Course Description:

This class is an introduction to sociology, the study of the structures and dynamics that comprise and influence social life. In more simple terms, sociology is the study of society. Unlike psychology, which focuses more on the individual, sociology is more concerned with groups, inter-group relations, social change, social structures, and institutions. However, sociology also sometimes look at the individual, but always in the context of groups. We will examine how groups and organizations affect individuals and how social values and norms are created. We will also look at how media such as television, movies, music, social media, and the internet not only affect, but also reflect society. By the end of the course, you will be able to make better sense of why things are the way they are in the world and you will also be able to look beneath the surface and understand motivations for actions and ideas.

Course Objectives:

• To learn about some common topics that sociologists address, such as race, class, gender, structure, culture, inequality, and deviance
• To learn how to think sociologically
• To understand some of the basic sociological methods and to be able to apply some sociological theory to everyday life and happenings in the world
• To gain a broad overview of the massive and diverse field of sociology

Required Texts:

INSTRUCTOR WILL PROVIDE ALL READING AND OTHER MEDIA MATERIALS.

• Openstax: Introduction to Sociology 2e. OpenStax CNX. Dec. 18, 2019. https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-2e.

Attendance:

Attendance will be taken every class. Please do not be late. After three unexcused absences, points will be deducted off your final grade. For every additional absence after the third, your grade will drop by a letter grade. For example, even if you have made A’s on every exam and assignment and participate regularly in class discussions, if you miss four classes, the highest final grade you can make will be a B. If you miss five classes, your grade will be a C (and so on and so forth). Just come to class.

Grading:

• Class Participation/Engagement/Attendance: 10%
• Short Assignments, Quizzes, Surveys: 50%
• Midterm Exam (multiple choice): 20%
• Final Exam: 20%

Letter Grade Ranges:

97 – 100%:	A+	77 – 79%	C+
93 – 96%	A	73 – 76%	C
90 – 92%	A-	70 – 72%	C-
87 – 89%	B+	60 – 69%	D
83 – 86%	B	0 – 59%	F
80 – 82%	B-

Plagiarism and Cheating Policy:

If you use ANY material written by someone else, you must clearly identify the source of that material. If you use someone else’s words, enclose them in quotation marks and identify the source. If you use someone else’s idea, identify the source the first time you introduce that idea. If you cheat on any exams or assignments or plagiarize any part of an assignment, you will receive a zero for that exam/assignment.