SYG2230 - Multi-Ethnic America - Spring 2012-3
Tuesday and Thursday 9:50AM to 11:05AM in room 2314
Syllabus
Instructor: Alejandro Angee PhD
Office: 3506-3 Phone: (305) 237 3180 Email: aangee@mdc.edu Web: http://faculty.mdc.edu/aangee
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 PM to 11:00 AM
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Monday: 3:40 PM to 5:40 PM
Course Description
This course offers a general introduction to the state of race and ethnicity in the United States from a
sociological perspective. A sociological look at the topics of race and ethnicity begins with the assumption that
race and ethnicity are socially and politically constructed categories; however, their effects and implications
carry significant ramifications for members of society. Racial and ethnic categories within the United States
change significantly across time and place and it is a crucial goal of this course to explore the historical, current
and potential implications of racial and ethnic relations in a multi-ethnic America.
In this course, we will explore important theoretical approaches to the sociological study of race and ethnicity,
while analyzing a variety of racial and ethnic experiences and relations within the United States. During the
semester, we will focus on ethnic stratification, prejudice, discrimination, group relations, and the conditions of
ethnic groups that make the United States a multi-ethnic society.
Class Policy for Lecture and Discussion
Class lectures will result from ideas and materials associated with textbook concepts, films, and assigned
readings. Thus, lectures are intended to improve your understanding of the readings and topics covered in the
class. A great deal of classroom time will be dedicated to group discussion; consequently, students MUST
KEEP UP WITH THE WEEKLY READINGS and actively participate in class.

Required Textbook: Parrillo, Vincent, N. Strangers to these Shores. 10th edition
Power Points, Lectures and Class Discussions
Weekly power points are available at http://faculty.mdc.edu/aangee. It is recommended that students download
and print them to facilitate the note-taking process. Because not everything will come from the book, I highly
recommend that you take notes during class discussions/lectures.
Grading Policy and Procedures
There will be 3 exams worth 15 points each. These will be composed of multiple-choice, true and false, and
short essay questions, and will account for 45% of your total grade. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO MAKEUPS FOR MISSING AN EXAMINATION!
There will be 8 homework assignments during the semester. These are worth 5 points each, or 40% of your total
grade. The take home activities are based on the reading that is due for that particular day (usually from the
book or any other reading given by the professor) and are composed of short answer essays. Late activities will
lose 1 point for every day they are late. I will drop the lowest grade.
There will be a collective project worth 10 points. This project is related to genocide awareness; we will discuss
ideas during the semester.
7/25/2016
There will be 5 points for attendance and participation. You are allowed 2 (excused/unexcused) absences
without penalty. Any additional absence will result in the loss of 2 points from the total.
The breakdown of your final grade is as follows:
Item
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Home Work 8X(5pts)
Semester project
Attendance/Participation
Total
Points
15
15
15
40
10
5
100
A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 59 and below
Course/Departmental Policies
 Semester deadlines and important dates can be found at: www.mdc.edu/main/academics/academic_calendar.asp
 Students with Disabilities or Special Needs: Please let me know if you need any special accommodations.
 Academic Honesty: Students that are found responsible for academic misconduct, will be subject to the
Academic Misconduct Procedures and Sanctions outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities
Handbook: www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf
 If You Miss a Class: Please do not email your professor to ask if you “missed something important” the day
you were absent! Surely you missed something important! Please follow your syllabus closely, download the
power points from the website, and call or ask a classmate if you need the notes for that day.
o Please note that I will not take any assignments through email. If you are not coming to class, you must
make arrangements to get the assignment into me, in paper.
 Cell Phone Policy: ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONE USE IS ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM. ANY
USE OF CELLPHONES OR TEXTING IN THE CLASS WILL RESULT IN THE AUTOMATIC LOSS
OF 5 POINTS FROM THE PARTICIPATION GRADE AND MAY RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM
THE CLASSROOM IF BEHAVIOR CONTINUES AFTER FAIR WARNING!!!!
Student Learning Outcomes at MDC
According to the Miami Dade College’s Learning Outcomes website, “Miami Dade College Learning Outcomes
are learning goals that emphasize the lifelong skills needed to be successful in work and life and to participate in
our society as a global citizen.” At MDC, these Learning Outcomes are developed and used across the spectrum
of educational and co-curricular activities that make up the students’ major courses of study (www.mdc.edu/learningoutcomes).
By the end of the current semester, students of this course will be able to:
 Demonstrate knowledge of America's ethnic and racial diversity and how different minority groups have
been incorporated into the American stratification system
 Demonstrate knowledge of different patterns of ethnic relations
 Demonstrate knowledge of how systems of ethnic stratification persist
 Demonstrate knowledge of systems of ethnic stratification
 Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of ethnic-racial relations
2
Semester Schedule
Week 1
1/07-1/09
Week 3
1/21-1/23
Multiethnic America
Introduction to class:
 Review syllabus and class assignments
 Clarify expectations for class and instructor
Who are we and where do we come from?
 Deconstructing Race
Chapter 1. The study of Minorities
 Lecture and discussion
 Why study minorities?
 Film: Al Norte
Chapter 2. Culture and Social Structure
 Lecture and Discussion
Week 4
1/28-1/30
Chapter 3. Prejudice and Discrimination
 Lecture and Discussion
Week 5
2/04-2/06
Chapter 4 Intergroup Relations
 Lecture and Discussion
Week 6
2/11-2/13
Week 7
2/18-2/20
2/12. Test 1. Chapters 1-4 and deconstructing race
 Progress report 1
Early Stages of US migration
Week 8
2/25-2/27
Chapter 7. Native Americans
 Film: Children of the Plains
Week 9
3/04-3/06
Native Americans continued…
Chapter 10. Black Americans
Week 10
3/11-3/13
Week 11
3/18-3/20
Week 12
3/25-3/27
Week 13
4/01-4/03
Week 14
4/08-4/10
Black Americans continued…
 Film: The Help
3/18. Test 2. Chapters 5,6,7,10
Due 3/11
 HW7. Black Americans
Chapter 11. Hispanic Americans
Due 3/25
 Read Chapter 11
Due 4/01
 Read Chapter 8
Due 4/08
 Read Chapter 9
 HW8. Muslim Americans
Due 4/15
 Read Chapter 12
Week 2
1/14-1/16
Week 15
4/15-4/16
Week 16
4/22-4/24
Chapter 8. Asian Americans
Chapter 9. Middle Eastern, and North African
Americans
 Film: Reel Bad Arabs
Chapter 12. Religious Minorities
Test 3. Date TBA. Chapters 8,9,11, and12
3
Due 1/09
 HW1. Who Am I?
Due 1/14
 Read Chapter 1
 HW2. Do we need to study
minorities and ethnic groups?
Due 1/21
 Read Chapter 2
 HW3 “Al Norte” Reflection
Due 1/28
 Read Chapter 3
 HW4 Racial Stereotypes
Due 2/04
 Read Chapter 4
Due 2/18
 Read Chapter 5 and 6
 HW5 Proposal
Due 2/25
 Read Chapter 7
 HW6. Native Americans
Due 3/06
 Read Chapter 10