Revised: 1/22/08

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SIRIUS COURSES

Syllabus
Revised: 08/24/09

Introduction to Sociology
3 Credit Hours

Term/Year:
Reference Number:
Classroom:
Instructor:
Office Area:
Phone Number:
E-mail:
Web Page:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course includes a survey of the scope, methods, and concepts of sociology. A range of
topics is covered, including the sociological perspective and methods; socialization; culture;
crime and deviance; social structures, including groups, organizations, and social institutions;
dimensions of social inequality; and social change.

Three contact hours. (CBE) A.A., A.S., A.A.S.
THEME: Navigating Sociology
This course draws an analogy between the way an onboard Global Positioning System (GPS)
helps drivers find their way around unfamiliar locations and the way sociologists approach the
study of society. Introduction to Sociology draws on the functions of a GPS such as seeing the
"big picture," navigating and tracking, timing of events, and "zooming in" on details. The GPS
analogy also functions as a guide from one chapter to the next.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
SIRIUS course materials include a book and an online component.
Book:
Muntz, P.A., Melvin, J., & Nortz, C. (2009). Introductory sociology (2
nd
ed.) [Cafe
Scribe version]. ISBN: 13: 978-1-931997-44-7

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LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of every course, students should always reflect on what they have learned and how it
is relevant to life in an information-based society. Upon completion of this class, you should be
able to accomplish the following:

Acquire basic knowledge of the major perspectives, concepts and theories in sociology.
Become familiar with research methods in sociology such as surveys, participant
observation, secondary analysis, and experimentation.
Learn about the role of society in personality development and self-concept.
Become familiar with the concept of social structure and be able to analyze it in groups,
organizations, and social institutions.
Be able to identify and describe the major social institutions in society, including family,
religion, education, government, and medicine; understand the large scale patterns
associated with these institutions.
Recognize and analyze some of the major problems faced by societies, including crime
violence, poverty, racism, sexism, and ageism.
Understand the concept of globalization and how American society impacts and is
impacted by this process.
ONLINE DELIVERY SYSTEM (COURSE PLATFORM)
The online components of the course are delivered in a learning management system supported
by the institution.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Please use the following checklist to determine your computer readiness. You should
own or have access to
Computer with personal access to the Internet (e.g., computer with a modem or cable
modem connection)
An e-mail account
Web-browser software - at least Internet Explorer 7.0, Firefox 3.0, Safari 3.1, or above
Windows XP or higher operating system (or MAC OS X or higher)
Virus-checking software
Word-processing software
Plug-ins including Acrobat Reader and Flash Player and QuickTime
Additional hardware including speakers and microphone
ACCESSIBILITY
If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact your institutions
coordinator for disability services.

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HYBRID/BLENDED COURSE INFORMATION

In a hybrid/blended course, students will meet once each week for one hour in a face-to-face
classroom for small group discussions of relevant topics and for a Q and A session with the
instructor. Course content, threaded discussions, and chat session (if applicable) are all provided
online.

FIRST WEEK OF CLASS

All students will introduce themselves by posting brief bios and a picture (recommended) to the
student homepage in blackboard. Additionally, you should e-mail your professor stating that you
have read the syllabus and student orientation.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

People learn through interactions with each other, with the instructor, and with written, auditory,
and visual learning materials. To facilitate interactive learning among learners and between
learners and faculty, a major goal of this course is to encourage the development of learning
communities--i.e., help learners and faculty get to know and better understand each other. To
achieve this goal, learners and your instructor will post an audio/video vignette or a brief written
bio introducing himself/herself; this will be available online as a part of the first day of class.
You are encouraged to use the Cyber Caf, an online discussion forum for all learners to use to
discuss issues of interest, without intervention of the faculty member. Please remember that you
are expected to be professional and courteous to others when posting to any discussion board,
including the Cyber Caf. You are also encouraged to contact your instructor directly whenever
you have a question that you do not wish to post to the discussion board.

DISCUSSION

The business model of today is for persons to work as teams. To prepare for such activities, all
learners are asked to self-select a team of three-five for discussions and to complete the final
course project as described below.

One question is scheduled for each topic area. In all formal discussions, first post an answer to
the discussion question. Then read the responses of your classmates and post an answer to each
response. Learners who participate in discussions are likely to experience a higher level of
learning and retention of the information contained in the course. To encourage active
participation in the course, you will receive credit for your contributions to the discussions. It is
crucial that you contribute on a weekly basis--you are not truly part of a learning community if
you wait to make comments until the end of the semester.

Your grade will be based on the thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness of your response.
Guidelines for your participation in these discussions are posted in the opening forum called
"Forum Guidelines." You will be expected to provide responses to the discussion questions in
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correct sentence and paragraph format; you should also check your responses for correct spelling
and grammar.

Sample Discussion: It is said that "money cant buy happiness," yet studies show
that individuals with incomes of $20,000 per year or less are distinctly less happy
than those with incomes in excess of $100,000. How do you explain this
contradiction? Use two different theories to explain your opinion. Read and
respond to your classmates posts.

ASSESSMENTS

The discussion forum participation, quizzes, assignments, and the Capstone Project will be used
to compute the final grade in the course. Quizzes are conducted online as timed multiple choice
tests. Your final letter grade will be determined by totaling the points for all activities, as
indicated in the chart in the Grading section.

CAPSTONE PROJECT

This class will culminate in a research paper that is due the last week of class. This is the final
assignment in this class. Your team's assignment is to select the one aspect of society that you
think will experience the greatest amount of social change over the next ten years and explain
why you think this is the case. This research paper must be at least 3000 words, and you must
include a minimum of 8 current academic sources (sources within the past five years) and follow
APA format. The MLA/APA formats used in the course shell reflect the forms in the most
current editions of the MLA (7
th
ed.) and APA (6
th
ed.) style manuals. Please use these formats
as models in all papers and projects within the course since the MLA and APA references in the
book will not be revised until the next edition of the course is published. Please note: you may
not use Wikipedia, any encyclopedia, or any dictionary as a source for this paper. You must
research this topic and express your view on how this social institution/phenomenon will change
over the next ten years. You should submit a detailed outline and draft two weeks before the
paper is due.

Make sure you answer the following questions and include the following information:

What is changing?
How much, how fast, and in what direction?
What are the engines driving change?
What data is there to demonstrate that this change is likely to continue and is occurring?
Why do you believe this topic will experience more social change than other areas/topics
in the next ten years?
Which theory of social change (functionalist, conflict, or symbolic interaction) best
explains this change and why?

Please remember that this paper is a joint endeavor, as you will work as a team. Use your
collective talents to create excellence and not conflict. It is crucial that you each contribute
equally to the success of the project. Your instructor reserves the right to lower an individual
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grade if representative work has not been evident. To succeed at this project, you should do the
following

1. Select a group coordinator immediately. Notify your instructor when you have made this
decision. Please remember that the coordinator should not be responsible for more than
one third of the work.

2. The coordinator shall assign parts of the project to other team members (including the
coordinator himself/herself).

3. The coordinator shall establish due dates for each piece of the project. Team members
will submit their work to the coordinator, who will then compile the parts of the paper.
The coordinator will forward the written paper, the outline, and the PowerPoint
presentation to the instructor.

GRADING

Quizzes (10 @ 40 points each) 400 points
Group Discussion (10 discussions @ 20 points each)
Assignments (15@10 points each)
200 points
150 points
Capstone 250 points
Total Points 1000 Points

A 900-1000 points
B 800-899 points
C 700-799 points
D 600-699 points
F 0 599 points

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CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

Week 1 An Orientation to Sociology
Assignment Introduction to online courses
Send an e-mail to your instructor stating you have read the
syllabus and student orientation
Orienting yourself to sociology
Read Chapter 1: Navigating Sociology: Starting the Journey
Online discussion: Introductions

Weeks 2-3 Theoretical Perspectives: Understanding and Explaining
Society and Social Relationships

Assignment

Read Chapter 2: Navigating Sociology: Three Maps of the
Social World

Week 4-5 Science and Sociological Research Methods
Assignment Read Chapter 3 Navigating Sociology: Science and
Sociological Research Methods

Week 6 Culture, Technology, and Society
Assignment Read Chapter 4 Navigating Sociology: Society, Culture, and
Technology

Week 7-8 Socialization
Assignment Read Chapter 5 Navigating Sociology: Socialization
Week 9 Social Interaction
Assignment Read Chapter 6 Navigating Sociology: Social Interaction
Week 10 Social Structures, Groups and Organizations
Assignment Read Chapter 7 Navigating Sociology: Social Structure:
Groups to Social Institutions

Week 11 Social Control and Deviance
Assignment Read Chapter 8 Navigating Sociology: Crime and Deviance
Week 12 Social Institutions
Assignment Read Chapter 9 Navigating Sociology: Social Institutions
Week 13-14 Inequalities
Assignment Read Chapter 10 Navigating Sociology: Social Inequalities
Submit outline and draft of capstone assignment
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Week 15 Social Change
Assignment Read Chapter 11 Navigating Sociology: Social Change
Week 16 Capstone

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT
JACKSONVILLE STUDENTS

1. What learning management system is used at Florida State College at Jacksonville for the
online portions of this course?
This course is delivered in the Blackboard online course platform.

2. Where do I acquire the required texts and instructional materials for this course?
The book and any other materials you may need can be purchased at your campus
bookstore or online from E-Follett. See the Student Orientation for further information

3. Do I have to have Internet access at home?
The College can provide you with Internet access (no ISP needed). You may choose to
use your own ISP; however, the college's ISP services are free to enrolled students. The College
also has many student computer labs available to students who wish to use them.

4. What if I need special accommodations to take the course?
If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Services for
Students with Disabilities at www.fscj.edu/resources/disabilities/index.html.

5. What dates are critical for Florida State College at Jacksonville students taking this course?
The following dates are critical for this course. The full college calendar for the current
term can be found at http://www.fscj.edu/current/calendar/index.html.

Date Day of Week
Late registration for class
Add/drop period
Class begins
Holiday--college closed
Drop deadline
Final date to withdraw with grade of "W"
Holiday--College closed starting Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Final examination period
Last day of class
College closed _____ ______ through _____ _____

6. How long will I have to wait for a response from the instructor to my e-mail?
Faculty members respond to e-mails within 48 hours.

7. What is proper e-mail etiquette?
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E-mail to other learners and the instructor needs to be addressed in a manner appropriate
to polite interactions.

8. What will help me succeed in this course?
Strong discipline and desire to succeed. You'll need to log in to class often during the
typical week, motivating yourself to meet the requirements for success.

Ability to work well independently. You'll develop the support of fellow learners all
taking the same coursework together, but it will be different than a typical classroom
environment. If you work well independently, your chance of success is higher.

Computer savvy. If you're not familiar with the Internet and e-mail communication, we
recommend that you take a computer enrichment class prior to enrolling in this course.
Faculty assumes you know how to access and send data on the Internet.

9. What are "I" grades and when are they used?
An "I" grade may be assigned at the instructor's discretion upon request by the student to
permit the student time to complete required course work, which s/he was prevented from
completing in a timely manner due to non-academic reasons. The instructor may require
the student to document the request, to assist in the decision. The instructor may choose
not to grant the request. The "I" grade should be considered only when the student has the
potential to earn a passing grade if the missing work is made up.

The instructor shall prescribe in a written agreement with the student the remaining
course work required for completion and removal of the "I" grade. A copy of this
agreement will be kept on file in the office of the appropriate dean. All work must be
completed within the first eight weeks of the subsequent term, unless the instructor agrees
to a longer timeframe extension of time (not to exceed one year). When the work is
completed, the instructor will submit a grade change form with the grade earned. If the
work is not completed within the prescribed timeframe, the "I" will automatically change
to an "F" grade. The student will be informed of the final grade assigned.

To be eligible for an "I" grade, the student must be passing the course at the time of the
request and must have completed at least 75 percent of the course work.

10. What is the Florida State College at Jacksonville Code of Ethics?
Consistent with The Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida, 6B-1.06,
Principles of Professional conduct for the Education Profession in Florida, an obligation to the
learner requires that an individual shall not harass or discriminate against any learner on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status,
handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make
reasonable effort to assure that each learner is protected from harassment or discrimination.

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11. What about academic dishonesty?
Academic dishonesty, in any form, is expressly prohibited by the rules of the District
Board of Trustees of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Academic dishonesty incorporates the
following:

a. Cheating which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or
material with the intent of wrongfully aiding oneself or another in academic
work considered in the determination of a course grade
b. Plagiarism which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one's own
work the words, ideas, or conclusions of another as if the work submitted
were the product of one's own thinking rather than an idea or product derived
from another source
c. Any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not
limited to falsifying records or data; lying; unauthorized copying, tampering,
abusing or otherwise unethically using a computer or other stored information;
and any other act of misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part
of this heading
Any student alleged to have committed any act of academic dishonesty as defined herein
shall be entitled to due process as defined in District Board of Trustees' Rule 6Hx7-2. 18, prior to
the administration of disciplinary action or suspension, including suspension and dismissal.

12. May I repeat this course?
Learners repeat a course in an attempt to improve a grade previously earned. State Board
Rule 6A-14.0301 limits such attempts to courses where a "D," "F," or "FN" grade was earned. A
learner has only three total attempts in any course, including the original grade, repeat grades,
and withdrawals. Upon the third attempt in a course, the learner must be given an "A," "B," "C,"
"D," or "F."
When students repeat a course at Florida State College, only the last grade earned is
calculated in their cumulative grade point average (GPA). However, students with an excessive
number of "W" or "FN" grades and students who repeat courses to improve their GPA may
jeopardize their admission to programs in the Florida State University System (SUS) or other
institutions.