Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Face-to-Face Common Syllabus
Spring 2018
SOC 1113 – INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY
This is an introductory course which assists the student in understanding the social influences on day-to-day life by examining the sciences of human society. Major emphasis is placed on the study of group behaviors.
Type of Course: Theory
Credit Hours: 3; Total hours of theory per semester 3; Total hours of lab for the semester 0.
Class length: Full Semester Prerequisites: None
Instructor Name: Teresa K Cash Instructor Phone: 918-293-4854
Office: NCAT 109G Instructor email:
Contact: My preferred method of contact is face-to-face or e-mail. Please allow 24-48 hours to return your correspondence during the normal work week.
Instructor’s Office Hours: As posted on office door.
Division Name: Arts and Sciences Division Phone: (918) 293-4768
Required Text, References, and Materials
Texts: Sociology, 6th ed. Henslin; ISBN: 978-0-205-99984-2
References: None
Materials: Notebook paper, pen, pencil
Uniform/Tools: None
Estimated Cost for Materials: Current Bookstore cost
Estimated Cost for Uniform/Tools: None
Upon Completion of the course, students should:
Course Objectives / Assessment of OBJECTIVES1. Describe the major perspectives in sociology. / 1. In-Class Exercises, Exams
2. Define the role media plays in developing identity. / 2. In-Class Exercises, Exams
3. Define the role of culture in developing beliefs, norms, and values. / 3.In-Class Exercises, Exams
4. Describe the theories of socialization. / 4. In-Class Exercises, Exams
5. Distinguish among the major perspectives on topics such as crime and deviance, poverty and inequality, and marriage and family. / 5. In-Class Exercises, Exams
6. Describe the role of social movements in creating significant changes in society. / 6. In-Class Exercises, Exams
Course Activities
In this course students will:
•participate in class discussions
•take lecture notes
•contribute to in-class exercises in small groups
•prepare two papers responding to documentaries shown in class
•study notes and reading assignments in preparation for exams
Exams – There will be 3 exams during the course of the semester. Each exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions and will be worth 100 points. Test questions will come from lecture notes, reading assignments, and class discussions.
Group Assignments – There will be 5 group assignments during the course of the semester. Assignments will be given for work in groups, which will demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter and utilize critical thinking skills. These assignments will be given and completed during class and cannot be made up when student is not in attendance, unless the absence is excused. Each group assignment is worth 20 points for a total of 100 points.
Response Papers – There will be 2 short response papers corresponding to films we will watch in class. Following the films, you will be asked to write a short response. Your paper should be at least two pages, double-spaced, 12 font, with 1-inch margins and should discuss the film and provide a response to the content. The films will be pertinent to the study of sociology, social life, social problems, or the economy. These films will be shown in class. If you miss the film you cannot complete the Response Paper, unless the absence is excused. Students who can demonstrate an excused absence will be allowed to complete an alternate assignment. Each response paper is worth 50 points for a total of 100 points. If we only do one paper, it will be worth 100 points. The papers will be due on the date announced in class, and can be submitted using the Drop Box in the Online Classroom, or emailed to me at , or you may print it and turn in a hard copy to me in class on the day it is due.
Grades will be based on the quality and completion of these tasks:
3 Exams @ 100 points each = 300 points
5 Group Assignments @ 20 points each = 100 points
2 Response Papers @ 50 points each = 100 points
Total Points = 500
450 – 500 points = A
400 – 449 points = B
350 – 399 points = C
300 – 349 points = D
299 – and below = F
Student Conduct
Students are expected to cooperate in maintaining a classroom environment conducive to learning. Courteous and respectful behavior will be expected from all students each day. All pagers, cellular phones, iPods or any other portable media players should be turned off. The use of tobacco in any form in University buildings is prohibited.
UNIVERSITY & COURSE EXPECTATIONS
It is the responsibility of each OSUIT student to read, abide by and maintain a copy of the syllabus for this course. Syllabi are available on the OSUIT website.
Students understand that excerpts or portions of their work may be utilized for institutional assessment purposes. The purpose of institutional assessment is for verification of student learning and program improvement. Every effort will be made to keep this information confidential.
MISSED TESTS, Group Assignments, and Films
Attendance Policy:
This class requires full participation in all discussions, assignments, and activities. Regular attendance is essential in order to well in this class. I do not award points for attendance, nor do I subtract points for absences. I do not have a policy whereby I lower your grade by a letter grade after a certain number of absences. You will lower your grade all by yourself if you are constantly absent. It is difficult, if not impossible, to do well in this class if you do not attend regularly.
It is extremely important to be in attendance on the day of an exam. If you MUST miss a test, a make-up exam can be arranged, however, it will be your responsibility to let me know you need to schedule a make-up exam. I will not keep track of who has missed an exam. If you know ahead of time that you will be gone on the day of a scheduled exam, in most cases it will be possible for you to take the exam early.
Group assignments are given and completed during class and cannot be made up when student is not in attendance, unless the absence is excused. Excused absences require that you provide me with proper documentation, such as a doctor’s note, a notice of hospital stay, a funeral memorandum, etc. Dentist and doctor appointments that can be made outside of class time should be the rule. Exceptions are made for specialists and certain types of appointments that are unavoidable. Chiropractic appointments, while important, are not considered excused absences in my class. Chiropractic appointments should be scheduled outside of class time.
The films for our Response Papers will be shown in class. Students who are absent will be required to provide proper documentation of an excused absence in order to be given an alternate assignment.
Extra Credit: I do not provide extra credit assignments.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, each student with a disability is responsible for notifying the University of his/her disability and requesting accommodations. If you think you have a qualified disability and need special accommodations, you should notify the instructor and request verification of eligibility for accommodations from the Office of Academic Accommodations/LASSO Center. Please advise the instructor of your disability as soon as possible, and contact The LASSO Center, to ensure timely implementation of appropriate accommodations. Faculty have an obligation to respond when they receive official notice of a disability but are under no obligation to provide retroactive accommodations. To receive services, you must submit appropriate documentation and complete an intake process during which the existence of a qualified disability is verified and reasonable accommodations are identified. The LASSO Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Noble Center. You may call 918.293.4855 for more information or fax documentation to 918.293.4853.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is neither condoned nor tolerated at OSUIT. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty or misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty and/or misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions: (1) Plagiarism: the representation of previously written, published, or creative work as one’s own; (2) Unauthorized collaboration on projects; (3) Cheating on examinations; (4) Unauthorized advance access to exams; (5) Fraudulent alteration of academic materials; (6) Knowing cooperation with another person in an academically dishonest undertaking. Students are required to actively protect their work against misuse by others. For details, refer to The OSUIT Student Handbook (Student Rights and Responsibilities Governing Student Behavior) available online at http://www.osuit.edu/academics/forms/student_rights_responsibility.pdf.
ATTENDANCE Policy for fact-to-face courses
Attendance is essential to the successful completion of this course, and all students are expected to attend all classes. Attendance records will be kept and reported. The student is responsible for all material assigned and discussed in class, whether he/she is in attendance or not.
A primary component of OSUIT's Mission is “to prepare and sustain a diverse student body as competitive members of a world-class workforce.” Regular and consistent attendance not only aids in academic success, dependable attendance is a requirement in today's real-world employment; therefore, regular and consistent attendance is a requirement in all OSUIT courses.
Definitions: Absent: Failing to attend all or a significant portion of a class or lab session.
- Students may not be marked as absent if missing class for situations such as, but not limited to
- participating in a required university activity such as a field trip;
- fulfilling a military obligation;
- a mandatory court appearance;
- death in the immediate family;
- extreme illness or accident to oneself or immediate family. Instructors, at their discretion, may require proof of such events.
B. It is the responsibility of the student to contact and inform the instructor and/or department in advance of such excused absences whenever possible.
Tardy: Arriving late to class as defined by the individual class instructor. Faculty, at their discretion, may equate three tardies to equal one absence.
Procedures:
Early Intervention
A. Any student who misses 10% of an individual course (or earlier at faculty discretion) during a regular fifteen-week semester, or the equivalent portion of time in a shorter session, will have their name submitted by that course instructor to the OSUIT Early Alert System for retention intervention.
B. At the point the Early Alert is issued, the student must meet with their assigned faculty advisor or designated faculty/staff member within seven (7) academic calendar days for counseling on how to improve their attendance and academic success.
Excessive Absences
A. The University reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student from an individual course who misses 20% of that course, whether excused or unexcused, and, in the opinion of the instructor, the student does not have a reasonable opportunity to be successful in the course.
B. Students should be aware any of the following may impact their financial aid:
1. being administratively withdrawn from a course
2. dropping a course
3. their last date of attendance in a course
Please see OSUIT Policy 2-021 for full details and procedures.
Course ScheduleCourse Outline Schedule / Topic / Assignment / Due Date
Week 1 / Class intro, syllabus, groups
Week 2 / The Sociological
Imagination, Assignment1 / Group Assignment 1 – in-class assignment / Thurs, January 11th
Week 3 / The Founding Fathers, Theoretical Perspectives
Week 4 / Theoretical Perspectives, Culture
Week 5 / Assignment 2, Exam Review, Exam 1 / Group Assignment 2 – in-class assignment
Exam 1 / Tues, January 30th
Thurs, February 1st
Week 6 / Socialization, Crime and Deviance
Week 7 / Theoretical Perspectives on Crime and Deviance, Assignment 3 / Group Assignment 3 – in-class assignment / Thurs, February 15th
Week 8 / Stratification
Week 9 / Documentary “Inequality for All,” Assignment 4 / Group Assignment 4 – in-class assignment / Thurs, March 1st
Week 10 / Paper Due, Exam Review, Exam 2 / Response Paper 1
Exam 2 / Tues, March 6th
Thurs, March 8th
Week 11 / Documentary Films
Week 12 / Spring Break
Week 13 / Paper Due, The Family / Response Paper 2 / Tues, March 27th
Week 14 / The Family
Week 15 / The Family, Assignment 5, Review for Final / Group Assignment 5 – in-class assignment / Thurs, April 12th
Week 16 / Final exam / Final Exam / Tues, April 17th
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* * * This syllabus is subject to change as determined by the instructor. * * *