This document provides the syllabus for an online Introduction to Sociology course. It outlines the course description, objectives, schedule, assignments, grading policy, textbooks, and expectations. The course will introduce students to key sociological concepts and theories through online materials and assignments, including a group signature project. Students will demonstrate their understanding of sociology and develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and sociological analysis. The syllabus emphasizes accountability, academic integrity, and the development of skills needed to thrive in a complex world.

1. Revision date: 8/20/15 1
Fall 2015
Social & Human Relations/Sociology Linda L. Vermette, Ph.D.
Introduction to Sociology Office: Tuesdays Noon–2 PM by appointment
SOCY 101-011 lindavermette@cwidaho.cc
1-208-376-7515
Students and Instructorsare accountable for all information on the Course Syllabus,
as well as the Institutional Syllabus Addendum, which is located on the students’
Blackboard Site for thiscourse. For further information regarding Library resources,
accommodations, and more, please refer to the addendum on Bb.
Instructor Availability
 Office hours: Tuesdays, Noon – 2 PM by appointment
 Home telephone: 1-208-376-7515, no calls after 9 PM.
 emails will be returned within 48hours
 Telephone calls and email are not returned on weekends or holidays.
Course Description
This course presents the basic concepts, principles, and processes in sociology along with an
introduction to material relating to culture, social interaction, institutions, and social change.
General Education Competency
This course fulfills the Idaho State General Education competency area of:Social and Behavioral Ways
of Knowing.
Academic Affairs Objectives:
Learn to Learn. Students learn that as important as content knowledge is, shaping one’s future
requires the development of skill in discerning, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and
evaluating knowledge in diverse contexts. The educational experience at CWI prepares
students for a world in which they are likely to change occupations and face unpredictable life
events. We strive to develop courses and learning experiences that give students the tools to
confidently thrive in a complex, information-saturated, diverse, and dynamic world.
Make Connections. Students learn success in today’s interconnected world requires deliberate
engagement and comfort with multiple perspectives, cultures, and contexts. In navigating
difference and diversity in the natural and social worlds, students connect ideas, forms of
knowledge, and practices to create a richer understanding of themselves as personally and
socially responsible citizens.
Solve Problems. Students identify problems, analyze and implement solutions, and interpret and
reflect on outcomes to develop skills to individually and collaboratively face challenges and
create opportunities.

2. Revision date: 8/20/15 2
Course Schedule
 This is a regular 15-week session course.
 This course is an online course. No face-to-face classes are scheduled.
Course Focus
This course focuses on how students impact sociology and how they are impacted by sociology.
Current issues are discussed. Students are encouraged to draw upon personal experiences and relate
them to the sociological concepts explored in the course.
Course Objectives and Outcomes
General Education Objectives:
 Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a particular Social
Science discipline.
 Develop an understanding of self and the world by examining the dynamic interaction of
individuals, groups, and societies as they shape and are shaped by history, culture, institutions,
and ideas.
 Utilize Social Sciences approaches, such as research methods, inquiry, or problem-solving, to
examine the variety of perspectives about human experience.
 Evaluate how reasoning, history, or culture informs and guides individual, civic, or global
decisions.
 Understand and interpret similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or
societies across space and time.
Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
 Identify and discuss key sociological concepts.
o Define core concepts of sociology, such as society, social institutions, social norms, and
social roles.
o Define concepts related to culture and the function of cultural practices in American
society and globally.
o Define concepts related to the socialization process and the transmission of culture.
o Discuss how groups, such as family, peers, or colleagues, shape our identities and actions.
o Define and critically evaluate social structures, such as family, economy, education,
politics, or religion.
o Evaluate social beliefs, values, and norms, and how they are produced and reproduced over
time and space.
o Identify practices related to deviance in society that define and enforce social norms.
o Define and differentiate between concepts related to methodology such as validity,
measurement, correlation, causation, or data collection.
o Define various systems of inequality, such as race, gender, social class, age, sexual
orientation, or ethnicity which shape individual opportunities in society.
 Use sociological theories and perspectives to explain social phenomena.
o Define major sociological perspectives in functionalism, structuralism, critical theory,
constructionism, and feminism.
o Compare and contrast various specific major theories in the canons of sociology, such as
Weber, Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, or Comté.
o Connect theoretical understandings with empirical methodologies that represent the
historical development of sociology as a discipline.
o Define sociological phenomena and issues related to explaining them.
o Identify current explanations in the scientific literature related to a variety of topics, such
as inequality, work and family, race/ethnicity, globalization, or sexuality.
 Differentiate ways of thinking sociologically about everyday life.
o Define and illustrate critical thinking as applied to social science.
o Compare and contrast various ways of knowing reality, such as common sense, cultural
relativism, scientific reasoning, or sociological theory.

3. Revision date: 8/20/15 3
o Evaluate competing sociological theories to understand competing ways of understanding
reality.
o Judge appropriateness of the application of various theoretical explanations and solutions
to everyday issues.
 Design expressions of sociological scholarship.
o Create a summary of sociological knowledge, through written, oral, or rich content media
that conforms to widely accepted sociological practices.
o Evaluate completing claims of knowledge about social reality in academic and cultural
sources.
o Formulate a sociological imagination within the global community.
o Construct a sociological perspective to inform a deeper understanding of social reality.
 Synthesize a perspective that connects individuals to larger group processes.
o Define levels of analysis micro, meso, and macro, that shape our understanding of reality
o Differentiate between personal, societal, historical, and cultural forces of social reality.
o Evaluate the impact of larger social processes in everyday life.
o Illustrate processes that shape our individual lives in society.
o Identify pathways of social change in individual and group actions, as well as structural
shifts.
Outcomes Assessment
Sociology is a multifaceted discipline that utilizes a variety of techniques, as such the SOC 101 course
should use multiple indicators of course mastery. The elements below are the potential assessments
that are used to ensure demonstration of competency.
A. Formal written papers in a widely accepted style in sociology (e.g.: APA Style) may be
used for formative or summative assessments.
B. Informal writing, such as reflective writing, may be used for formative assessment.
C. Both formal (e.g., in-class presentation) and informal (e.g., discussions or small group
work) oral presentations may be used for formative or summative assessment
D. Rich media presentation, such as videos, picture presentations, or poster, may be used for
formative and summative assessment.
E. Exams and quizzes, with objective measures (MC or T/F) or subjective measures (essay
questions or short answer) may be used for formative or summative assessments.
F. Short term or long term group projects may be used for formative or summative
assessments.
Signature Assignments
Each student will be required to submit a “signature assignment”. This assignment is designed to give
you the opportunity to demonstrate your command of the objectives taught in this course and
demonstrate sociological thinking. Sociology 101’s signature assignment consists of a group project
which is electronically submitted. Groups will be assigned during week 3 of the course. Topics will be
chosen by week 5. An outline of the signature assignment will be due during week 7 followed by a
rough draft of the assignment during week 9. The final draft will be submitted during week 14.
Grading Policy
 Grading scale: A=90-100% of available points; B=80-89% of available points; C=70-79%
of available points; D=60-69% of available points; and F=59% or less of available points.
 Methods used to evaluate student performance include assignments, quizzes, group work,
participation, presentations, exams, essays, discussion questions, etc.


4. Revision date: 8/20/15 4
Textbooksand Required Materials
Giddens, A., Duneier, M., Appelbaum, R.P., Carr, D. (2013) Introduction to sociology.Seagull 9th
Edition. W.W. Norton.
Other supplemental readings, videos and rich content material are included in Bb.
Course Calendar
The course schedule is posted as a separate document in Bb.
Course Expectations
This section may include:
 Assessments and assignments will be graded and returned to students within 7 days from
the due date.
 The average student can expect to spend approximately 9 to 12 hours per week preparing
for class and doing assignments.
 Late work is accepted if prior approval is made with the professor.
 All late work has 10% of the grade deducted if handed in within 3 days of the assignment’s
due date.
 No late work is accepted after 3 days of the assignment’s due date.
 Complete end of course evaluations
Computer Proficiency Expectations:
Students in this course are expected to be proficient in use of Bb, Word and programs needed to
complete and submit assignments. How to use Bb, Microsoft products and other software programs
will not be taught in this course.
Online students are expected to be proficient in using a computer.Thisonline classwill notteachyouhow
to use the computer,use Blackboard,navigate the web,ormanage yourelectronicfiles.If youare having
difficulties,youmaycontactyour instructor,IThelpdesk(208-562-3444), and/or tutoringservices(seestudent
resourcesof Blackboardforinformationregardingtutoringservices). Forthose participantswhofeartheymay
not be able to navigate the technical skillsof thiscourse,please use CWIservicesand/orsee the instructor
before droppingthe course.We wantyouto succeed.
You will needtopossessthe ability(orbe able toquicklyacquire) the following minimumtechnologyskills:
 Navigate,browse,anduse the InternetandBlackboard.
 Download/upload/create/save/edit/openWordorPDF documents,video,andaudio
 Download/uploadandlistentoorview audioandvideofiles
You may notbe able toviewall course contentthroughmobile devicesandtherefore maymissimportant
information.Therefore,youmusthave dailyaccesstoa computerthathas:
 Mac OS X, Microsoft WindowsXP,orequivalent
 InternetbrowserequivalenttoExplorer7.0or higher(forexample,Firefox,Opera,Chrome,orSafari).
 DependableHigh-SpeedInternetaccesswithatleast1.5 Mbps downloadand.5 Mbps upload.You can
use speedtest.net tocheckyour speed.
 MicrosoftWord or equivalentWordProcessingSoftware(e.g.,OpenOffice suite).A linkfor
downloadingOpenOffice software forfree isavailable underthe “CWIStudentResources”button.
 Adobe Reader,Adobe FlashPlayer,iTunes,QuickTimePlayerorequivalentsoftware.Youwill find
these linksunderthe “CWIStudentResources”button.
 A backupoptionmustbe available forall of the above items,shouldyourprimaryaccessfail forany
reason.

5. Revision date: 8/20/15 5
 Accessto hardwiredinternetaccess(asopposedtowifi orcell phones) tosubmit documents, quizzes,
and test.
Text-basedcommunicationisespeciallyprone tomisinterpretation.Itisimportantthatyouconsiderthisin
course communication.Use academiclanguage:please use complete sentences,appropriate punctuation,
standardspelling,andcapitalization.Communicationshouldconformtoacademicstandardsof courtesy.
For example,flaming,profanity,andadhominem(personal) attacksare unacceptable.Failure toadhere to
these standardswill resultinazero forthe assignmentandmayresultinanimmediate failure inthe
course.Studentsshouldbe aware thatthe use of sarcasmis particularlyprone tomisinterpretation.With
that inmind,do notuse sarcasm. The use of emotionicons(emoticons - ,,etc.) mayhelpconvey
some of the importantnonverbal elementsof communication.
Behavioral Expectations:
Every student has the right to a respectful learning environment. In order to provide this right to
all students, students must take individual responsibility to conduct themselves in a mature and
appropriate manner and will be held accountable for their behavior. Students who disrupt the
class or behave inappropriately or disrespectfully, as determined by the instructor, may be asked
to withdraw.If conduct continues to be an issue, students may be referred to Student Conduct for
judicial action.
It is the student’s responsibility to check their email and Bb announcement to receive notification of
any scheduled appointments, assignment changes or other urgent communications.
Any student who has witnessed or experienced a violation of the student code may contact Student
Conduct at extension 22305, or email: conduct@cwidaho.cc
Academic Honesty:
All work submitted by a student must represent his or her own ideas, concepts, and current
understanding.
All materialfound during research must be correctly documented to avoid plagiarism. Cheating or
plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and violations may result in disciplinary action ranging from
failure of the assignment to failure of the course. Repeated acts of academic dishonesty may have
more severe institutional ramifications. The consequences for cheating in this class are listed below:
 The student will receive a failing grade for the assignment.
 If plagiarism continues the student will receive a failing grade for the course.
Suggestions for Success
Students are encouraged to:
 have a specific place to study where there will be no interruptions;
 set a specific schedule to do assignments for the online course;
 practice good time management; and
 contact the instructor about any questions or confusion about course content or assignments.
Affidavit of Syllabusas Contract
Students are required to receive a 100% grade on the syllabus quiz before proceeding with course
content.