Scholars Block III
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AND POLICIES
Sociology 1
Professor P. Price
C352-D; (626) 585-7748
pcprice@pasadena.edu
Theater Arts 7B
Professor J. Hallinger
C252-E; (626)585-7424
jshallinger@pasadena.edu
Professor M. Ireland-Galman
C409; (626) 585-7407
Philosophy 25
Professor L. Rogacs
C313; (626)585-3366
Professor V. Schulz
C423; (626)585-7248
schulz.vanessa@gmail.com
Sociology 1 – Introductory Sociology
Human culture, social order and group memberships. Cultural growth and change, ecology,
population, social institutions; group processes, social control, personality.
Textbook: Macionis, J.J Society The Basics. 10th edition, 2009
Student Learning Objectives for Sociology 1
 Students will demonstrate through original written and/or oral analysis their ability to
identify sociological perspectives (conflict, structural functionalist, inter-actionist) and
apply the sociological perspectives to social events and occurrences
 Students will identify, understand, and analyze social institutions, issues, and social
problems utilizing the three major sociological perspectives.
 Students will demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve and evaluate sociological articles,
journals, books, and other sociologically related materials.
 Students will compare and contrast the experiences and issues impacting minority
groups with that of the mainstream groups in power including issues of race, class,
gender, sexual orientation, deviance, culture, poverty, and global inequality, and social
stratification.
 Students will learn how to think critically (which questions to ask and which questions to
omit) and how to view society through different lenses.
Philosophy 25 – Introduction to Critical Thinking
An introduction to critical thinking skills and techniques of critical analysis in written form. Course
will include applications of critical reasoning skills in everyday situations and seek to develop the ability to
integrate the principles of critical thinking with the techniques of effective written argument. A total of
6,000 to 8,000 words will be required during the semester in a variety of written assignments.
Textbook: Moore, Brooke Noel & Richard Parker. Critical Thinking, Ninth Edition (Boston: McGraw Hill,
2008).
Student Learning Objectives for Philosophy 25
 Apply in written form the tools of critical reasoning.
 Demonstrate the ability to understand the relationship between language and logic, and
recognize and explain propaganda, pseudo-science and stereotyping.
 Distinguish fact from opinion, and knowledge from belief.
 Analyze and evaluate the assumptions and implications of arguments from diverse sources.
 Demonstrate the ability to recognize the most common formal and informal logical fallacies.
 Present arguments and be able to refute poorly reasoned arguments, using a variety of
techniques.
 Construct a well-organized, sustained written argument advocating ideas and positions.
 Distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning.
Theater Arts 7B – Contemporary Film History
Survey of national and international film movements and developments from the 1950s to the present
with special attention given to the influence of Hollywood studios and directors in the world of cinema, art
and ideas.
Textbook: Various handouts and articles (presented to students through out the semester)
Textbooks required in Sociology 1 and Philosophy 25 (both listed above) will be utilized
Student Learning Objectives for Theater Arts 7B
●Identify major movements and artists in contemporary film especially since 1950.
● Assess the relationship between early cinema and contemporary techniques.
●Critically appraise current cinema using analytical techniques.
●Identify and quantify aesthetic attributes of film art as applied to contemporary cinema.
●Identify influence of major historical, artistic and social movements on cinema.
General Block Policies
I
II
III
Attendance
A. Attendance will be taken: excessive absences as defined by college regulations will be
grounds for dropping the class and detrimental to your final grade. Work schedules, scheduled
appointments such as doctor’s appointment, etc. DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXCUSED
ABSENCE. If you decide to stop attending class, it is your exclusive responsibility to drop the
class. Failure to drop the class before the drop deadline will result in a grade of “F” in this
course.
B. If you are tardy, please come in the back door (C333) and do not disrupt others.
Participation
A. The scholars block involves a community of learners. You are encouraged to participate
respectfully and it is important that you withhold judgment if differences occur. Lectures are a
part of the course so active listening is appropriate. Further, asking questions, the sharing
relevant opinions or experiences, making inferences and theoretical interpretations are all
appropriate behaviors for class discussions.
B. Classroom discussion and exercises will be more meaningful if you have read the assignments
and reviewed your notes.
Examinations and Papers
A. Each of the block courses will provide you with a designated schedule of examinations and
paper assignments.
B. Any home work assignments must be turned in on time and no late assignments will be
accepted.
C. Examinations are to be taken on the day scheduled. The make-up policy is limited to
unforeseeable emergencies and a telephone call/email is expected within 24 hours. If you know
that you will be missing the day of an exam, you may schedule with the professor to take the
examination early. Alternate form/ format exams are used for late tests. No more than one late
exam may be taken.
NO MAKE-UP ON THE FINAL!!
D. Some of the block courses may require that you furnish scantrons and or blue books for the
exams. Each of the block courses will inform you regarding the necessities for their particular
class. Scantrons and bluebooks may be purchased from the bookstore.
.
NO TAPE RECORDERS, PAGERS, AND TELEPHONES: THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF OR ON
SILENT ALARM
COMPUTERS MAY BE USED FOR NOTE-TAKING ONLY AND STUDENTS WITH COMPUTERS
MUST SIT IN THE BACK OF THE CLASSROOM.