REQUIRED TEXT:

Richard Schaefer, Sociology A Brief Introduction, McGraw-Hill, 8^th edition.  Additional reading assignment will be placed in the Library.

Office Hours:  MWF 10-11:00 AM; TR 10:45-11:45

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The course is intended to introduce you to the field of sociology. Sociologists are primarily concerned with regularly occurring patterns in social life. In other words, we look at how people behave in groups and why we do things we do. In this course you will become familiar with the language of sociology and learn to apply the language to different social problems, issues, and events around you. We will look at such things as:

• Are there social classes in the U.S.? How can you tell what social class someone is from? How does social class work?
• How do people choose their marriage/life partners?
• What are the hidden inequalities of race and gender (even after over two decades of civil rights legislation)?
• What are the causes behind the dramatic increase in female-headed households?
• And, finally, why don't people talk in elevators?

By the end of this course, you will have the tools and the language to take other more advanced classes in sociology and hopefully, know more about the society in which you actively participate. 

EXAMS:

There will be four exams in the course. The exams will be multiple choice and True/False items. 

 

ATTENDANCE:

Classroom attendance is essential to do well in the course. Regular classroom attendance will be taken. The student is expected to be in the class on time and stay for the entire class period. Those who arrive late or leave early are asked not to disrupt the rest of the class. 

 

EXTRA POINTS:

Students attend classes regularly will earn an extra 5 point bonus. Those with more than 2 unexcused absences are not entitled to these points. 

 

CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Students will be required to participate in various learning activities using various sociological concepts. Students will be divided into groups and individuals will participate in these activities as members of different groups. 

READING:

Students are required the complete the reading assigned in the syllabus before coming to the class. Most of the test items will be taken from the assigned reading. 

 

MAKE-UP EXAM:

As a general rule there will be absolutely NO make-up exams. In extraordinary circumstances a make-up may be possible. However, the student must inform the instructor in advance about the intention of making-up the exam; otherwise a make-up exam will be subjected to minus 5 points. 

 

GRADING:

GRADING STANDARD:

TOPICS AND READINGS:

Note:  The Instructor reserves the right to add to, delete from, and rearrange the above course if needed.  

 

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