SYLLABUS
Tulsa Community College
FALL 2014
Course: Marriage and Families 2013
Section #: 190-91 Call #: 13184
Start and end dates: 8/18/14-10/12/14
Course Delivery Method: Online
Instructor: Dr. Gay Phillips
Office Email: gay.phillips@tulsacc.edu
Room: MC 514
Office Hours: Room – MC1- 514
Mon. – 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Tues. – 1:30 am -2:30 pm
Wed. – 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Thurs - 1:30 am – 2:30 pm
Course Format: Class Discussion; Video;
Paper; Written Assignments; Exam
Office Phone/Room: (918) 595-8842
TO CONTACT THE DIVISION OFFICE:
Division: Liberal Arts/Metro Campus
Division Phone Number: (918) 595-7118
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on a sociological approach to the study of marriage, families, and
relationships in contemporary American society.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Title: Marriages, Families, and Relationships
Authors: Mary Ann Lamanna and Agnes Riedmann
Learning
ISBN: 13-978-1-111-40154-5
Edition: 11th Edition (2012)
Publisher: Wadsworth/Cengage
TEXTBOOK MAY BE PURCHASED AT: ONLINE OR AT TCC BOOKSTORE - METRO
Used copies are available and renting the textbook can be cheaper through Chegg.com,
Amazon, or the publisher (Cengage.com). If you check the syllabus, you can buy/rent
just the chapters we are going to cover from the publisher. Your textbook is required
and will be used for all assignments and your exam. You must keep up with the chapter
readings.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to—
o Identify and compare sociological perspectives and theories regarding marriage,
families, and relationships.
o Describe social research and research methods regarding marriage, families, and
relationships.
o Describe social processes such as decision making in relationships.
o Describe social structures, institutions, and organizations related to marriage and
families.
o Demonstrate academic writing skills.
o Demonstrate critical analysis skills.
ONLINE COURSES:
If this is your first online course with TCC, there is a Blackboard tutorial (Student
Orientation to Blackboard found on the main website page at TCC) available to learn
how to use the Blackboard system including the Information, Content, and Discussion
Board which will be used throughout this course. Please take the tutorial and become
familiar with the system within the first couple of days of the course starting. We
recommend you access TCC through Mozilla Firefox and not Internet Explorer or
Chrome. TCC Blackboard IT assistance available 24/7, call (918) 595-2000.
What You Should Understand About Internet Classes
1.
2.
3.
4.
Be realistic about the amount of time required to do the coursework
Plan to spend 3 to 5 clock hours per week for assignments
Schedule class time just as if you were attending class on-campus
Turn in your work ON TIME – this will help you from losing points
unnecessarily
5. On-line is NOT easier!
6. Participate actively in the class
7. Use e-mail and the discussion boards to communicate often with your
instructor and other classmates
8. Log onto the class at least 3 times a week (every other day is best)
9. Do NOT fall behind in your assignments
10. ASK for help when you need help
COURSE WITHDRAWAL: The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed
3/4 the duration of any class. Contact the Counseling Office at any TCC campus to
initiate withdrawal from a course ('W' grade) or to change from Credit to Audit. Check
the TCC Academic Calendar for deadlines. Students who stop participating in the
course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have
financial aid consequences for the student.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Email: All TCC students receive a designated “TCC Email/Outlook” email address (ex:
Jane.doe@tulsacc.edu). All communications to you about TCC and course
assignments will be sent to your TCC email address; and you must use TCC
email to send email to, and receive email from, the instructor regarding this
course.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS: General Education courses at TCC ensure that our
graduates gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that comprise a common foundation for
their higher education and a backdrop for their work and personal lives. TCC’s General
Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Engaged Learning, and
Technological Proficiency.
ONLINE CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
The content of this class, like in other subjects, contains opinions and information that
may at times be socially difficult. It is imperative that students respectfully share their
thoughts and opinions. It is expected as well that students respectively listen to the
thoughts and opinions of others. It is expected that students maintain an academic
objectivity to the course material and group discussions as this course involves
academic analysis not just personal opinions.
Presenting an idea or opinion in a respectful manner can be a challenge using an
internet platform when visual and auditory signals are unseen. Therefore it is wise to
consider the “tone” of your comments or questions before you send them.
Miscommunication can occur easily when talking on the internet, particularly for some
of the topics we will be discussing which can be socially loaded. Therefore CAUTION is
advised. Name-calling, rude comments, or jokes will not be tolerated and could result in
your immediate removal from this class. Do not post your discussions or responses to
your classmates using capitalized words as this is equivalent to shouting at people and
is often taken as offensive. Use the name you would use in a typical on-campus course,
e.g. no nicknames, email user names, etc.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary.
Students will be notified of any changes to the syllabus in writing.
EXTRA CREDIT: No extra credit points are available for this course. With the number
of assignments already assigned, your time is better spent fully completing the
assignments listed above.
DISABILITY RESOURCES: It is the policy and practice of Tulsa Community College to
create inclusive learning environments. Accommodations for qualifying students in
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act are available. To request accommodations, contact the Education
Access Center (EAC) at eac@tulsacc.edu or call (918) 595-7115 (Voice). Deaf and hard
of hearing students may text (918) 809-1864.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty (cheating/plagiarism) is defined as
the deception of others about one’s own work or about the work of another. To avoid
plagiarism, reference your material. Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not
condoned or tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa Community College system. Tulsa
Community College adopts a policy delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary
action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the faculty include, but are
not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from classes. In the
case of academic dishonesty a faculty member may:


Require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to
complete a substitute assignment or test;
Record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question;


Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or
administratively withdraw the student from the class;
Record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may
request that disciplinary action be taken against a student at the
administrative level by submitting such a request to the Dean of Student
Services.
INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT: Each student is responsible for being aware of the
information contained in the TCC Catalog, the TCC Student Policies & Resources
Handbook, and semester information listed in the class schedule. All information may
be viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
LIBRARY RESOURCES:
The TCC Libraries provide helpful resources and information for doing sociological
research. See TCC Library website for hours of operation. Remote access (online) to
the library is also available and you can get the access information from any TCC
library. The Librarians are also very helpful in pointing you to the sociological journals
you will need for your research paper. You are paying for these resources through your
fees so I highly recommend you use these resources.
EVALUATION ASSIGNMENTS:
Online Exercises – 50 points each x 8
Quizzes – x points
Research Paper & Presentation – 150 points x 1
= 400 points possible
= 100 points possible
= 130 points possible
----------------------------
points possible
Points/Grade Breakdown (I do not round up numbers, i.e. a 89.99% is a B)
90-100%
A
80-89.9%
B
70-79.9%
C
60-69.9%
D
59.9% & below
F
You can find a Grading Rubric for written assignments that I will use for grading your
assignments. This Rubric is posted as a separate file under the Information section of
Blackboard.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP WORK:
Students are expected to complete their assignments on the day they are due. If you
miss a deadline (except for the exam) you can still post your assignment, however,
points will be automatically deducted at 15% per week prior to the assignment being
graded. All late assignments must be posted by October 10th. (see schedule below).