SYG 2000 – SYLLABUS

SYG2000 - Introductory Sociology (Online) McCoy - SPRING 2017 - 0525

Instructor Dr. Douglas R. McCoy

Home Phone 630/768-4717

Office Phone 630/768-4717

Office Address Home Office / North Aurora, Illinois

Office Hours Tue 10am - 2pm / Thur 10 am - 2pm

E-mail (this is my preferred e-mail address..)

Location Online

Start Date

End Date:

Required Text

"Sociology in Modules" Richard T. Schaefer, 3rd edition

IBSN – 13: 978-1-259-97525-7

Course Description

Sociology involves the scientific study of (1) societies, and (2) human behavior as it is influenced and shaped by group life, social forces, and social institutions. Specifically, the objectives of the course are to help the students: (1) Apply and critically evaluate the usefulness of basic sociological concepts to the understanding and explanation of human behavior, and (2) understand the effects of age, ethnicity, gender, race, social class, social forces, and social institutions on the formation of group beliefs, norms, and values.

Course Objectives

Students should log in frequently to (1) check the instructor announcements and topics for discussion, (2) post replies to discussion topics via the discussions hyperlink, and (3) check the calendar for current assignments. This is a discussion based course therefore you will be expected to post at least three responses to each discussion topic. One of your three required posts can be a response to another student's reply to discussion topics.

The technology will fail at some point so do not panic. Answers to commonly asked questions along with technical assistance are available through the Help Desk eCampus homepage (e.spjc.edu).

Students are expected to follow the proposed schedule concerning exam and research paper due dates. However, this course is a type of independent study course so you can work at your own pace. The course schedule provided in the course calendar is a recommendation that will help you to stay on pace in the course during the semester.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

Dean: Dr. Joseph Smiley

Office Location: Tarpon Campus

Office Number: 727.712.5851

Academic Chair: Douglas Rivero

Office Location: Seminole Campus

Office Number: 727.394.6965

ECampus Web Page Link http://www.spcollege.edu/se/academics/Social_sciences.htm

STUDENT SURVEY OF INSTRUCTION

The student survey of instruction is administered in courses each semester. It is designed to improve the quality of instruction at St. Petersburg College. All student responses are confidential and anonymous and will be used solely for the purpose of performance improvement.

GRADING

Your final grade for this course will be determined by five quizzes (300 points), your DB participation (100 points)and a research paper (100 points) for a total of 500 points.

Grade Scale: 450-500=A 400-449=B 350-399=C 300-349=D 0-299=F.

QUIZZES

Each of the five quizzes (60 points each) will contain 30 multiple choice questions. The five quizzes will be taken online. Each quiz will open as we move forward in the course. You will have until the last day of the course to complete all exams and papers for the course.

QUIZ WARNING

You will have three hours to complete each quiz. After beginning a quiz the clock is ticking and will continue to tick even if you leave the quiz. Therefore, you should not begin a quiz until you have a three-hour period of time specifically set aside for this purpose. If your internet service provider cannot guarantee that you will not be bumped (internet termination), you would be wise to take each quiz either on a computer which will not bump you or at a time of low internet usage.

DISCUSSION BOARDS

I will be looking for active participation in each discussion board. For full credit you will need to post a comprehensive primary response to the primary DB question and then be an active participant in each DB conversation during the course of the semester. I will be looking for 3-5 DB posts in each DB after your initial comprehensive primary response. Please note that I will be posting supplemental questions in each DB as the semester progresses.

***Please note that in order to receive full credit in the discussion boards you MUST post at least 3 times in each discussion board before the final due date in the course***

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/policies.htm . The policy notes that each instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and therefore “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus. For the purpose of this class, here is the SPC attendance policy: SPC requires online instructors to monitor student attendance/participation in educational activities on a weekly basis. Students are required to participate in their online course each week as verified by activity within the ANGEL Learning Management System, such as a discussion board posting, submission of an assignment, messaging your instructor, chat, completion of polls, and quiz/test completion. When you exceed two weeks of unexcused or otherwise undocumented absence, you will either be administratively withdrawn by the instructor if this occurs before the 60 percent point in the term, or be given a grade of WF if it occurs later in the term. If you are in your third attempt at completing a course, you will be given a WF grade at any point in the term that you exceed the maximum number of weeks absent. Excused absences, of course, will not count against you.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Student Expectations and Instructor Expectations Online /Student Conduct http://www.spcollege.edu/ecampus/help/conduct.htm Online Student, Faculty and Staff Expectations and Performance Targets http://www.spcollege.edu/ecampus/help/expectations.htm

Miscellaneous

RESEARCH PAPER

Your grade for the research paper will be determined by how accurately follow the instructions found in the Research Paper Instructions hyperlink on the homepage.

This is a Gordon rule course with a 2500 word minimum writing requirement. Students who fail to complete the research paper will receive an "F" for the course. Please submit your paper via the Course Research section/link on the homepage of this course. Research papers MUST be submitted as WORD documents and uploaded into the course room. DO NOT post your papers in the comment box in the upload area.

Research paper is due on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18th at 8am. There will be NO exceptions for this final due date.