Mississippi College
Sociology 205A Sociology: An Introduction in a Global Context
Fall 2013, Monday/Thursday ,7:50pm-10:00pm, ADP
Course Syllabus
Rick Parker-Ph.D., Texas Tech University
Course Credit: 3 hours
Course Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Rick Parker
Cell phone: 601-953-7060
Email: Parker10@mc.edu
Office Hours:
Monday, 8:00am-11:00am, Clinton campus, Department of Sociology,
2:00-4:30pm, ADP campus Flowood
Wednesday, 8:00am-11:00am, Clinton campus, Department of Sociology
Thursday, 3:00pm-4:30pm, ADP campus Flowood
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
Ferrante, J. (2013). Sociology: A global perspective (8th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/
CENGAGE LEARNING (ISBN-13: 978-1-111-83390-9); 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 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, 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
concepts and their applications in today’s global society).
Course Topics
The Sociological Imagination
Social Interaction
Stratification
Birth
Theoretical Perspectives
Formal Organization
Race
Ethnicity
Gender
Death Social Change Politics
Course Requirements
Culture
Socialization
Deviance, Conformity, Social Control
Economics
Family
Education
Social
Religion
There will be four non-comprehensive chapter tests given during this semester. Test dates will
be tentatively announced on this syllabus. Each test will comprise 15% of the student’s final
grade. This means that the average of all 4 tests will compose 60% of your final grade.
Your final examination will be test 4; 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 only 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. 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.
The ADP classes only allow three absences; the fourth absence results in an automatic “F”
for this course.
There will be several in-class activities, reflective activities, video assignments, etc. These
assignments will compose 15% of a 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 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.
NO test scores will be dropped!! Attendance is 10% of your overall final average!!
Quizzes- Quizzes count 15% of one’s overall average. Quizzes will be given every other week.
The two lowest quiz grades will be dropped.
Make up Day for examinations
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 exam 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 the 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.
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
Chapters
Week 1
1-2
Week 2
3-4 Exam 1, Quiz 1
Week 3
5-6
Week 4
7-8 Exam 2, Quiz 2
Week 5
9-10
Week 6
11-12 Exam 3, Quiz 3
Week 7
13-14
Week 8
Exam 4, Quiz 4