APPLIED SOCIOLOGY (Sociology 406/506)
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Fall Semester 2005
Dr. Leah Rogne
113 Armstrong Hall
Ph: 389-5610 (w) 625-5546 (h)
Leah.rogne@mnsu.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
MWF 9-11 a.m., M 1-3 p.m. or by appointment. Feel free to call me at home if you need to – I
don’t mind.
COURSE:
Focuses on ways sociological theories, perspectives, and methods can be applied to address
human concerns—how sociologists can help make a better world. Participants learn to use
sociological methods and concepts (such as theories about social structure, social organization,
and social movements) to identify, investigate, and implement solutions to problems of social
organization, social process, and social change. Potential applications include issues
encountered in various workplace and social situations, including community agencies and
organizations, government, business, and health care and other social institutions.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Applying Sociology: Making a Better World, William DuBois & R. Dean Wright, Boston: Allyn
& Bacon, 2001 and Practicing Sociology in the Community: A Student’s Guide, Phyllis Ann
Langton and Dianne Anderson Kammerer, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall,
2005.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This is a participative course that emphasizes student application of sociological insights to a
variety of practical settings: daily life, work life, organizational life, community life, political
life, educational life, etc. After completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the variety of ways sociological concepts can be applied in practical settings.
2. Describe how sociological methods can be of benefit to a variety of organizations
3. Discuss the history of sociology as a practice and service discipline.
4. Describe how their own training in sociology has prepared them to use sociology in
applied settings to address common human concerns.
5. Describe the way sociological perspectives, skills, and methods can be used in a
particular career.
6. Express a passion for social invention.
1
COURSE RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Readings: Readings from the text and other readings as assigned. Readings should be
completed on the day assigned in the schedule, and students should be alert for handouts
or additional readings assigned in class. If you miss a class, you are responsible for any
handouts or announcements made in your absence.
2. Attendance: If you must miss a class, please arrange to get notes, handouts, and any
announcements/changes in schedule from another student. If your grade is marginal, I
may take attendance into account.
3. Class participation: Students are expected to participate in the life of the class. The class
will be highly interactive, and your preparation and participation are essential. If your
grade is marginal, I may take participation into account.
4. Accommodation: Every attempt will be made to accommodate qualified students with
disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in
the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the
Disability Services Office at (507) 389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).
5. Personal Concerns: If there are any personal concerns that might get in the way of your
doing the best you can, there is help available. Contact the Personal Counselors’ office:
located in Student Union 245, phone number 389-1455.
6. Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected. Cheating on exams, plagiarizing
papers, or falsifying information will be addressed according to University policy.
you submit any assignments, please review the policy at:
http://www.mnsu.edu/supersite/administration/basic-stuff/policies.html.
7. Communication: I am very committed to your success in and enjoyment of this class! Feel
to ask questions at any time during class. Please keep in close touch with me about any
concerns you have about how you are doing in the class, any questions about the content
or requirements, or anything that may be interfering with your best performance. Please
see me after class, during my office hours, or call me to make an appointment to meet at a
time that works for you.
2
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Exams: Two exams (mid-term and final) that cover material from the text, handouts,
other assigned readings, and any classroom discussions and activities. Exam cannot
be made up except in the case of a documentable emergency. Please contact me as soon
as you can (in advance if possible) if there is a problem.
2. Insight Papers: Each student will complete three Insight Papers on assigned readings and act
as discussion leaders on the day the assignment is due. Guidelines are attached. Late
papers will be discounted one letter grade per day.
3. Course Project: Students will complete a group course project. Guidelines for the project
will be distributed separately. Any late component will be discounted one letter grade
per day (except for weekly field reports—see below under “Totals.”)
4. Beginning & Final Essay: Students will write a 2-page beginning and a 2-page final
essay on “What Is Sociology.” Guidelines are attached.
Requirements for graduate students include the above plus:
Research Paper/Project: Graduate students should meet with me during the first
two weeks of the semester to identify an appropriate research paper or project. This
is worth 200 points and is due the last day of the semester.
GRADING:
Exams (2 @100)
Insight Papers (3 @ 100)
Project
Beginning Essay
Final Essay
Total:
=
=
=
=
=
=
200
300
400
50
50
1000 points
Total: =
+ 200
1200 points
Graduate Students
Research Paper
Please note: The course project includes eight weekly field reports. Each weekly report is
worth 20 points. If you miss a weekly report, 10 points will be deducted from your total points.
This amounts to 1% of your final grade, which certainly can mean the difference between one
letter grade and another. This grading process is designed to emphasize how important these
weekly field reports are to achieving the objectives of the course. As mentioned above, weekly
field notes cannot be submitted late.
Assignment of Letter Grades: Letter grades are assigned based on the percentage of total
points earned from all course components. A is 90%; B is 80%; C is 70%; D is 60% and F is
below 60%. Note: Any changes in course requirements will be announced in class. Late
assignments are discounted one letter grade per day. In case of an emergency, such as illness
or family responsibilities, a late assignment may be accepted without penalty, but you must
contact me as soon as possible.
3
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Be alert for any changes. You are responsible knowing any changes in assignments or due dates.
D & W=DuBois & Wright; L & K=Langton & Kammerer
Week 1
M, Aug. 29
Introduction to course
W, Aug. 31
D & W, Preface
Speaker: Anna Thill, United Way
F, Sept. 2
Beginning Essay Due
Speaker: Tom Umhoefer, Community Services, District #77
Speaker: Rachel Schott, Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Week 2
M, Sept. 5
Labor Day (no classes)
W, Sept. 7
Straus: Using What? The History and Nature of Sociology (Handout)
L & K, Ch. 1: Introduction
F, Sept. 9
Continue
Week 3
M, Sept. 12
D & W, Chapter 1: Du Bois,A Framework for Doing Applied Sociology.
D & W, Chapter 22: Du Bois & Wright, The Sociologist as Artist
W, Sept. 14
Continue
F, Sept. 16
Sullivan: Applied Research Techniques (Handout)
Week 4
M, Sept. 19
L & K, Ch. 2: Practicing Sociology
W, Sept. 21
Project Teams Meet
F, Sept. 23
L & K, Ch. 3: Exploring Community Cultures
Week 5
M, Sept. 26
L & K, Ch. 4: Recording and Reflecting
W, Sept. 28
Project Teams Meet
F, Sept. 30
L & K, Ch. 5, Doing Field Research
4
Week 6
M, Oct. 3
McKnight: A Twenty-First Century Map for Health Communities and Families
Go to: http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/community/century.html
W, Oct. 5
Project Teams Meet
F, Oct. 7
Projects -- Sociologists of Minnesota – (No Class on Campus)
Week 7
M, Oct. 10
L & K, Ch. 6: Engaging in Social Justice
W, Oct. 12
Project Teams Meet
F, Oct. 14
D & W, Ch. 12: Safety from Personal Violence: Empathy & Listening
Week 8
M, Oct. 17
Mid-Term Exam—In Class
W, Oct. 19
Project Teams Meet
F, Oct. 21
No Classes – Faculty Duty Day
Week 9
M, Oct. 24
D & W, Chapter 5: Connor, Preventing & Resolving Public Controversy
W, Oct. 26
Project Teams Meet
F, Oct. 28
Patton & Sawicki: The Need for Simple Methods of Policy Analysis & Planning
Week 10
M, Oct. 31
Stall & Stoecker: Community Organizing or Organizing Community? Gender
& the Crafts of Empowerment (Handout)
W, Nov. 2
Project Teams Meet
F, Nov. 4
Speaker: Joan Hiller, Sociologists of Minnesota
Week 11
M, Nov. 7
D & W, Chapter 6: Miller, Visions of a New Corporate Culture
D & W, Chapter 8: Rossler & Kiser, Why Organizational Change Fails
W, Nov. 9
Project Teams Meet
F, Nov. 11
Continue: Work & Organization
5
Week 12
M, Nov. 14
D & W, Chapter 13, Bussler & Carey with DuBois, Coming Full Circle: A
County-Community Restorative Justice Partnership
D & W, Chapter 14, DuBois, There Are No Secrets Here: Secrets & Privacy
in Juvenile Group Homes
W, Nov. 16
Continue
F., Nov. 18
Project Teams Meet
Week 13
M, Nov. 21
D & W, Chapter 20: Gunderson, Caring About Each Other: Churches, Public
Health, and Community
W, Nov. 23
Continue
F, Nov. 25
Thanksgiving Vacation – No Class
Week 14
M, Nov. 28
Staudenmeier, Alcohol-Related Windows on Simmel’s Social World
W, Nov. 30
Project Teams Meet
F, Dec. 2
Continue
Week 15
M, Dec. 5
Project Team Presentations
W, Dec. 7
Project Team Presentations
F, Dec. 9
Project Reports Due
Final Essay Due
Graduate Student Projects Due
Finals Week
Final Exam: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
6