Course Syllabus


Print Syllabus
Course ID: SOC101
Title: Introduction to Sociology
Modality: In Person
Credit Hours: 3.00

Course Section Information

Institution: 

Section number: 

Term: 

Start date: 

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Last date to withdraw: 

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Course Materials

Be sure that you have all the necessary materials prior to the start date of your course.

Visit the Bookstore to purchase this text:

Title: Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach
Author: James M. Henslin
Edition: 1st
Publisher: Pearson Custom Publishing
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9780536534828

Rio Salado College has developed a unique Textbook Savings Program that uses customized textbooks and saves students up to 50% off the publisher’s advertised national price of the non-customized textbook. The discount is reflected in the price of the customized book at the Rio Bookstore and no additional discounts will be taken at the register. This textbook is included in the Textbook Savings Program and has been customized specifically for this course at Rio Salado College by Pearson Custom Publishing so that it contains information most relevant to the course.

Software Required for Course: none

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description
Fundamental concepts of social organization, culture, socialization, social institutions and social change.
Official Course Prerequisites
None
Official Course Competencies
  1. Define sociology and explain how it differs from other social sciences.
  2. Explain the sociological imagination and how it operates in everyday life.
  3. Describe the basic theoretical perspectives sociologists use to analyze social phenomena.
  4. Name and briefly describe the importance of selected major theorists to the field of sociology.
  5. List and explain the stages in a basic research design.
  6. Describe and differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods.
  7. Define the basic sociological concepts: culture, society, socialization, social structure, groups, and institutions.
  8. Describe values and norms, including mores, folkways, and laws.
  9. Describe societal and structural factors that can influence individual behavior.
  10. Describe sociological/psychological theories as they relate to the development of the self.
  11. Describe the influence of selected institutions on society and the individual.
  12. Describe the effect of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, and age on social inequality.
  13. Explain major sociological perspectives on social class.
  14. Explain how conflict, functionalist, and symbolic interactionist theoretical perspectives view deviance and conformity.
  15. Describe and explain social change, including the influence of collective behavior, social movements, and demographic factors.

In order to accomplish the above course competencies, you need to demonstrate college level writing skills. A major component of SOC101 is writing. Your instructor will evaluate the essay from one assignment and make an assessment of your overall writing skills. For a resource on how to write college level essays and exams, review the Writing Rubric.

On a standardized test or in a written assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to analyze information, evaluate material, and use inference to draw conclusions, use deductive reasoning, and use inductive reasoning at a college level. Review the Critical Thinking Rubric.

Course Requirements

Course Organization

  1. This course has 11 lessons. It is suggested that you complete at least one lesson and associated assignment (s) each week as you proceed through the course.
  2. You must complete all assignments in the course to get a passing grade.
  3. Examinations: There is no Midterm Exam.  There is a take at-home cumulative Final examination.

Assignment Organization

Multiple Choice: There is a multiple-choice assignment following each lesson (a total of 12). Each assignment contains between 15 and 20 questions worth one point each.

Written Essay Question: There is a short answer essay assignment following the completion of each section. Each assignment contains four short essay questions worth a total of 40 points. Read the Grading Short Answer section below for details about and expectations for the short answer assignment.

Exam: There is a single "at-home" final exam following the completion of Sections 1-5. The Final Exam can be completed at home; you are not required to go to a Testing Center. There is no midterm exam in this course. The Final Exam must be completed to earn a passing grade. The Final Exam is worth 100 points.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Grading Procedure

There are 505 possible points for this course.

Getting Started Assignment = 10 points
Pretest and Posttest = 20 points
Eleven Multiple Choice Assessments = 175 points
Five Short Answer Assessments = 200 points
At- Home Final Exam = 100 points
Total Points Possible = 505 points

Grading Scale

Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) - All assignments and the Final Exam must be completed in order to earn a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F). Students who pass the midpoint of the class and do not complete the course will receive a failing grade. Students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks after the course midpoint will receive a failing grade.

455-505 points = A (90% - 100%)
404-454 points = B (80% - 89%)
354-403 points = C (70% - 79%)
303-353 points = D (60% - 69%)
0-302 points = F (0% - 59%)

Note: The grading procedure for this course is based on the total number of points possible.

The grading scale is administered equally to all students in the course. Do not expect to receive a grade higher than that earned by your total points. There will be no "point adjustments" made for such things as "class participation" or other subjective factors.

here is no "extra credit" available for this course.

Exams

There is an "at-home" final exam required for this course. There is no midterm exam. Because the Final Exam is an "at-home" final exam, there is no in-person requirement to take the exam in a Testing Center.

Sections 1-5 and all multiple choice and short answer essay assignments must be submitted and graded prior to taking the Final Exam.

Please review the following document before taking your exam.

Tips for taking at home exams

The Final Exam must be completed to earn a passing grade.

Final Grade Options

  • Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) - All assignments and the Final Exam must be completed to earn a letter
    grade (A, B, C, D, F). Students who pass the midpoint of the class and do not complete the course will receive a failing grade. Students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks after the course midpoint will receive a failing grade.
  • Extension (in lieu of Incomplete grade) - Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course. Please Note: Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.
  • Withdrawal - Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the “Deadline for Student to Withdraw with Guaranteed Grade of W” indicated in the college catalog.

    Students should not contact their instructor to request a withdrawal. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting maricopa.edu/students or by calling Student Enrollment Services at 480.517.8540 (1.800.729.1197 toll-free). In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by providing Student Enrollment Services with appropriate documentation.

  • Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - not available

Copyright Acknowledgements

Some images used in courses are from collections licensed by Rio Salado College.

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning.  Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service. Also, the How Do I..? Streaming Video Series provides instruction on how to use the online library to find books, articles, ebooks, streaming films, and more.

Please note that when library materials (e.g., articles, ebooks, and streaming media) are integrated into your lesson content , you will see the notation “…provided to you through the Rio Salado Library.

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (including cheating and plagiarism) can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is Academic Misconduct as defined in MCCCD Policy AR 2.3.11. Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Please note that students may be withdrawn from class for non-participation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 or 1-800-729-1197 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

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