Introduction to Sociology
SOC-101

Also available by appointment in person, by phone, or via an online venue (e.g. Zoom) - please e-mail me to find a good time.

This course is a designated Gateway course for students enrolled in the Sociology Program. Gateway courses are good early indicators of student readiness for further study. Successful completion of this course will provide a solid foundation for next steps in your studies so be sure to take every advantage of the available support and resources provided to you.

This course introduces students to the academic field of sociology. Sociology is a broad discipline, which employs scientific methodology to study society. Students are exposed to introductory concepts, theories, and methods used in contemporary sociology. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a basic understanding of the sociological perspective and the ways in which the discipline understands and explains human behavior at all levels of society. The course also provides students with a sociological toolkit that they can utilize to understand themselves and their world; the theories, concepts, and ideas covered in this class will help students recognize the connection between self and society, biography and history, as well as the individual and social structures.

You are required to purchase online access to the Revel version of In Conflict & Order (Revel Access Code Card), 15th Edition for this course. This online textbook is interactive and I will assign reading, writing, quizzes, and other activities in Revel.

While online access to Revel is required, the printed version of this text is optional - see purchasing options below. There are two ways to purchase access.  With either option, there should be a two-week online free trial available.

Choose the option that works best for you:

Option #1: Purchase a Revel access code from the campus bookstore.  Then use the link for our course to sign up and access the materials.

Option #2: Online Instant Access: If you decide not to purchase Revel from the bookstore, you can purchase access online.  Use the Revel link for our course to purchase, sign up, and access the readings and materials.

When you register (via access code or online instant access), you also have the option of adding the print edition upgrade for $19.95 extra (no shipping cost).  If you like having a hard copy, this is a great option.

Other readings and video content will be available at no additional charge via the Canvas learning management system.  Please make sure you will have regular access to a computer, a reliable connection to the internet, and the Chrome or Firefox internet browser.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify and apply sociological theory and concepts to understand historical and contemporary societies
2. Define and analyze established methodologies in the field and note their importance for understanding and interpreting social dynamics
3. Describe the interdependent relationship between individuals and social structures
4. Evaluate social inequality as related to micro social forces that shape life changes and create opportunities for social change
5. Evaluate how identity and social constructs are essential to the study of sociology and apply them to sociological topics

The professor will take attendance every day.  Attending class is important to your learning process and to your success in this course!  Make your education a priority and avoid scheduling appointments, work hours, etc, during class time.  

Excused absences? I will credit everyone in the course three excuse-free excused absences - no communication required. If you have to miss more than three class sessions for reasons that are beyond your control, please let the professor know as soon as possible and provide any evidence or documentation, if available.  Absence waivers may be granted at the discretion of the professor.

Over the semester, the professor will evaluate each student's participation based on effort, involvement, and citizenship (for a point breakdown, see rubric on Canvas).

Effort: being present, focused, and attentive during class, completing in-class work, logging onto the Canvas and Revel resources often.  Bonus/A+ effort: speaking to the professor about class work or content at least once during the semester (after class or during office hours).

Involvement: making thoughtful contributions to class discussions, actively participating in partner and small group work, asking on-topic questions during discussions and lectures. 

Citizenship: NO electronics during class time, arriving to class on time, quieting down when class begins, waiting to pack up until class is over, avoiding private conversations, staying awake and attentive, respectful engagement in discussions, and otherwise showing respect to the professor and fellow classmates. 

ELECTRONICS FREE CLASS TIME:

This is an active classroom environment where student participation is required: please leave electronics at home or in your bag.

Cell Phone Policy: No cell phones.  Once the professor starts class, cell phones need to be silenced and put away.

Laptop Policy: No laptops during class except when announced (laptop days), by contract (students may contact the professor if they would like special permission to use a laptop), or by accommodation (e.g. ADA).

This semester students will be assigned to a small group with whom they will have opportunities to work with throughout the semester.  Starting the second week of classes, students should sit near their group.  The professor will provide a few minutes at the start of most class session for students to meet with their group to share ideas and resources about the materials assigned for the day.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

Students should complete all course assignments by the stated deadline.  Late penalties will be assessed on course assignments only (see different policy on Revel Activities below): the penalty is a three percent deduction of the total possible score per day late (including weekend days).  Waivers of late penalties are available in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the professor. All work must be submitted by the date of the final exam.

REVEL ACTIVITIES:

Revel work will be due in chapter bundles and no late work will be accepted without evidence of extenuating circumstances.  Students should plan to work on the Revel quizzes and other activities ahead of the deadline.  All work must be submitted by the date of the final exam.

EXAMS:

Students must be attendance for the midterm and final exam. If a student has an extenuating circumstance that prevents them from attending, they may reschedule by following these steps: 1) Provide documentation and gain permission from the professor: with documentation of the issue, there is no penalty for rescheduling.  If there is no documentation,the professor may still permit a rescheduled exam, but the score will reflect a five percent deduction of the total grade for that exam.  2) Schedule the new exam time:  Once permission is granted, students should make an appointment at the NIC Testing Center for a time occurring within one week (five business days) of the exam date.  Unless special permission has been arranged, students may not take the exam after five business days have passed from the original scheduled exam date.

Extenuating Circumstances: If students have an illness, accommodation, or emergency that prevents them from submitting your work on time or attending an exam, they must let the professor know as soon as possible and provide any documentation, if available.  Waivers of late penalties are available at the discretion of the professor.

To stay up to date with the class, students will need to check their NIC e-mail and Canvas account regularly during this semester.

The easiest way to contact the instructor is also via e-mail.  When sending an e-mail, please include your section number and/or class meeting time somewhere in the subject line or body of the e-mail.

Professors provide materials, structure/accountability, and guidance through the course curriculum, but ultimately students are responsible for their own learning.  This course will require learning new terminology, gaining skills (e.g. in applying new perspectives), and demonstrating in-depth understanding of scholarly arguments.  In order to be successful, students must put in focused time preparing for class, thinking about the ideas introduced,  and reviewing/practicing what you have learned.  The professor will facilitate some of these activities, but independent study time will be required in order to master the materials and earn a desired grade.

Please note these important dates:

January 28, 2020:

• Drop for non-attendance of Fall Semester course sections (if you have not attended at least once the first two weeks of the course, you will be automatically dropped).
• Last day to drop a course without receiving a "W" on your report card.
• Last day to receive 100 percent refund.

March 27, 2020:

• Last day to withdraw from full-length Fall Semester courses (with a "W").

The instructor reserves the right to revise the class calendar, modify course content, and/or substitute assignments in response to institutional, weather, or class situations. Changes will be announced in class and over Canvas announcements. Students will be held responsible for all changes.

Academic Dishonesty 
Violations of academic integrity involve using or attempting to use any method that enables an individual to misrepresent the quality or integrity of his or her work at North Idaho College. These violations include the following:

• Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study in any academic exercise.
• Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information or citation in an academic exercise.
• Plagiarism: knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in an academic exercise.
• Violation of Intellectual Property: stealing, altering, or destroying the academic work of other members of the community or the educational resources, materials, or official documents of the college.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: knowingly helping another to attempt to violate any provisions of this policy.”

Violations of academic integrity may result in failure of an assignment, failure of the course, or more serious sanctions.

“For a complete explanation of the North Idaho College Statement on Academic Honesty & Academic Integrity please refer to Policy 5.06 & Procedure 5.06.01: http://www.nic.edu/policy/ 

Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct applies to any student enrolled at North Idaho College.  This includes, but is not limited to, face-to-face classes and Internet classes.

NIC shall maintain a Student Code of Conduct that specifically addresses prohibited behavior and assures due process for alleged violations. The Code of Conduct shall make clear possible sanctions for such actions. Policy Manual (See 5.06)

Disability Support Services and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504/508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, North Idaho College provides accommodations to eligible students who experience barriers in the educational setting due to learning, emotional / mental, physical, visual, or hearing disabilities. Instructors will provide accommodations to students only after having received a Letter of Accommodation from Disability Support Services (DSS).

If a student would like to request accommodations, he or she must contact DSS so that a Letter of Accommodation may be sent to the instructor. Students requesting accommodations should contact DSS as early in the semester as possible to avoid delay of accommodation due to student load.  Accommodations are not retroactive. DSS provides academic accommodations, access, assistance and services at NIC and at the North Idaho Consortium of Higher Education campus.

Contact:
Disability Support Services Website
(208) 769-5947

Withdrawal
Please check the NIC Calendar for the last day students can withdraw from full-length courses.

Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal: An instructor has the right to withdraw a student for academic reasons. For more information, see the Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal Procedure.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress (SAP):Federal Regulations require North Idaho College to establish Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The purpose of SAP standards are meant to ensure that students and academic institutions are held accountable to the taxpayer-funded federal student aid programs while students complete their academic goals in a timely manner. This process monitors student performance in all terms of enrollment, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. For more information, see the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress website.

For more information on withdrawals, see the NIC Student Accounts website.

Title IX

North Idaho College seeks to provide an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment.  If you have been the victim of sexual harassment/misconduct/assault we encourage you to report this.   If you report this to any college employee, (except for a licensed counselor or health care professional) she or he must notify our college's Title IX coordinator about the basic facts of the incident (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name).  For more information about your options at NIC, please go to: www.nic.edu/titleIX or call (208) 676-7156

INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT

Removal From Class For Non-Attendance:  Attendance is based on your participation in this class. Failure to attend will result in your being removed from this class and may result in your financial aid award being reduced. You are responsible for confirming the accuracy of your attendance record.