SOSC 2501: Survey of Social Sciences and Contemporary Issues
Fall 2009 Course Syllabus                     

   Course Description  |   Instructor Information  |  Required Materials/Texts  | Content  | Class Meetings  | Graded Assignments |  Grading Scale
   |  Mid-Term Progress Report  |  Objectives/Outcomes  |  Course Policies 
 
Course Description

SOSC 2501: Survey of Social Sciences and Contemporary Issues  (CRN 87395)
 An interdisciplinary survey of the social sciences with emphasis upon methods of inquiry used to examine America's contemporary social, economic, political and international problems.  3 semester credit hours (3-0-3). 
[Prerequisites: POLS 1101 and HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 and PSYC 1101 or SOCI1101.]
 
Instructor
  Dr. Sandra M. (Sandy) Harrison
Office: Arts & Sciences Bldg, 214 A
E-mail: sharrison@clayton.edu
Phone: 678/466-4804
Personal website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/harrison
Office hours: http://a-s.clayton.edu/harrison/schedule.htm
 
Required Text
Harrison, B.C., & Dye, T. (2008). Power and society (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Required Computer and Computer Skills


Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program.  Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's official Notebook Computer Policy, see http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Students in SOSC 2501 will need the following computer skills:

  • facility with the Windows operating system
  • facility with Microsoft Word
  • facility with Microsoft PowerPoint
  • ability to send and receive e-mail using Outlook/Outlook Express and GeorgiaView mail, including sending and retrieving e-mail attachments
  • facility with Web browsers
  • ability to download streaming audio files in .rm and .mp3 formats
  • facility with GeorgiaView quiz formats and discussion boards
     
Content
  • Overview of social science as an academic discipline
  • Historical highlights of American culture
  • Key world events during the second half of the 20th century
  • Introduction to ideology as a force in world history.
  • Culture through the lens of the social science of anthropology
  • Social class as understood by the social science of sociology
  • Economic systems as interpreted by the social science of economics
  • Poverty from different social science perspectives
  • Race and gender issues from different social science perspectives
  • Violence and crime from different social science perspectives
  • Globalization and urbanization as social science issues
  • Methods used in the social sciences

Political science and psychology are typically included in the field of social science, but they will not be covered in this course. Students are required to take an entire course in political science (POLS 1101) and almost all students voluntarily take a course describing the field of psychology (PSYC 1101). This instructor prefers to spend more time on the social science disciplines not otherwise covered.
 
Class Meetings/Schedule

This online class meets in U-420 from 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm for a MANDATORY orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and for tests on Wednesday, Sep. 16; Wednesday, Oct 14; Wednesday, Nov. 11; and Wednesday, Dec. 3. (Test 4 is the final exam.)
 

Wk

Dates

Topics/Assignments

1

Aug. 17-22
Mandatory course orientation  Wed. Aug. 19, 8:00-9:15 pm U-420
Syllabus Quiz

2

Aug. 24-29

Ch 1 PPT/Lecture (reading Ch 1 not required)
Social Science Disciplines Research Assignment*

3

Aug 31-Sep 5

Ch 9: Power & History (& quiz)

4

Sep 7-12

Ch 14: Power Among Nations (& quiz)

5

 Sep 14-19 Test 1    Wed. Sep 16, 8:00-9:15 pm, U-420

6

Sep 21-26 Ch 3: Power & Ideology (& quiz)

7

Sep 28-Oct 3

Ch 4: Power & Culture (& quiz)

8

Oct 5-10

Ch 5: Power & Social Class (& quiz)
Governmental Research Assignment*
                         Midterm: Oct. 9 (last day to drop without penalty)

9

 Oct 12-17 Test 2    Wed. Oct. 14, 8:00-9:15 pm, U-420

10

Oct 19-24

Ch 7: Power & the Economic Order (& quiz)

11

Oct 26-31

Ch 11: Poverty & Powerlessness (& quiz)

12

Nov 2-7

Ch 10: Power, Race, & Gender (& quiz)
A Class Divided (Frontline video)

13

Nov 9-14

Library Resources Assignment* (requires on-campus presence)
 Test 3     Wed. Nov. 11, 8:00-9:15 pm, U-420

14

Nov 16-21

Ch 12: Power, Violence, & Crime (& quiz)
Dead Man Walking

15

Nov 23-28

Ch 13: Power & the Global Community (& quiz)

                       Thanksgiving Break: Nov 25-29

16

Nov 30-Dec 5

Ch.2 Social Science & the Scientific Method (& quiz)
 Test 4     Wed. Dec. 3, 8:00-9:15 pm, U-420

17

Dec 7-12

Final Exams (for on-campus classes)
 
Graded Assignments
 
Attendance 10 pts possible
Syllabus quiz (1 @ 10 pts) 10 pts possible
Chapter quizzes (11 @ 10 pts) 110 pts possible
Research skill assignments  (3 @ 30 pts) 90 pts possible
Tests (4 @ 50 pts) 200 pts possible
 


Optional:
Community Leadership Forum (3 @ 3 pts)
Community Service Project (3 hrs minimum)

 420 total pts possible


9 pts possible
20 pts possible
 
 
Grade Scale (based on total points earned)


378-420 pts = A
336-377 pts = B
294-335 pts = C
252-293 pts = D
below 252 pts = F

Midterm Progress Grade.   The course grade posted in the DUCK just before midterm (Oct. 9) will be based on the number of points earned by midterm divided by the total points possible at midterm. Midterm grades are for information only and do not impact a student's GPA. They do, however, provide feedback about whether or not a student needs to increase his/her effort or drop the course.

Course Policies
General Policy Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities guidelines.
 

University Attendance
Policy
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi.  Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The University reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades. 
 
Course Attendance Policy A discussion board is posted in GeorgiaView, and periodic entries will be required to earn the attendance points. Prompts will let you know what is expected in each posting. The first posting will be a brief introduction of yourself, so everyone in the class can have an idea of our online community. Subsequent postings will involve responding to the course material.
 
Children Children, even those who are quiet and well behaved, are not allowed in class because they are distractions. Plus it's unfair to other parents who went to the trouble to get childcare. Students bringing children to any test or other assessment will lose 10 pts from their grade on that evaluation.
 
Deadlines Deadlines are designed to pace you in the course, keeping you from waiting until the last minute to do the readings and research exercises. Completing assignments by their deadlines demonstrates responsibility and self-discipline, important characteristics of a professional in the field of human services.

In particular, self-grading assignments cannot be attempted after the deadline has past, and the points for missed chapter quizzes and research tasks are forfeited. All other class assignments (including tests) have 25% point penalties for those who do not complete them on time.

Do NOT wait until the last minute to do an assignment on your computer. The gremlins who inhabit computer systems note your stress level and delight in making your machine lock up, crash, or unable to access the Internet just before an assignment is due. Having technical problems at the last minute does not excuse you from a deadline when the assignment has been available for several days.

Do an assignment on the FIRST day it is available, and you will be able to comfortably cope with server problems, computer viruses, and other inevitable technical glitches. Planning for the unexpected is an essential skill of human service professionals.
 
Electronic Devices All cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices should be off during class. If you expect an urgent call, please turn your device to vibrate mode and sit close to the door. Any communication device going off during any assessment, even in silent mode, will result in the bearer losing 5 points on that assessment.
 
Academic Dishonesty Students are expected to take all tests and quizzes without assistance. Cheating on any assignment, quiz, or other evaluation method will result in a zero for the assignment. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life, Judicial Affairs.  Judicial procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial
 
Make-up Tests One (and only one) make-up test may be taken on the day of final exams, immediately after you have taken the final for this course. Make-ups are not given at any other time.

Beware of missing a test when it is originally scheduled, since the lapse of time between learning the material and taking a make-up is almost certain to have a negative effect on your recall of the material. Make-ups may also include questions not on the original test. Remember that your grade on a make-up test is docked 25%, since you had more time to study for it than did the rest of the class.
 
Disruption of the Learning Environment Research has shown that social skills are more important to life success than is academic intelligence. Because argumentativeness, combativeness, and an attitude of entitlement are increasing problems in American culture, your college experience is a good opportunity to practice and expand your ability to communicate respect and courtesy. The old saying "You'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" is still true.

In team projects and interacting with the professor, courtesy and an open mind are valuable assets. Don't toss them aside in an attempt to prove yourself right. You gain respect by being respectful of others.

Behavior which disrupts the teaching-learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. 

For more detail about the University's guidelines for acceptable classroom behavior, see http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm
 
General Education Goals/Learning Outcomes
 
 
Course Goals/Outcomes
 
  • Students will demonstrate reading skills essential for independent learning.
  • Students will demonstrate text-oriented research skills.
  • Students will demonstrate research skills useful with online resources.
  • Students will recognize and comprehend basic vocabulary and concepts used by social scientists.
  • Students will understand the historical and disciplinary diversity of the field of social science.
  • Students will understand how social science understands contemporary social issues.
   
Correlation to Program Outcomes & Educational Standards
 

The content and methods used in this course comply with the learning outcomes established by the Department of Social Science (http://a-s.clayton.edu/psychology/outcomes.htm) and the Department of Social Sciences.

The content of this course syllabus also correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations.  Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site: http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm
 
Special Accommodations
  Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center, Room 255, 678/466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu

Last updated August 10, 2009

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