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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOSC 202-3"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Sociology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: James Teasdale
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: Office hours by appointment - email or in class requests
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to the basic concepts and practices of the study of society. Students will learn central ideas such as socialization, culture, stratification, institutions, work organization, gender, ethnicity, race and globalization. They will also learn about how sociologists practice their craft reading about studies of current social issues - inequality, changes in family life, social movements and others - and by carrying out small scale out-of-class research assignments.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course will introduce students to the basic concepts and practices of the study of society. Students will learn central ideas such as socialization, culture, stratification, institutions, work organization, gender, ethnicity, race and globalization. The course is structured so as to allow students to encounter and navigate sociological theories from across the discipline. These theories provide a lens for students to deploy so as to try and understand social phenomenon and help answer sociological questions and problems. This is while being asked to question and test these theories in the 'real world', to develop critical thinking and understand academic approaches as fallible and improvable in of themselves.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be able to both develop and understand concepts and theoretical approaches to the study of
society and to use these in the analysis of concrete and specific social issues, conditions, events and problems. Students will
learn to treat critically the claims of those who make arguments regarding society and social issues, and of those who use
statistics to make claims about social and political realities. In general, students will be exposed to the scientific approaches to
rigorously understanding social phenomena, and to be critical of claims based only on opinion, prejudice or self-interest, without
having carried out reasonably objective research investigation into the issue treated.
Students will, through having led discussion on the readings, develop their skills at critically analyzing texts and explaining their
own views of these to others; they will, through papers develop writing skills; through out of class research assignments, learn to
use electronic databases for research and to carry out simple field research and observation of social activity and interactions.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Sociology MattersRichard SchaefferMcGraw Hill Education978-0-07-782327-6  Ebook  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm 20
Final 30
Midterm Paper 15
Research Paper 35

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1

 Intro: What is sociology?
The Sociological Imagination

Reading: 'The Promise'

Week 2

Origins and early development of
Sociology, major theoretical perspectives

(Durkheim)

Reading: Schaefer Ch.1

Week 3

Continued

(Marx)

Week 4

Conclude origins and early development of
Sociology, major theoretical perspectives

(Weber)

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 1

Week 5

Culture and Socialization

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 2

(Cooley, Mead, Goffman, Adorno) 

Week 6

Social Interaction, Groups and Social
Structure

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 3

(Hughes, Sumner, Durkhein, Tonnies, Lenski) 

Week 7

MIDTERM

Deviance and Social Control
Major theoretical perspectives

(Foucault)

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 4

Week 8

MIDTERM REVIEW

Deviance and Social Control
Labelling Theory, Panopticon and Subcultures

Week 9

Class and Social stratification

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 5

Week 10

Gender and sexuality

Reading: Rajunov and Duane Ch. 1

(Beauvoir, Firestone, Foucault)

Week 11

Race and ethnicity

(Bell)

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 6, Delgado and Stefancic Ch. 1

Week 12

Intersectionality

(Crenshaw)

Reading: Crenshaw essay

Week 13

Family and Social Change

Reading: Schaefer Ch. 8, 11

(Ogburn, Parsons and Bale, Mitchell)

Week 14

Research Presentations and course review

N.B. Although Schaefer constitutes the main text of this course supplementary material will be provided by the professor and in class notes and discussions represent material that can be tested on examinations