Course Syllabus

 

Course Number & Title – SOC 203 Principles of Sociology

Department – Arts & Sciences

Term – Fall 2015

Professor – Sean Pyle

Professor Information

1. Email Address – sepyle@gmail.com

Delivery – Online

Course Description –    Sociology is designed to study the concepts and terminology relevant to sociological study and analysis.  The research base and methodological procedures employed in sociology are examined to establish the context for further investigation of the scholarly concerns of sociology— subsequent study concerns major facts of sociological investigations reflecting areas which prominent sociologists have considered most important.

Course Prerequisite(s) – None

Student Learning Outcomes – As a result of this course the student will do the following:

1. Examine the social, political, economic, religious and cultural systems in various groups and        societies from a sociological and biblical perspective.

2. Critically analyze and discuss issues related to contemporary society such as racism, classism,     gender discrimination, poverty, and the breakdown of the nuclear family from both a sociological       and biblical viewpoint.
3. Describe the sociological theories of symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism and conflict theory and apply the theories to various social structures.
4. Define basic conceptual terms used in sociology and explain these terms in relation to self and
5. Recognize various historical and contemporary sociologists and describe their key contributions to the discipline of sociology.

1. Recognize biases versus non-biased social methodology and research and analyze research        results.
2. Defend a biblical worldview within a culturally relativistic discipline.

Course Requirements

1. Textbook(s) – Textbook—OpenStax College. Introduction to Sociology, 7.8 Ed. Rice University, OpenStax College, 2014. http://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/introduction-to-sociology/resources
2. Materials – None

1. Assignments
1. Participation – The majority of the assignments in this course will be graded as participation assignments. As you navigate through the course, you will notice the large majority of these are discussion forums that you will be interacting in with your peers. They are designed to prepare you for each assessment in the course. Therefore, completing these participatory assignments will serve as the best indicator for how well you will do on the assessments. I will be grading these assignments by indicators of honest effort in completing them.
2. Assessments – The assessments are where you will actually be graded to see how well you understand the student learning outcomes in the course. Each assessment is designed to give you an opportunity to display competency in relation to that learning objective.
1. Historical & Contemporary Sociologist Project (covers outcomes 5 & 7)
2. Theoretical Perspectives Project (covers outcomes 1 & 3)
3. The Concepts of Sociology (covers outcome 4) – This will be an ongoing assessment that is completed in each week of the course. Unlike the other assessments, which are not graded until the final submission, each week this will be graded as an assessment.
4. Issues in Contemporary Society (covers outcomes 2 & 6)

Course Procedures

1. Classroom Practices – Students are expected to participate actively in forum discussions and to complete assignments on time. Please treat your peers, your professor, and Lancaster Bible College with respect. Feel free to engage in scholarly criticism and to offer your informed opinion, but do so with clarity and grace.
2. Course Participation Policy – Almost all of the assignments in this course fall under the participation category. The course was set up this way to allow you to get practice with the concepts, before being graded on assessments, which are weighted at higher percentages. You are expected to participate to your best ability in all participation assignments. They will be graded based on your effort, rather than your understanding. However, the assessments will be focused on evaluating your overall knowledge in relation to our “Student Learning Outcomes” in the course. Participating in discussions after the due date has passed diminishes the learning experience for all of the students in the class. To demonstrate a concerted effort, participate early in the week, which will give your peers a chance to respond to your comments. 

Grading Policies 

1. Grading Policy, Rating Scale, Use of Rubrics, etc.

 

Excellent	A	=	95–100		B-	=	80–83_		D+	=	68–69
	A-	=	90–94		C+	=	78–79	Passing	D	=	64–67
	B+	=	88–89	Average	C	=	74–77		D-	=	60–63
Good	B	=	84–87		C-	=	70–73	Failure	F	=	_0–59

The weight of each assignment in relation to your final grade is allocated in this way:

Historical & Contemporary Sociologist	10%
Theoretical Perspectives	20%
The Concepts of Sociology	20%
Issues in Contemporary Society	30%
Participation	20%

 

1. Late Assignment Policy – Late assignment penalties will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
2. Disability Statement – Any student with a disability which meets the guidelines of the ADA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act who desires accommodation to complete the requirements of Lancaster Bible College courses must first submit that documentation to Dr. Tucker, Director of Disabilities Services. 

After reviewing the documentation and speaking with the student, reasonable accommodations will be determined.  It is in the student’s best interest to contact Dr. Tucker immediately upon course enrollment since professors cannot provide accommodations without verification from the Disability Services Office and accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. 

The Disability Services office is located on the 5th level of the Teague Learning Commons, accessible by elevator. Dr. Tucker can be reached at (717) 560-8200, ext. 5383 or stucker@lbc.edu. The confidential fax line is (717) 560-8261.

Please note: Students must register with the Disability Services Office each semester for which accommodations are desired; accommodations from the prior semester are not automatically applied to the current semester.

1. Writing Center Statement – The Writing Center is available to help students with writing assignments from any course. Students can schedule an appointment at any point within their writing process. Assistance in brainstorming, outlining, and critique of partial or full drafts of papers will be given. Additional information about writing center services can be located on the writing center webpage, which is located in the student experience section of the LBC website.

 

To schedule a free appointment, students can use the link located in the writing center section of the student portal. Students can also take advantage of walk-in sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the writing center or help scheduling an appointment, email writingcenter@lbc.edu.

 

1. Academic Mentoring Services – Academic Mentoring Services (AMS) provides academic services at no cost to any current undergraduate LBC student. Professional personnel and peer mentors come alongside students to assist with major projects, time management, review of class material, test-taking skills, and study strategies.

During traditional undergraduate semesters, winterim, and summer sessions, the AMS Center is open for tutoring appointments or private study during daytime and evening hours Monday-Friday. Students may make appointments by phone at (717) 560-8200 ext. 5389, by email at ams@lbc.edu, or in person at the AMS Center, located in the Ally Center on the 5th level of the Teague Learning Commons.

 

1. Academic Integrity Statement – As followers of Christ, we need to be fully committed to honesty and truthfulness in all aspects of our lives, including in our academic lives. Therefore, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any way. Students are responsible to familiarize themselves with LBC’s Academic Integrity Policy and adhere to it.  It is located in the Student Handbook.
2. Statement on Self-care – Students’ academic success in this course and throughout their college career depends heavily on their personal health and well-being. Stress is a common part of the college experience, and it often can be compounded by unexpected life challenges outside the classroom. As a faculty, LBC professors strongly encourage students to take care of themselves throughout the term, before the demands of midterms and finals reach their peak. Students should feel free to talk with their professor about any difficulty they may have that impacts their performance in this course as soon as it occurs and before it becomes unmanageable.
3. LBC provides confidential professional counseling services free of charge to all undergraduate students through the Counseling and Career Center located in the lower level of the Academic Affairs building. Feel free to stop by or email them at C3@lbc.edu to set up an appointment or inquire about the services available to you.