UoPeople Online Syllabus Repository (OSR)
General Studies
SOC 1502 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 1502: Introduction to Sociology
Syllabus
Prerequisites: None.
Course Description:
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of sociology's core principles and their application in understanding complex social issues. Students will gain a deep understanding of the scientific method and its relevance in studying various aspects of society. We will investigate how individual behaviors contribute to the emergence of social problems and, conversely, the pursuit of social justice. Using a sociological perspective, students will study common social problems like racism and sexism. Furthermore, this course will teach you how to find reliable sources in sociology and build strong arguments. It's all about deepening your understanding of how society works.
Required Textbook and Materials: UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course's General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.
- Conerly, T.R., Holmes, K., Tamang, A.L., Hensley, J., Trost, J.L., Alcasey, P., McGonigal, K., Griffiths, H., Keirns, N., Strayer, E., Sadler, T., Cody-Rydzewski, S., Scaramuzzo, G., Vyain, S., Bry, J., & Jones, F. (2024). Introduction to Sociology (3rd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-3e licensed under CC 4.0.
- Mossessian, N., Moustafa, S., & Thompson, C. (2013). How to Format a Syllabus Properly (10th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: University of the People Press. Available at http://www.uopeople.edu
Software Requirements/Installation: No special requirements.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Explain the scientific method and how it is used to study social issues.
- Describe how individual behaviors contribute to both social problems and social justice.
- Evaluate how social institutions affect individual behavior.
- Use sociological imagination to evaluate social issues such as racism and sexism.
- Use credible resources for sociology to create well-written arguments.
Course Schedule and Topics: This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).
Week 1: Unit 1 - The Study of Sociology
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Explain why sociology has emerged.
- Describe sociological perspectives and their alignment to current social factors.
- Examine the different theorist/theories associated with the discipline of sociology.
Week 2: Unit 2 - Methods to Sociological Research
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the importance of the scientific method in the academic discipline of sociology.
- Explain the function of the scientific method steps in conducting research.
- Examine the importance of ethical standards surrounding research.
Week 3: Unit 3 - Deviance, Crime and Social Control
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Describe deviance and its implications on behaviour.
- Explain the relationship between crime and deviant behaviour.
- Describe the role social control has on society.
Week 4: Unit 4 - Gender, Sexuality, Race & Family Relationships
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Define and differentiate between gender and sexual identity across societies.
- Explain the social construct of race and the various influences such as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination that play a role in social interaction.
- Describe society’s current understanding of marriage and family relationships.
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the evolution of media and its current role in different media social platforms.
- Define technology and its global development (implications).
- Examine the theoretical perspectives on media and technology.
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Examine the various educational resources around the globe.
- Explore and discuss how functionalism, conflict theory, feminism and interactionism view the issues impacting the educational system.
- Discuss the historical view of religion from a sociological perspective and how it is viewed from the major paradigms.
- Explain how religion is viewed as an agent of social change.
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Explain the process of aging and consider its biological, social, and psychological effects.
- Examine the interpretation of death and dying across cultural beliefs.
- Describe the elderly population and how current health advancements have increased life expectancies.
Week 8: Unit 8 - Social Movements, Government & Politics
Unit Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the different forms of collective behaviours and its influence on social movements.
- Identify different forms of government prevalent in societies across the globe.
- Explain how politics is viewed from a sociological perspective.
Week 9: Unit 9 - Course Review and Final Exam
Course Requirements:
Discussion Assignments & Response Posts/Ratings
Some units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posed by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least two (2) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum and by rating their posts. Grading rubrics are provided in the Discussion Forum for each week. Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end.
Assignment Activities
The assignment activities are graded by your instructor. The grading rubric is listed under the assignment instructions. The grading rubric is a document that outlines the criteria that your instructor will use to grade your work
Quizzes
This course will contain three types of quizzes – the Self-Quiz, the Graded Quiz, and the Review Quiz. These quizzes may contain multiple choice, true/false, or short answer questions. The results of the Self-Quiz will not count towards your final grade. However, it is highly recommended that you complete the Self-Quiz to ensure that you have adequately understood the course materials. Along with the Reading Assignments, the results of the Self-Quiz should be used as part of an iterative learning process, to thoroughly cover and test your understanding of course material. You should use the results of your Self-Quiz as a guide to go back and review relevant sections of the Reading Assignments. Likewise, the Review Quiz will not count towards your final grade, but should also be used to assist you in a comprehensive review and full understanding of all course material, in preparation for your Final Exam. Lastly, the results of the Graded Quiz will count towards your final grade.
Final Exam
The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9, following the completion of eight units of work. The format of the Final Exam is similar to that of the quizzes and may contain a combination of different question types. You will have one attempt to take the exam, and it will be graded electronically. Specific instructions on how to prepare for and take the Final Exam will be provided during Week 8 (located inside the Unit 9 Learning Guide). Final Exams must be taken without the use of course learning materials (both those inside and outside the course). If particular materials are allowed for use during the exam, these will be noted in the exam’s instructions.
Course Forum
The Course Forum is the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course Forum, it is highly recommended.
Course Policies:
Grading Components and Weights
Each graded component of the course will contribute some percentage to the final grading scale, as indicated here:
| Items | Number of assignments | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Forum | 6 | 35% |
| Assignment Activities | 4 | 45% |
| Graded Quiz (Unit 4) | 1 | 5% |
| Final Exam | 1 | 15% |
Grading Scale
This course will follow the standard 100-point grading scale defined by the University of the People, as indicated here:
| Letter Grade |
Grade Scale | Grade Points |
| A+ | 98-100 | 4.00 |
| A | 93-97 | 4.00 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.67 |
| B+ | 88-89 | 3.33 |
| B | 83-87 | 3.00 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.67 |
| C+ | 78-79 | 2.33 |
| C | 73-77 | 2.00 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.67 |
| D+ | 68-69 | 1.33 |
| D | 63-67 | 1.00 |
| D- | 60-62 | 0.67 |
| F | Under 60 | 0.00 |
Grade Appeal
If you believe that the final grade you received for a course is erroneous, unjust, or unfair, please contact your course instructor. This must be done within seven days of the posted final grade. For more information on this topic, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure in the University Catalog.
Participation
Non-participation is characterized by a lack of any assignment submissions and inadequate contributions to the Discussion Forums. Also, please note the following important points about course participation:
- Assignments must be submitted on or before the specified deadline. A course timeline is provided in the course schedule, and the instructor will specify deadlines for each assignment.
- Any student showing non-participation for two weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive) is likely to automatically fail the course.
- Occasionally there may be a legitimate reason for submitting an assignment late. Most of the time, late assignments will not be accepted and there will be no make-up assignments.
- All students are obligated to inform their instructor in advance of any known absences which may result in their non-participation.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
When you submit any work that requires research and writing, it is essential to cite and reference all source material. Failure to properly acknowledge your sources is known as “plagiarism” – which is effectively passing off an individual’s words or ideas as your own. University of the People adheres to a strict policy of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in sanctions by the University, including dismissal from the University or course failure. For more information on this topic, please review the Academic Integrity Policy in the University Catalog.
Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA format is widely used in colleges and universities across the world and is one of several styles and citation formats required for publication in professional and academic journals. Refer to the UoPeople APA Tutorials in the LRC for help with APA citations. For help with using library, kindly refer to UoPeople Library.
Code of Conduct
University of the People expects that students conduct themselves in a respectful, collaborative, and honest manner at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or deliberate embarrassment of others will not be permitted. Any conduct that interferes with the quality of the educational experience is not allowed and may result in disciplinary action, such as course failure, probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information on this topic, please review the Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog.