WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
       Understanding Human Society                           SOCIOLOGY- 2000 – 901 (12019) 
           Monday 6pm – 8:50pm                                         FARMINGTON ROOM 0514 
FALL 2016

Instructor: Kevin Johnson PhD, SW
Email: kjkj40@juno.com
Office Hours: (by Appointment) MONDAYS 5:30 - 6:00pm and 8:50 - 9:30pm
Required Texts: Ferrante, Joan "Sociology: A Global Perspective" 
                              CENGAGE Learning - 2015, 9th edition. ISBN-13: 978-1-285-74646-5

Course Description:
The goal of this course is to provide you with a basic understanding of society through the lens of the sociological perspective by introducing you to the basic definitions, concepts, theories, and research methods involved in analyzing sociological phenomena.

COURSE OUTCOMES

1)	Course Objectives:
Sociology is the study of social life. The founders of sociology wanted to improve the quality of human life and realized that in order to do so they had to understand society. Their attempt to understand society led to the development of the sociological perspective. The arm of this course is to introduce students to the discipline of sociology, and to critical thinking. This course covers topics including key areas of sociological inquiry: society, culture, identity, ethnicity, social structure and interaction, inequality, deviance, theory, and methods of research.

      2) My aim is for you to come away from this course with:
1) A development and application of analytic skills.
2) An exploration of your own moral beliefs.	
3) A practiced appreciation and respect for the values held by others.    
4) An understanding of various sociological concepts.	
5) An awareness of contemporary society and how social structure shapes our individual lives and relations in   
    society.

       3) Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to: 
1) Apply sociological principles to everyday human life.
2) Recognize ways in which social structures affect life choices and life chances.
3) Analyze a social setting by applying such concepts as role, status, group dynamics and norms.
4) Begin to critically evaluate statistics or opinions about social trends as presented in society.
5) Examine social phenomena from a perspective equality/inequality with regards to analyzing social problems.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
You must purchase the text for the course.  You need to read the assigned text chapters in preparation for class, think about the material, and be prepared to discuss the readings with regards to their application to real life. Class attendance and participation will be calculated into the final grade for the course.  Cooperative learning and study groups are strongly encouraged!

HONOR CODE & ACADEMIC REGULATIONS:
It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the Wayne State University Student Code of Conduct. Plagiarism, as well as other forms of academic dishonesty, is an extremely serious academic offence. I take the Student Code of Conduct very seriously and expect you to do the same. The Wayne State University Student Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced.

EXAMINATIONS AND SOCIAL PHENOMENA ANALYSIS/PRESENTATION

Examinations/Assessment
There will be three (3) Assessments for the course.  Each assessment will cover designated chapters of material that has been discussed in class and comes directly from the readings.

Individual Student Social Phenomena Presentations
Each student will be required to fulfill a written/oral (Social Phenomena Analysis) on one (1) of several different topic areas approved by the Instructor.  The Social Phenomena Analysis must be presented in class during the last four (3) weeks of the semester and all students must be present for all of the presentations in order to receive credit for their presentation.  Students will receive a handout on this assignment during the 3RD week of class. 

Student Disabilities
If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations.  The Student Disability Services (SDS) office is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the Student Academic Success Services department.  SDS telephone number is 313-577-1851 or 313-577-3365 (TDD only).  http://studentdisability.wayne.edu/ once you have your accommodations in place, I will be glad to meet with you privately during my office hours to discuss your special needs.  Student Disability Services’ mission is to assist the university in creating an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in their educational experience at Wayne State University."

SEPTEMBER 12	Introduction 
to the Course	SEPTEMBER 19	Introductory 
Sociological  Lecture	
SEPTEMBER 26	Chapters 1 & 2	  OCTOBER  3
	Chapters 3 & 4	
   OCTOBER 10	
ASSESSMENT # 1	OCTOBER  17
	Social Phenomena 
Presentations Handouts & Chapters 5 & 6	
OCTOBER 24	Chapters 7 & 8	OCTOBER 31	Chapters 9 & 10
	
NOVEMBER  7	Assessment # 2	NOVEMBER  14	Chapters 11 & 12
Phenomena Analysis Discussion	
NOVEMBER 21	Chapters 13 & 14
	NOVEMBER 28	Chapters 15 & 16
	
DECEMBER  5
	 ASSESSMENT # 3	DECEMBER 12
	PRESENTATIONS
 All Analysis Paper(s) Due	
DECEMBER 19
	PRESENTATIONS  
&  Final Grade Summaries			
 Schedule of Class Activities

GRADING
Class Attendance 16 X 10 = 160 pts. ~ Assessment(s) X 3 80pts.each = 240pts.
Analysis & Presentation 75 + 25 = 100Pts. 
            
500 total points
500 – 450 = A, 449 – 425 = A-, 424 – 400 = B+, 399 – 375 =B, 374 – 350 = B- 349 – 325 = C+,
324 – 300 = C, 299 – 275 =C-, 274 – 250 = D+ 249 – 225 = D, 224 – 200 = D- 200 or less = F

*****The course requirements and assignments may be reasonably revised with notice at the discretion of the instructor; when by doing so, a more accurate assessment of the students’ learning and knowledge of the subject matter would reflect an appropriate grade.

HAVE A GREAT SEMESTER!