PLEASE NOTE: This is a generic syllabus for socl 1133 to be used as a simplified example. It does
not include many details such as test dates, office hours, or daily schedule.
1133 - Introduction to Sociology
Syllabus
Professor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
TEXT: Henslin, Essentials of Sociology, 7th Edition (paperback)
READER: Henslin, Down to Earth Sociology, 14th Edition
Please keep this copy of your syllabus for reading assignments and exam dates on the back.
Required Texts:
Course Description: This course is designed to be an overview of the field of sociology. Sociology
covers many areas including the study of culture, crime and deviance, social stratification and
poverty, prejudice and discrimination, family, education, global population issues, and the
technology revolution. We will not be able to cover any one subject area in as great detail as we
might like. That is the nature of an introductory course. We hope you will become interested
enough to take advanced and specialized courses in sociology, and to have a lifelong interest in
studying and reading about social issues. We also hope that the variety of topics will keep the
course stimulating and informative for you. Our goal is to challenge your traditional ways of
viewing society and to stretch your boundaries of understanding.
This Course Includes the Following Content:
 The application of the scientific method to the social world and the empirical basis of sociology
requiring an understanding of research design, constructing hypotheses, specific methods of data
collection, and the interpretation of results of empirical studies.
 The critical role of culture in human societies.
 The study of small group dynamics and learning how to analyze group processes
 Understanding the role of social structure and social conflict in human societies
 A focus on social stratification and inequality
 An analysis of inequality in society by race, class, gender, age, and sexual orientation.
 The empirical study and theoretical explanations of deviance and crime.
 The empirical study and theoretical explanations of social institutions including the family,
religion, and education.
 Application of sociological theory and research to the mass media in the postindustrial age of
information and consumerism.
 An awareness of the processes of social change, globalization, and demography.
Skills to be Learned in This Course:
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The use of the sociological imagination to understand the connections between individuals and
the broader social contexts in which they live.
The ability to use multiple perspectives in understanding and analyzing social issues and
everyday problems in human living
Critical thinking skills to interpret and analyze multiple media messages at the local, national,
and global levels.
The ability to communicate well in a world of diversity and change
“People skills” in recognizing the needs of different groups and interacting with them as well as
identifying potential conflict and potential resolutions
The ability to recognize and assess inequality in social situations at work and within the
community and existing political structure
Exam and Reading Schedule (The course involves reading all of the chapters in both books with 5
exams and 12 in-class assignments and quizzes which count as an additional exam grade.) Assessments
include those listed on the Core Course Review Documentation.
Additional Information:
Individuals requiring special accommodations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act please
present the instructor with a special Accommodation Request Form from the MSU Counseling Center.
This classroom is a cell phone free environment. Please turn off your phones and put them away while
in class. Come to class on time; it is your job to come to class. If you come in after I have checked roll,
you will be considered absent. You may be dropped from the class if you frequently come in late. Do
not chatter with your neighbors during class. You may not bring food or drink into class. Please be
respectful of one another in the class.
CHEATING: Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances and will result in immediate
disciplinary action. “As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else to do so”
(Midwestern State University Student Honor Creed)