Soc 1A: Introduction to Sociology

Spring 2010 – Online Course

Instructor: Dr. Robin Kreider                 

Email:   rkreider@gavilan.edu                                 

Phone:  848 - 4862

Website: http://hhh.gavilan.edu/rkreider/

Office Hours: Office Hours: M/W 11am - 12:30 & Tu 1-2 pm or by appointment

“[Humans] make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past.”  - Karl Marx

Course Description: This course is designed to provide a general introduction to the discipline of sociology and is intended for students that have not taken a college course in sociology. The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic problems, concepts, methods, and theories of sociology. Students will be introduced to the sociological perspective and will be presented with a set of core sociological concepts and tools to examine the social world and explore social issues. This course will demonstrate the inherent analytical and critical nature of sociological inquiry. It is my hope that this course will not only provide students with a sound and comprehensive introduction to the discipline of sociology, but it will make sociology relevant and useful in their own lives.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course, however this course is a transfer-level course and I have the same expectations of students in this class that I would have of students at a CSU or UC. There is a respectable amount of reading and writing in this course as well as a high level of critical and analytical thinking and writing expected. This course will not require you to ‘memorize’ things, but to engage with the material, analysis it, and critically reflect on yourself, society, and others.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

Required Texts: The following books are available at the campus store and most Internet booksellers (*be sure to get the correct edition if you buy on the Internet – check the ISBN #*).

Readings: Readings are assigned to prepare you for the upcoming lectures and discussion section. It is your responsibility to do the assigned readings on your own BEFORE class so you are familiar with the topics and issues being discussed. All lectures and in-class activities will be based on the assumption that students have completed the readings assigned up to that date.

Course Requirements: All detailed directions for assignments will be passed out in class. **You must complete ALL of the following assignments to pass the class**

Grades for the course will be determined as follows: I do not grade on a curve. I am happy to give everyone an A if everyone does A-quality work.

Grading Scale:

A: 100- 95.0%

A-: 94.9 – 90%

B+: 89.9 – 88.0%

B: 87.9% - 84%

B-: 83.9% - 80%
C: 79.9 – 78.0%

C: 77.9% - 74%

C-: 73.9% - 70%
D+: 69.9 – 68.0%

D: 67.9% - 60%
F: 59.9% and below…

Policy on Due Dates:

Important Dates to Know:

**I reserve the right (but not obligation) to drop students under the following cicumstances: has not logged into the course for 14 consecutive days, misses more than 4 quizzes or one exam.* However, if you decide to drop the course it YOUR responsibility to take the necessary actions to drop the course.

Course Schedule