Course Number:  SOCI 1301 – 02

Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Course Credit Hours: 3; Lecture Hours 3;

Prerequisite: NONE;   Co-requisite: NONE

Course Delivery Method: A variety of teaching methods will be utilized in this class, including some lecture, multi-media presentations, open discussions, and group exercises. Student questions and contributions are encouraged.

INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION:

Name: Professor Boyejo O. Adefuye PhD

Office Hours: MWF 11:00am – 2:00pm; MTF 5:00pm – 6:00pm, and by appointment. Students may schedule appointments during class contact hours and by e-mail.

Contact Information: Office – Room 4  McKinney Hall

               E-mail: badefuye@texascollege.edu

CLASS INFORMATION:

Class Meeting Times: Tuesday and Thursday, at 1:30 pm.

Class Meeting Location: MSBC Room 212

Textbook: Macionis, John J. 2007. SOCIETY: the basics 9^th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson Prentice Hall

Supplies: Course text, Scantron Form No. 882-E, a pencil, notebook, Student ID, Library card

Course Description: An introduction to the scientific study of social factors that influence human behavior. It includes analysis of culture and socialization processes, social interaction, deviance, social stratification/ inequality, race relations, global interdependence, and gender.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

1. Apply the three main sociological perspectives to the analysis of everyday social life.
2. Demonstrate the use of the sociological imagination to understand everyday social life.
3. Describe the impact of social stratification (gender, race, class) on individual life chances.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the reality of cultural diversity and the various effects it has for individuals, groups, and society-at-large.
5. Explain the impact that social structure has on social behavior.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of socialization throughout the life cycle.
7. Judge what are considered to be reasonable criteria for acceptability of social scientific research.

Course Requirements:

1. Class attendance and participation: Response papers are a required component of this course. They involve reflections on materials provided during class time. Thus, attendance can affect a student’s ability to complete these assignments. A portion of the final grade is also based on class participation. Successful completion of this course, therefore, requires regular and punctual attendance of classes since students cannot participate in class discussions if they are absent from class. Absenteeism robs both the absentee and the class of vital benefits of class participation in this course. Class participation in this course means “informed contribution” to discussions in the class. Points will be awarded for “informed” contribution only. For your contributions to be considered “informed,” you must have read the assigned work prior to coming to class. Preparation for class is necessary for your “informed” participation. I will call the roll at the beginning of each class period. If a student comes late to class or is unable to attend class for any reason, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the professor and also acquire notes and other relevant information from a classmate. Students are encouraged to take good notes as the professor will not provide lecture notes. Please do not use a tape recorder in class.
2. Student Comportment: This course often directs our attention to sensitive and controversial topics. The display of maturity and respect for others especially during group discussions are expected of all students and in a manner consistent with a college environment. Always place cell phones on “silent” prior to entering the classroom as disruptions usually distract the attention of the class and compromise the quality of the classroom experience. If you have a pressing need to have a device that is in some way audible and may interrupt the class, please notify the instructor in advance. Please avoid arriving late or leaving early as such entrances and exits can be distracting to others in the course. If you will be arriving late or leaving early, provide advance notice to the professor and be as unobtrusive as possible during your entrances or exits. Laptops, cell phones, and video cameras cannot be used in this class.
3. Grading: There will be three exams and a final exam in this course.                                                                                 

Course Grades

ADA Compliance:

It is the policy of Texas College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This College will adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to students with disabilities (to provide equal educational opportunity).  Students requesting accommodations for disabilities must go through Student Affairs Office.

Withdrawal:

Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from class. Students who fail to attend class, but do not officially withdraw, will receive a performance grade, usually an “F.” The last day to drop a course and receive a “W” is Nov. 18^th, 2008. If you are concerned about your performance and are considering dropping the course, please make arrangements to visit with the professor to discuss your concerns and options. A student has the personal responsibility to drop from classes he/she does not wish to attend. Students must not assume that they will be dropped automatically if they failed to attend classes.

Late Papers/Missed Exams:

Course work must be turned in on or before the due date directly to the professor. Assignments will not be accepted via e-mail.

Academic Ethics:

Texas College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, and/or falsifying academic records.

Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer or internet files, using someone else’s work for the assignments as if it were one’s own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an examination; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.

Religious Holy Days:

Please refer to the current Student Handbook for information on religious holy days and other items on the 2007-2008 Academic Calendar.

Written Assignments:

Each student is responsible for a set of written exercises. Written work must be typed with 1” margins, 12 point maximum font, double-spaced, stapled on the upper left corner, and must have a cover page with the title of the paper, course title and name, assignment number, date due, the student’s name, and my name in that order. No late papers will be accepted, so please plan accordingly.

COURSE OUTLINE

** This syllabus is tentative. The professor reserves the right to make alterations to segments of this course and/or syllabus as necessary.

MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL ASSIGNED WORKS AND ALSO VIEW RELATED SECTIONS ON THE INTERACTIVE CD-ROM AT THE BACK OF YOUR TEXT PRIOR TO COMING TO CLASS.