Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students
COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: SOC 222-01
COURSE TITLE: SOCIOLOGY OF DEATH AND DYING
CREDIT HOURS: Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 0
SEMESTER: Fall 2011
DAYS AND TIMES THE CLASS MEETS: 9:30-10:45 a.m. TR
Classroom: ICB 2708
INTRODUCTION:
This course will examine the significance of death in society using sociological concepts, theories, and
research methodologies. Historical changes as well as cultural differences in attitudes toward death
and rituals surrounding death will be discussed. Also, coping with dying and grief, age differences in
dealing with death, beliefs about what happens after death, and legal issues regarding death are
addressed.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Sociological aspects of death and dying. Includes historical changes in attitudes toward and causes of
death, cultural diversity in the meanings and rituals surrounding death, coping with dying and grief,
age differences in dealing with death, suicide, funerals, and legal issues regarding death.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Liz Hoisington
Phone: (309) 268-8579
E-mail: liz.hoisington@heartland.edu
ICB 2119 (inside the ICB 2100 suite of offices, take a left, immediately take another left)
Instructor’s office hours: Monday & Wednesday: 9:30-11:00; Tuesday & Thursday: 11:00-12:00;
and by appointment.
8:00-9:30
9:30-10:45
M
Class
Office Hour: 9:30-11:00
11:00-12:15
12:30-1:45
T
Class
Class
W
Class
Office Hour: 9:30-11:00
Office Hour: 11:00-12:00
Class
R
Class
Class
F
Office Hour: 11:00-12:00
Class
TEXTBOOK:
Leming, Michael R. and Dickinson, George E. (2011). Understanding Dying, Death, and Bereavement
(7th edition). Belmont, California: Thomson Wadsworth.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSFER:
This course fulfills 3 hours of elective credit for the A.A. and A.S. degrees. It should transfer to most
colleges and universities as an elective course. However, since it is not part of either the General
Education Core Curriculum or a baccalaureate major program described in the Illinois Articulation
Initiative, students should check with an academic advisor for information about its transferability to
other institutions. Refer to the IAI Web page at www.itransfer.org for more information.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (LEARNING OUTCOMES):
SOC 222 contains learning outcomes that help students develop proficiency in Communication,
Diversity, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking. Specifically, upon completion of this course,
students will develop an increased proficiency in the following areas:
Communication:
1.
Define and give examples of the major bioethical issues related to dying and death in the U.S.
Diversity:
1.
Demonstrate an awareness of differences in death-related beliefs and rituals across cultures.
2.
Analyze the issues involved in caring for the dying, from the perspective of the dying person
and from the perspective of the caregivers.
Problem Solving:
1.
Analyze loss and grief from a developmental perspective.
Critical Thinking:
1.
Identify the major forms of inflicted death, and explain how they are influenced by current
death attitudes and how they are changing death attitudes and practices.
Course Specific:
1.
Identify and explain historical changes in familiarity with death, causes of death, and body
disposition in the U.S.
2.
Identify the major legal issues concerning death, including the “Funeral Rule,” the role of the
coroner/medical examiner, and probate.
3.
Demonstrate an awareness of the facts about suicide.
4.
Demonstrate an awareness of the history of death education and the current issues in death
education.
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
1.
Studying Death and Dying
2.
Death in the U.S.
3.
Death throughout the Life Cycle
4.
Beliefs about After Death
5.
The Dying Process
6.
Living with Dying, Hospice Care
7.
The Medical Model Approach to Dying in the U.S.
8.
Biomedical Issues and Euthanasia
9.
Suicide
10.
Diversity in Death Rituals
11.
The Death Business
12.
Legal Aspects of Death and Dying
13.
Grief
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
METHOD OF EVALUATION (TESTS/EXAMS, GRADING SYSTEM):
There are 770 total possible points for this course. No letter grades will be assigned to exams and
activities, just points. Grading scales will be constructed at midterm and again at the end of the
semester.
Exam 1: Chps. 1, 2
Exam 2: Chps. 3, 4
Exam 3: Chps. 5, 6
Exam 4: Chps. 7, 8
Exam 5: Chps. 9, 10
Exam 6: Chps. 11, 12
Final Exam: Chps. 13, 14; essay
10 activities (5 pts. each)
TOTAL
Grading Scale:
690-770 (90-100%)
613-689 (80-89%)
539-612 (70-79%)
459-538 (60-69%)
less than 458 (below 60%)
100 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
100 pts.
120 pts.
50 pts.
770 pts.
A
B
C
D
F
EXAMS:
Each of the six “regular” exams will cover two chapters and will consist of 10 essay questions (worth
10 points each). The exam questions will primarily refer to textbook information but may also include
information from videos, guest speakers, or other materials used in the course. Attending class
regularly will help you in answering the exam questions because we will spend a great deal of time
discussing the information from the text.
The final exam will consist of 10 essay questions (worth 10 points each) from the last two chapters of
the text. There will also be a comprehensive essay question requiring you to apply information from
throughout the course to an article(s), worth 20 points, making the final exam worth 120 points.
Make-up exam policy:
If you miss ONE regular exam due to circumstances beyond your control, the points for the exam
missed will be added to your remaining exams (for the final exam, the points would only be added to
the 10-essays portion). For example, if you miss Exam 1, the 100 points for that exam would be
divided among exams 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and the non-comprehensive portion of the Final Exam.
This policy only applies to a maximum of one missed exam. If you miss more than one
exam for any reason, you will not receive points for those exams. No exceptions. If you
run into major problems that cause you to miss a lot of classes near the end of the semester, please
consider taking an Incomplete.
The final exam is required.
Reason for only accommodating just one missed exam: The likelihood that you will have a major
emergency on more than one exam date is very small, and if you do have a series of emergencies or a
major crisis during the semester that causes you to miss more than one exam, you need to consider
either withdrawing from the class or discussing an Incomplete with the instructor (certain conditions
are required for Incompletes). The goal is for you to have a successful learning experience, and
multiple emergencies and/or crises are incompatible with this goal.
ACTIVITIES:
There are in-class activities throughout the semester and you can earn 5 points each for the first 10
activities that you complete. You may earn up to 2 points extra credit for each additional activity
that you complete. The purpose of doing these activities is to encourage further reflection on and
discussion of the material, so effort counts. Activities must be completed in class. There are no
make-up activities.
Midterm Grade:
Your midterm grade will be based on all points possible through Exam 3 (330 points). (Note: If you
have missed some of the first 6 activities, it may affect your midterm grade.)
CLASS CANCELLATION POLICY:
If class is canceled the day on which an exam is scheduled, that exam will be given the next time the
class meets.
DEADLINES:
Every student in this class is required to abide by all of the deadlines as stated in this syllabus. If a
situation arises which causes a student to be unable to meet the deadlines but which
does not meet the criteria for receiving an Incomplete, the student should consider
withdrawing from this class.
The last day to withdraw and receive a “W” grade is November 9
PARTICIPATION:
Attendance will be taken each day except on exam days. Attendance is extremely important:
part of the learning experience involves BEING PRESENT IN CLASS. Persistent tardiness or
leaving early will result in being counted absent.
Learning is best achieved in an atmosphere of open discussion -- students are expected to draw upon
their own experiences, observations, and areas of expertise in making contributions to class
discussion. Please do not feel that you have to share very personal or painful experiences with the
class; but if you do, be assured that your statements will be received with respect and support.
CHILDREN:
Heartland Community College has a policy which restricts all children from attending any class at
Heartland. If you have a conflict between family and academic responsibilities, other arrangements
will need to be made.
INCOMPLETES:
Incompletes are given only in extreme circumstances, according to College policy.
STUDENT CONDUCT:
Although participation in classroom discussion is encouraged, talking while the instructor is talking
or while other students are talking is distracting and will not be tolerated. Side conversations in class
are disruptive not only to the instructor, but also to the other students around you who are trying to
listen. Everyone is spending time (and money!) to be in this class and it should be an enjoyable
experience.
Food and Beverage in the Classroom: There is an official policy of no food or beverages other
than water in HCC classrooms.
Cell Phones: Cell phones should be turned off. Let your phone rest for a while!
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Don’t use electronic devices during exams. Students using an electronic
device of any type during an exam (laptop computer, cell phone, iPod nano, PDA, mini-computer, CD
player, AM transistor radio, Playstation 3 with Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City, Nintendo Wii playing
Zelda connected to a Sony 40" widescreen LCD TV, Roboraptor, Viewmaster Incredibles Telescope, or
anything else not cleared in advance as needed) will be presumed to be using them for cheating and
will face the appropriate consequences.
COMMUNICATION:
You may call my office number at any time and leave a message: (309) 268-8579. Please be sure to
include your name and which class you are in (SOC 222-01) in your message. You may also send emails to: liz.hoisington@heartland.edu. Please use your Heartland e-mail account to send
me e-mails and identify your class (SOC 222-01) in the subject line of the e-mail
message.
HCC Portal
Just a reminder that to access Blackboard, IRIS, and your Heartland Student Email, you will need to
log into myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu.
BLACKBOARD
The class syllabus, calendar, a personal gradebook, and chapter outlines are available in Blackboard.
SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER:
While every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information about this course
within this syllabus, the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this information as needed.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Any questions that you might have about dead bodies are probably answered in the book Death to
Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies?, by Kenneth V. Iserson. This book is available in the HCC
Library.
Death-related books:
Final Exam by Pauline W. Chen (2007). The author writes a very personal account of her encounters
with death, from medical school through medical practice.
The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries by Marilyn Johnson
(2006). This is an entertaining look at the world of writing obituaries. There are chapters on how
obituaries were handled by the New York newspapers in the days after 9/11, the writing of obituaries
for ordinary people who were seen as extraordinary by family and friends, obituaries in four major
London newspapers, and a look at how to write the obituary of an obituary writer. A lot of the
information comes from the author’s interviews with obituary writers. There are wonderful quotes
throughout the book, giving the reader an idea of what makes a great obituary.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (2003). A fascinating book about how
cadavers are used by the living. The author has such a sense of humor that the book makes you laugh,
but it’s also very educational.
Mortuary Science Sources
http://mail3.kckcc.edu/college-support-services/information-services/library/morgue/
This is a great source of Mortuary Science journals. Although you can’t view the actual text for the
articles, you can get the information you need to then look up the article using the Heartland Library
website.
Careers:
http://www.funeralstaff.com/
FuneralStaff is an agency that helps professionals find jobs in the funeral industry and helps funeral
businesses find employees.
http://www.abfse.org/
American Board of Funeral Service Education website has links to higher education programs in
funeral services. The ABFSE does offer scholarships for students in these programs.
Facing difficulties:
If you find that you need help for personal problems, there are services available.
You will find information regarding these services under “Academic Advising” (click on “Personal
Development”) on the A-Z listing at www.heartland.edu
PATH Crisis Center: (309) 827-4005
SOC 222-01 CALENDAR: Fall 2011
MONTH
AUG
SEPT
OCT
DAY
T
DATE(S)
23
TOPIC
Course Overview
ACTIVITY
R
25
Chapter 1: Studying Death & Dying
Activity: Life Clock
T
30
Chapter 2: Death in the U.S.
R
1
Chapter 2 continued
T
6
EXAM #1: Chapters 1& 2
R
8
Chapter 3: Death throughout the Life Cycle
T
13
Chapter 3 continued
R
15
Chapter 4: Beliefs about Life After Death
T
20
R
22
Chapter 5: The Dying Process
T
27
Chapter 5 continued
R
29
Chapter 6: Living with Dying
T
4
Chapter 6 continued
R
6
EXAM #3: Chapters 5 & 6
T
11
Chapter 7: Dying in the U.S. System
R
13
Chapter 7 continued
T
18
Chapter 8: Biomedical Issues & Euthanasia
R
20
Chapter 8 continued
T
25
EXAM #4: Chapters 7 & 8
R
27
Activity: Ethical Will
Activity: Child’s Play
Activity: Beliefs
EXAM #2: Chapters 3 & 4
Chapter 9: Suicide
Activity: Life-Threatening Illness
Activity: Creating a Hospice
Activity: “Make Me Live”
Activity: Ethical Dilemmas
Activity: Suicidal Behavior
SOC 222-01 FA11 Calendar (continued)
MONTH
DAY
DATE(S)
TOPIC
NOV
DEC
T
1
Chapter 10: Diversity in Death Rituals
R
3
Chapter 10 continued
T
8
R
10
Chapter 11: The Death Business
T
15
Chapter 11 continued
R
17
Chapter 12: Legal Aspects of Death & Dying
T
22
Chapter 12 continued
R
24
THANKSGIVING BREAK!
T
29
EXAM #6: Chapters 11 & 12
R
1
Chapter 13: Coping with Loss
Activity: “What Not to Say”
T
6
Chapter 14; Grieving Throughout Life
Activity: Children’s Books
R
8
Chapter 14 continued
FINAL EXAM:
Activity: Planning Your Funeral
EXAM #5: Chapters 9 & 10
Activity: Creating a Funeral Home
Activity: Death Penalty Attitudes
THURSDAY, December 15, 8:00 a.m.
Chapters 13 & 14, Comprehensive Essay