Mississippi College
Sociology 427AF4 Sociology of Medical and Health Care
Course Syllabus
Rick Parker-Ph.D., Texas Tech University
Course Credit: 3 hours
Course Prerequisites: Sociology 205
Instructor: Rick Parker
Cell phone: 601-953-7060
Email: Parker10@mc.edu
Office Hours: Monday-1:00-4:00pm, Tuesday- 11:00am-1:00pm, Thursday- 11:00am1:00pm, Friday- 9:00am-12:00pm
The most effective methods of communicating with the instructor are in person before or after
class or by email.
Course Description
An analysis of human adaptation to illness and the sick role; the social organization of
healthcare; the socialization of healthcare professionals; patient-professional relationships; death
Course Textbook
Cockerham, W.C. (2012). Medical Sociology (12th edition). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.
ISBN-13: 978-0-205-05418-3. Other readings may be assigned at the discretion of 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. major theories and applications of medical sociology
2. health and illness in society including social stress and lifestyles
3. provisions of healthcare involving physicians and other healthcare providers, and including
Healthcare institutions
4. healthcare delivery systems, settings, and technologies in the U.S. and other selected countries
5. application of medical sociology to the everyday social functioning of individuals, families,
groups, organizations, communities, and/or societies.
Course Rationale
This upper level course is designed to introduce the student to the major concepts, trends, and
societal impacts of medical sociology upon society. The course focuses on the institution of
medical and health care as well as the effects of such upon individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities within society.
Method of Instruction
This course will use a variety of learning activities (e.g., class lectures and discussions, four
written examinations, reflective activities, videos, individual and group activities, chapter
quizzes, etc.) for students to be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the conduct of
medical sociology related to professional practice and personal experience.
Course Topics
Medical Sociology
Epidemiology
The Social Demography of Health: Social Class
The Social Demiography of Health: Gender, Age, and Race
Health Behavior and Lifestyles
Physicians
Midwives
The Sick Role
Doctor-Patient Interactions
The Physician in a Changing Society
The Hospital in Society
Social Stress and Health
Healing Options
Nurses, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists
Health Care Reform and Social Policy in the U.S.
Global Healthcare
Course Requirements
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 cover all chapters; it will be scheduled on the final exam
day of the MC schedule. It is worth 20% of your overall average.
Students will be given penalized for skipping class. A student who misses a class will lose 10
points off of his/her attendance grade. 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. A student cannot miss more than four ADP class
meetings. After four absences, the student receives an “F” in this course for this first ADP
term. If a student misses 4 classes, 10% of his/her overall average is a 60.
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. If a student leaves class after the break period, he or she
will be counted absent for the night. Students have to stay the whole night to receive full
credit for course attendance.
There will be several in-class activities, reflective activities, video assignments, etc. 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.
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 can not understand directions or instructions from Rick Parker through email, the student must then call Rick Parker (601-953-7060) to work out an arrangement in
order to make up the assignment.
Although the classwork/homework assignments will
not count toward a student’s overall average, they will be invaluable as study guides.
Students must complete them in order to study for the tests.
NO test scores will be dropped!! Attendance is 10% of your overall final average!!
Article Review Critique
Students are required to submit an article review critique of an article in Medical Sociology. The
article review has to be approved by me. Once approved, the article review will critique or
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Medical Sociology article. APA citations are
required for borrowed material. An APA Reference page is required also required. The article
review will be approximately 1.5 -2 pages in length, typed, double spaced, Times New Roman
font, 12. It must present a coherent critique of the article. The margins on the paper are 1” all
around. It is due on the last class night. Students can email or give me a paper copy of the
article. I would strongly encourage students to begin writing at the beginning to delay late
papers. This paper will count 10% of your final grade! The article will count approximately
16-20 points. A copy of the article review format will be discussed.
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 last night of class.
Extra Credit
There will be no extra credit in this course.
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
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.
Roles will be taken every hour.
Early Alert System
Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the semester
who may be exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative impact on their
academic progress. These behaviors are often called “red flag” behaviors and include,
but not limited to, excessive absences, poor test grades, and lack of class participation
or evidence of non-engagement. Identifying these behaviors early gives the instructor
the opportunity to raise the “red flag” on behalf of a particular student so that the
student, the student’s advisor. and the Office of Student Success.
These messages are intended to help a student recognize an area of concern and to
encourage him/her to make some choices to improve the situation. When a student
receives an Early Alert message, the student should quickly make an appointment to
talk with his/her professor about the situation. Also, students can make full use of the
Office of Student Success to set academic goals and connect to campus resources.
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. 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
Monday
Syllabus, chapters 1/2
Thursday
Chapters 3/4
Monday
Labor Day holiday
Thursday
Test 1, chapters 1-4, chapter 5
Monday
Chapters 6,7,8
Thursday
Test 2, chapters 5-8;
Monday
Chapters 9/10
Thursday
Chapters 11/12
Monday
Test 3, chapters 9-12, chapter 13
Thursday
Chapters 14/15
Monday
Chapter 16, article review presentations
Thursday
Test 4, 13-16, article review
presentations
Monday
Final exam review- article review pres
entations
Thursday
Final exam review, article review presentations
Monday
Final exam review, article review presentations
Thursday
Final exam