Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: SOC 101-ELPASO Spring 2013
Course Title: Introduction to Sociology
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours
Location and Time: Normal T,W,TR 9:13-9:57
Syllabus: A syllabus is a contract between professor and students. As such, you may hold
me to the following conditions, and I may hold you to them as well. I do not break
contracts. All students who abide to the conditions of the contract deserve a grade based on
their compliance. Equally so, those who do not, do not deserve the same grade.
Introduction:
This course will familiarize students with the basic problems, methods, concepts, and
theories of sociological analysis. It is important that students come away from an
introductory course in sociology with knowledge of how a sociological perspective differs
from and/or complements other perspectives (e.g., psychological, theological, philosophical,
or biological) as well as an appreciation of how sociology compares with various " common
sense" interpretations of the social world. In order to see these differences, it is crucial to
recognize that sociology has a scientific basis. Among the topics to be covered are the
family, religion, education, politics, the environment, deviance, gender, race, and social
change. Particular attention will be paid to the inequality within and between societies.
Catalog Description:
This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of society. Topics include power
and inequality, change, deviance, education, occupation, organizations, family/gender,
religion, and racial/ethnic groups. Students will develop a critical understanding of social
forces. Prerequisite(s): None.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Mary Graham-Buxton, B.S., M.S, Ab.D.
Phone number to contact instructor: 660-1543
Instructor e-mail address, if one: mgrahamb@heartland.edu
Location of instructor's office: ICB 2100
Hours and days of instructor's office hours: By Appt.Only.
Textbook Required: Real World: An Introduction To Sociology, 3rd. Edition, Kerry Ferris
Jill Stein, W.W. Norton
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer: This course fulfills 3 of
the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. This
course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the
IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information
regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for more
information.
Beliefs: This course is intended to provide information regarding issues that affect us and
how we relate to society. Because the information provided in the course includes the cutting
edge of sociological research regarding our society, the students may be able to apply this
information to his/her life.
Academic Discipline: Sociology is focused on the study of human social relationships. As
a discipline, Sociology seeks to explore and explain why humans form the social
relationships that they do, what affects those relationships, and how society's issues have an
effect on us all.
Student Learning: The student’s role in the learning process is to be accepting of
information provided. He/she should have an open mind regarding the information even
though there may information he/she does not agree with. In order to do well in the course,
the student will need to read the required material and attend class. Class time will include
information provided in lecture, not found in the text and will also include activities which
cannot be made up by the student him/herself.
Instructor's Role: The instructor’s role will be to foster an environment conducive to
learning. I will provide the most current information available regarding how people deal
with issues in our society and how those issues affect us personally and globally. I will also
provide classroom activities which will illustrate course concepts and will provide
assignments and test questions which reinforce the retention of the information provided.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes): At the completion of this course, the
student will be able to accomplish the following objectives:
1. Demonstrate awareness and
PS1 –Students can solve
Exams, quizzes,
understanding of the science and
problems based on examples and papers, projects,
research methods developed in
frameworks provided by
writing
sociology.
instructor
assignments and
presentations
2. Apply the basic sociological
CO2- Students effectively
Exams, quizzes,
paradigms – structural functional,
deliver a message via various
papers, projects,
social conflict and symbolic
channels/modalities
writing
interaction.
assignments and
presentations
3. Define, give examples and
DI3- Students reflect upon the
Exams, quizzes,
demonstrate the relevance of the
formation of their own
papers, projects,
following sociological notions:
perspectives, beliefs, opinions,
writing
culture, socialization, deviance,
attitudes, ideals and values.
assignments and
stratification, social structure and
presentations
social change.
4. Analyze the major social
CT2 – Students determine value Exams, quizzes,
institutions such as family,
of multiple sources or strategies papers, projects,
government, economy, religion,
and select those most appropriate writing
education and medicine.
in a given context
assignments and
presentations
5. Identify and offer explanations of
Exams, quizzes,
social inequality while considering
papers, projects,
the relationship to social process,
writing
social interaction and institutions.
assignments and
presentations
6. Examine and explain the impact of
Exams, quizzes,
human relations on patterns of
urbanization and the physical
environment
7. Analyze and demonstrate
awareness of the impact of cultural
diversity in our society.
papers, projects,
writing
assignments and
presentations
Exams, quizzes,
papers, projects,
writing
assignments and
presentations
General Education Program and Course Learning Outcomes:
SOC 101 is a course within the General Education Program at Heartland, and as such,
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. Apply the basic sociological paradigms – structural functional, social conflict and
symbolic interaction.
Diversity:
1. Define, give examples and demonstrate the relevance of the following sociological
notions: culture, socialization, deviance, stratification, social structure and social change.
Problem Solving:
1. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the science and research methods developed
in sociology.
Critical Thinking:
1. Analyze the major social institutions such as family, government, economy, religion,
education and medicine.
Course Specific:
1. Identify and offer explanations of social inequality while considering the relationship to
social process, social interaction and institutions.
2. Examine and explain the impact of human relations on patterns of urbanization and the
physical environment.
3. Analyze and demonstrate awareness of the impact of cultural diversity in our society.
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Developing a Sociological Consciousness
Culture and Socialization
Social Structure, Groups and organizations
Deviance and Crime
Social stratification
Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity and Gender
The Family
Social Institutions
Population and Environments
Social Change
Methods of Instruction: The course will be taught through a combination of lectures,
unannounced in-class group activities, and videos.
Course Policies:
Methods of Evaluation
Exams: There will be five exams worth 100 points each during the course of the semester (for
a total of 500 points). These exams will consist of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and
essay questions. Each exam will have a take-home component that will serve as a “ticket-in” to
the in-class component of the exam. In order to take the in-class exam you must present the
completed take-home exam within the first 15 minutes of the in-class exam.
Unannounced In-Class Group Projects: There will be five (5) unannounced in-class group
projects. Each project is worth 50 points. In order to participate you must be present within the
first 15 minutes of project. The only thing you have to do for these projects is to be present
within the first 15 minutes, and, to be current with the readings.
Paper: There will be an eight to ten page paper written in response to a movie that will
be shown. The paper will be written in response to a series of questions. You will have
an opportunity to rewrite the paper based on my corrections. This paper will be worth
100 points.
Participation/Attendance:
1. You are responsible for the material presented or discussed in class even if you are
absent.
2. Students are expected to attend all classes and participate meaningfully in the
activities each class day. Attendance will be taken each class period.
Extra Credit: None.
Make-up of tests and assignments: There are no make ups for late assignments or missed
class work.
Grading Scale:
There are 850 point opportunities (500 exam points, and 250
unannounced in-class group project points, and 100 points from the paper) available in this
course.
However, you will be graded on 700points.
90% of 700 = A
80% of 700 = B
70% of 700 = C
60% of 700 = D
below
=F
Incomplete: Incomplete will be assigned due to extenuating circumstances and upon
notification to the instructor of these circumstances as soon as possible. Incompletes will not
be considered unless the student has completed over 50% of the course requirements. No
student has an automatic right to receive an incomplete. All incompletes will be considered
by the professor with documentation supporting the reason.
Make-up of tests and assignments: No make-up tests will be allowed.
Required Writing and Reading:
Students are required to read the text(s).
Student Conduct/Class Rules:
ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WILL BE TURNED OFF AND PUT
AWAY DURING CLASSTIME. THIS INCLUDES CELL PHONES, etc.
TURN OFF AND PUT AWAY ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
BEFORE CLASS STARTS. TEXTING ABOVE THE DESKTOP OR
UNDER THE DESKTOP WILL BE PROHIBITED. THERE WILL BE
ONLY ONE (1) WARNING AND THE STUDENT WILL BE EXCUSED
FROM THE CLASS.
1. Do not interrupt other students while they are making a point or asking a question.
2. Do not attempt to carry on a conversation with another student while in class.
Conversation is disruptive to the instructor and other students in the class. If this
behavior occurs, the students engaged in talking may be asked to leave the class.
3. Athletes who must have the instructor fill out grade forms for them during the
semester, MUST approach instructor at the end of class.
4. Any behavior that is disruptive to the class will be subject to disciplinary actions.
Failure to follow the class rules will result in disciplinary action. After a first warning,
students will simply be told to leave the class. If this occurs more than once the student
will be withdrawn from the course.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community
College and is essential to the credibility of the College's educational programs. Moreover,
because grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate
the right of their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest
as a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and
even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have
unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning
cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found
in the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others' ideas as if they were your own. When you write a
paper, create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the
work, except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism
is considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source
5
Paraphrasing someone else's line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it
were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure -on the particular piece of
work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
Specifications for written materials: All assignments are due at the beginning of the class
period. If a student brings in an assignment after this time, it will be considered late and will
be worth only half of the points assigned to that assignment. If a particular assignment does
not have to be typed, the students will be notified in class.
Syllabi disclaimer: The syllabus is viewed as a contract between the instructor and the
student. Any changes in this syllabus will be announced in class. Staying enrolled in this
class will be viewed as the student accepting the course requirements as written here and as
modified (if necessary) in class.
Notice of Cancelled Classes: Cancelled class sessions, for all HCC classes, will be listed
under “Cancelled Class Meetings” in the A-Z Index under “Academic Information” in the
“Current Students” page on the HCC website. To learn what classes have been cancelled for
that day and the upcoming week, be sure to check that website. Also, be sure to check the
last column, which might contain a message from the instructor.
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (PL93-380) allows students to
suppress certain information. See page 189 in your student handbook for further description
of this act. For this class ALL communication between you and the professor MUST occur
one of two ways. They are: 1) Heartland email, or, 2) face to face. If you have given your
password to family members or friends, my advice is to change it if you want the guarantee
of privacy. I will communicate with you via Heartland email only with the assumption it IS
you and no one else. The responsibility for this assumption being met is yours.
Intro to Sociology 101 SEC ELP Course Calendar: Monday/Wednesday 2:00 – 3:15
Week
Topic
Jan15
Jan
Introduction to Syllabus
Sociology and The Real World = Developing a Sociological
Consciousness
Jan 22
Jan
Studying Social Life: Sociological Research Methods
Jan 29
Jan
Feb 5
Feb
Feb 12
Feb
Cultural Crossroads = Culture and Socialization
EXAM ONE Chapters 1,2 3
The Self and Interaction
Separate and Together: Life in Groups = Social Structure, Groups and
organizations
Feb 19
Feb
Deviance = Deviance and Crime
Feb 27
Feb
EXAM TWO Chapters 4,5,6
March 5
March
Social Class: The Structure of Inequality= Social stratification
March 19
March
Race and Ethnicity As lived Experience=
March 26
Constructing Gender and Sexuality= Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity
and Gender
March
April 2
April
EXAM THREE Chapters 7,8,9
The Macro=micro Link in Social Institutions:PInequalities of Race, :
Politics, Education, and, Religion= Social Institutions
April 9
April
The Economy and Work, and WorkingApril 10
April 16
April
Life at Home= The Family
April 23
April
.
April 23
April
Seminar For Paper
Paper Due
Population and Environments
April 30
May
Paper back
Revision due
May 7
May
EXAM FOUR Chapters 10,11,12
Recreation and Leisure in Everyday Life
Creating Social Change: Social Change
May 13
EXAM FIVE CHAPTERS 3,14,15