SOCI chaps

							SOCI 3327      MULTICULTURAL RELATIONS                       SS II 2008

PROFESSOR: Sharon Miley                                      E-mail: SM09@txstate.edu
OFFICE: DERR M21                                             Phone: 512-245-8905
OFFICE HOURS: After class daily

                                       SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Department of
Sociology is committed to providing intellectually challenging courses requiring high
quality work (in and out of class) in optimal learning environments. Sociology 3327
Multicultural Relations is such a course--challenging, filled with “news you can use”
throughout life, and analyzing the historical and current social forces impacting
relationships between varying groups in American society. Students successfully
completing the course will understand and be able to critically evaluate:
      the nature of majority-minority relations in the U.S. and the social significance of
         race, ethnicity, gender, etc. in interactions between groups.
      the social processes of prejudice, discrimination, and other modes of interaction
         between groups.
      the sociological theories regarding majority-minority relations in the U.S.
      the experiences and treatment of all groups considered.
      the nature, dynamics, and challenges of diversity and multiculturalism in the 21st
         century.
The course has three units, and students will have a specific set of learning objectives for
each unit to clarify course expectations and facilitate the learning process. A myriad of
class exercises and activities (individual and group, in and out of class) will promote
critical thinking skills, an awareness of the diversity of contemporary American society,
and an appreciation for the discipline of sociology as a “useful” perspective in examining
the world we live in.

REQUIRED TEXT AND CLASSROOM MATERIALS:
   Race and Ethnicity in the United States by Richard T. Schaefer, 3rd ed., Prentice
    Hall, 2004.
   Diversity: Challenges and Opportunities by B. Eugene Griessman, 1st ed., Harper
    Collins, 1998. Hard copies of the article will be available for checkout from the
    professor provided the class enrollment is small. Otherwise, a copy will be made
    available on e-reserve through the the 4th floor Reserve Desk, Alkek Library.
   Students should read the chapters according to the schedule listed in this syllabus.

TESTS:
   There will be three objective tests, including the final, each with 50 multiple-
     choice questions worth a maximum of 100 points.
   Students must be in class to successfully pass the tests, particularly given the
     intense nature of the summer schedule.
   Any make-up tests will be administered after the final exam, at the convenience of
     the instructor, and only with a university excused absence. Make-ups should be
     avoided if at all possible.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION:
   Each student will have an assigned seat in the class, selected the first day of class.
   Each student is expected to attend all meetings of this class, arrive on time, and
     remain in the classroom until the class is over once class has begun.
   50 class participation points are possible for successful completion of classroom
     exercises, activities, group discussions, projects, etc. Classroom participation
     points are graded and are an important part of each student’s total grade; they are
     not extra-credit points. These points significantly impact a student’s final grade
     in the course.
   Any student missing a class participation activity (due to absence, tardiness,
     leaving class early, etc.) will be able to make up the activity and earn points with
     a university excused absence only.
   Some of the classroom participation projects will be out-of-class assignments,
     including at least one web assignment on the Internet. All out-of-class
     assignments must be typed, grammatically correct, and submitted as hardcopy. No
     e-mail or Internet submissions will be accepted. In cases of emergency and only
     with the professor’s approval, an assignment may be faxed to 512-245-8362.
   Assignments are not returned to a student without a written request for a copy of
     the original, and no assignments are returned prior to the final exam.
   Any student who misses class is responsible for finding out what was missed in
     class and obtaining any notes from another student in the class.

EXTRA-CREDIT OPPORTUNITY BASED ON ATTENDANCE: Each student is
responsible for personally signing in (full signature, no initials) on the attendance sheet.
Do not sign in for anyone else in the class. Attendance will also be taken regularly by the
professor.
     Any student who is tardy or who leaves class early will be marked absent for the
       day unless written notice is provided to the instructor before or after class.
     Students who have been in class on-time and full-time and with zero absences
       will have 15 points added to their total points earned by the end of the class,
       partial points at the instructor’s discretion for slightly less than perfect attendance.
     This policy is based on the total number of absences, regardless of whether or
       not the absence is excused or unexcused. Given the brevity of the summer II
       class, please remember that each class day is the equivalent of two and one-
       half weeks of class during a long semester! Do not take the class unless you
       plan to be in class the full time every day!
     Students with excused absences during the class should let me know, not for
       any extra-credit points, but to be sure that the reason(s) for non-attendance
       may be taken into consideration when assigning the final grade. For example,
       a student with one excused absence for the semester will be eligible for 10 extra-
       credit points at the end of the semester. IF the student has a “borderline grade,”
       and the one absence is excused, the odds are likely that I will bump up the
       student’s grade to the next highest letter grade.
     These additional points may impact a student’s final grade in the course by one to
       two letter grades, particularly in conjunction with class participation points.
     Any student found cheating on the attendance sheet in any way forfeits the
       opportunity for extra-credit based on attendance.
SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATION: A student's final grade in the course will be
based on the total number of points accumulated:
       Test I and Test II (Max. of 100 pts. ea.) = 200
       Final (max. of 100 pts.)                  = 100
       Class participation points (50 pts.)      =   50
       Total max. cumulative points:             = 350

        Final Grade                                          Cumm. Pts. Range
               A              90 - 100%                      315 - 350 Points
               B              80 - 89%                       280 - 314 Points
               C              70 - 79%                       245 - 279 Points
               D              60 - 69%                       210 - 244 Points
               F              Below 60%                      Below 210 Points
*NOTE: Since grades are a confidential matter and fall under student privacy laws, I will
not discuss grades over the phone or e-mail either during or after the semester.

TOPIC OUTLINE AND CLASS SCHEDULE:                          Textbook Reading:
Unit I Topics: The Challenge, Nature &                     Chaps. 1-3, Griessman
(Wed. 7/11 and The Dynamics of Diversity
Thurs. 7/12)   Understanding Race & Ethnicity              Chap. 1, Schaefer
               Prejudice                                   Chap. 2, Schaefer
               Discrimination                              Chap. 3, Schaefer
               The Personal Effects of Diversity           Chap. 4, Griessman

                      TEST I: Wed. 7/16 at 8 a.m.
Unit II Topics:       Ethnicity & Religion                 Chap. 5, Schaefer
(Wed. 7/18 and        Jewish Americans                     Class Handout
Thurs. 7/19)          Native Americans                     Class Handout
                      Black Americans                      Class Handout

                      TEST II: Wed., 7/23 at 8 a.m.
Unit III Topics:      Hispanic Americans                   Class Handout
(Wed. 7/25 and        Asian Americans                      Class Handout
Thurs. 7/26)          Women                                C lass Handout
                      The U.S. as a Kaleidoscope           Chap. 6, Schaefer
                      Diversity Today and for the Future   Chap. 6, Griessman
                      THE FINAL: Thurs. 7/24