississippi College
Sociology 205A Sociology: An Introduction in a Global Context
Summer 2012 ADP, Monday/ Thursday ,5:30pm-7:40pm
Course Syllabus
Rick Parker-Ph.D., 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 a world systems theory approach 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: Sociology: A Global Perspective. Joan Ferrante, 8 th
edition, Wadsworth.
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, or-
ganizations, communities and societies of the United States, and the world from the two pri-
mary perspectives of globalization and multiculturalism.
Course Rationale
This is an introductory 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 and multiculturalism.
Method of Instruction

This course will use a variety of learning activities (e.g., class lectures and discussions, six 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 concepts and their applications in today’s global society).
Course Topics
Theoretical Perspectives and Methods: Mexico Formal Organization
The Sociological Imagination Socialization
Sociological Research Social Interaction
Culture Groups and Organization
Deviance/Conformity/Social Control Social Stratification
Family Gender
Religion Race/Ethnicity
Birth/Death/ Migration Education
Social Change Economics/Politics
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 60% 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 10 points off of his/her attendance average. Students must realize that they start off with 100 points attendance average. A student can miss one class, 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 miss one class “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. The maximum number of missed classes for ADP classes is three. After the third absence, students will receive an
“F”.
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 25% 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.
All assignments 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. Attendance and class participation is 15% 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/ Participation iS 15% 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#
Date Topic Chapters
Week 1 Socio Imag 1 (pp.2-27)
Week 1 Theoretical 2 (pp.28-53)
Week 1 Culture 3 (pp. 55-75)
Week 2 Test 1 chap.1,2,3
Week 2 Socialization 4 (pp.76-103)
Week 2 Social Interaction 5 (pp. 104-129)
Week 3 Formal Organization 6 (pp. 130-151)
Week 3 Test 2 chap. 4,5, 6

Week 3 Deviance/Social Control 7 (pp. 152- 179)
Week 3 Social Stratification 8 (pp. 180-211)
Week 4 Race/Ethnicity 9 (pp. 212-243)
Week 4 Test 3 chap. 7,8,9
Week 5 Gender 10 (pp.244-271)
Week 5 Economics/Politics 11 (pp. 272-303)
Week 6 Family 12 (pp.304-331)
Week 6 Test 4 chap. 10, 11, 12
Week 6 Capitalism (Film)
Week 7 Education 13 (pp.332-359)
Week 7 Religion 14 (pp. 360-385)
Week 8 Birth/Death/Migration 15 (pp.386-413)
Week 8 Test 5 chap. 13, 14, 15