JC Course Syllabi

Minority Groups in America

Sociology 235.01

Spring 2013

Number of Course Credits:

3 credit hours

Days Class Meets:

Monday and Wednesday

Meeting Times:

8:00am-9:27am

Location:

Justin Whiting Hall, Room 109

Instructor:

Ellen Shannon, M.A., M.S.J.

Office:

JCC- Jackson Campus

Contact Phone:

734-545-0233  (Please text or call if you have a question.  Remember to sign your text so I can help you in a timely way.

Contact Email:

shannonellenj@jccmi.edu

Office Hours:

By Appointment

Course Description:

SOC 235 Minority Groups in America (3 CR)

Sociology of dominant-minority relations in contemporary American society.

Attention to specific ethnic, religious, and racial minorities in terms of

prejudice and discrimination

Prerequisite(s):

Prerequisites: ENG 085* and ENG 090*

Required Textbook:   Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, Third Edition.  Routledge, Taylor and Francis. Copyright 2013.  Edited by Maurianne Adams, Warren J. Blumenfeld, Carmelita Castaneda, Heather W. Hackman, Madeline L. Peters, and Ximena Zuniga

Supplies Needed:

·         Bring a notebook with pockets (for class handouts) and pen to each class session for note taking, etc.

·         Flash drive to save notes and assignments and to download information for the course

Course Goals:

Students who complete Sociology 235 should be able to:

·         Demonstrate an awareness of intergroup dynamics in the United States

·         Apply sociological principles to understanding and discussing issues of power, privilege, and difference in the United States

·         Define terminology related to race ethnicity, class, gender, ability, religious, and social identity

·         Learn to recognize complexities of social interaction and social identity in the United States

·         Participate in responding to various interpretations of individual, institutional, and structural discrimination

·         Produce a project using research methodology

·         Understand social identity as it applied on a personal, group, and national level

·         Demonstrate understanding of the role of diverse audiences and actors in a multicultural organization

Course Performance Objectives:

• Complete all required readings

• Identify an area of interest within the scope of the course to develop and complete a significant individual learning assessment plan

• Present individual learning project (may also be done in a group) to the class

• Participate in group exercises and discussion groups

• Complete all assignments and quizzes (if used)

• Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to discuss issues of diversity and intergroup relations

• Attend all class sessions and actively participate in class

ASSOCIATE DEGREE OUTCOMES

The course goals and objectives incorporate specific Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) established by the JCC Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty. These goals are in concert with four-year colleges, universities, and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. ADOs guarantee students achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many certification programs. The ADOs and course objectives addressed in this class include the following:

ADO 7, Developing

·         Think critically.

·         Demonstrate critical thinking through questioning, interpreting, analyzing, evaluating, inferring from and synthesizing information to solve problems in a variety of settings.

ADO 10, Proficient

·         Understand and respect the diversity and interdependence of peoples and cultures.

·         Demonstrate an understanding of the values of individuals and groups different from one’s own (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation) and a willingness to interact with people whose backgrounds differ from one’s own.  Define and recognize examples of ethnocentrism, stereotyping, oppression, and dominant-group privilege.

Grading:

Multiple factors will be taken into consideration in assessing student grades.  These include:

·         Attendance at all class sessions

·         Active class participation in both online work and face-to-face class discussion

·         Grade achieved on each written assignment and quiz  NO LATE PAPERS, JOURNALS, OR MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL BE ALLOWED

·         Written assignments will be given a value of 100 points (written assignments will be in-depth explorations of specific social identities, groups, or process in the analysis of minority/dominant group events)  

·         Quizzes will have a value of 25 points each  (quizzes will be open book and will include questions based on our assigned readings, vocabulary, class discussion, field trips, relevant current events, etc.)

·         Student journals—each entry will receive a point value of 50 points for a total of 500 points for ten entries (entries will be a combination of article reviews and student reflections—each entry should be about 5 full double-spaced typed pages with citation for any source material used in your entry)

·         Forum discussions—Forum entries will require students to interact on JetNet regarding information covered in our readings and current events related to intergroup relations.  Some videos may be added to our site or shown in class for Forum responses and/or journal entries

Each assignment will be posted to the Assignments section of our Jetnet site with requirements for specific format, content, assessment criteria, and due dates. 

Grading Scale: