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SOC 3200 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

SOC 3200 - Sociology of Sex and Gender

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

Through a combination of readings, discussions, research, and written assignments, this course examines the concept of gender and its impact on our society. First, we will critically review various theoretical perspectives that have tried to define sex and gender categories, explain differences between men and women, and sometimes justify gender stratification. We will then look at how men and women are assigned different roles in various institutions, and how they have different levels of social, economic, and political power in society. We will also look at the consequences of gender categorization for our intimate relationships, our health, our attitudes to violence. Finally, we will look at how throughout history, social movements have challenged existing gender categories, and what issues will be prominent in the future. The approach of this course is that the current gender hierarchy tends to exaggerate differences between men and women and force them into rigid molds, while in reality, men and women have much in common, and would benefit from a more flexible approach to gender.

Course Outcomes:

1. To describe and critically assess biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on sex and gender.

2. To learn about how gender roles vary across cultures.

3. To understand how we are socialized into gendered roles in our families, schools, and at work.

4. To understand the role that gender plays in creating social, economic, and political inequality in society.

5. To learn about the consequences of our gender categories for your intimate relationships and our health.

6. To learn about the role of social movements in challenging gender roles and expectations.

7. To reflect upon the future of gender in the US. 

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

SOCI 1010

Course Topics:

Biology and Gender

Cross-Cultural Constructions of Gender

Psychological Perspectives on Gender

Social Construction of Gender

The Gendered Family

The Gendered Classroom

Gender and Religion

The Gendered Workplace

The Gendered Media

Gender and Politics

Gendered Intimacies

The Gendered Body

The Gender of Violence

Social Movements around Gender Identity

Specific Course Requirements:

Students should have basic computer skills including the use of the Internet, email, a word processing application (Word), and MS PowerPoint. To view some of the readings, they should have access to the Adobe Acrobat Reader and Java.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

Most of this course is divided into 3 modules, each covering a topic area in the study of gender and society. For each module, students will take two online multiple choice quizzes/assessments, participate in two online graded discussions, and submit a written assignment, in the form of a journal entry. In addition to these assignments, students will be asked to complete a research project on gender and society. The project will serve as the final exam and is described in Module IV. A proposal for the final research project is expected from you (see Module IV) fairly early in the term. If you miss the deadline or fail to reply quickly to questions asked of you, you will probably have a topic assigned to you for the final research project. See the course content and the calendar/schedule for deadline dates for the various items.

Grading Procedures:

The grades will be based on scores on the 6 quizzes, the 3 journal entries, and the final research project, as well as on participation in the 6 discussions. The quizzes will carry the most weight in the final grade, followed by the journal entries, and then the project weighing somewhat less. Participation in discussions will count for about 22% of the grade, or 1/6. This course is designed to encourage students to work consistently throughout the semester, and to test them at regular intervals. To receive an A, students will have to show sustained work throughout the course, master the concepts covered in each module, show an ability for critical thinking in their journal entries, participate frequently and pertinently in discussions, and respect the guidelines regarding the submission of all assignments. The course in the summer term covers the same material in a compressed format.

Grading Scale:

Quizzes: 180 points (6 quizzes/assessments worth 30 points each);

Written assignments: 150 points (3 journal entries worth 50 points each);

Participation in discussions: 120 points (6 discussions, worth 20 points each);

Final project: 100 points (The proposal has no points attached to it, but a thorough proposal may assist

you in doing well on your research project.)

The grading scale will be as follows:

495-550---A

440-494---B

385-439---C

330-384---D

329 and below---F

Assignments and Projects:

There will be reading assignments for each of the three modules. These will be a combination of chapters from the textbook, websites, instructor notes, and PowerPoint presentations. The assignments will consist of 1 journal entry for each module. The journal entries will ask the students to reflect on specific parts of the materials covered in the module by, for instance, analyzing how their own experience fits with the given materials, criticizing opinions and theories, drawing their own conclusions, bringing in additional sources, etc. Students will find general guidelines to write their journal entries under the section Instructions for Journal Entries of the Getting Started module. In addition, under Readings and Assignments in each module, they will find specific instructions to complete each journal entry. 

The quizzes and journal entries will cover the textbook and other assigned readings, and web links and other materials (PowerPoint presentations, notes) provided by the instructor. They will be available sequentially, because the modules have to be taken in a specific order. Students will have a limited time window to submit the quizzes, but can submit their journal entries at any time while a module is available. The final assignment is a research project on gender in society, to be completed throughout the semester. A proposal will be turned in during the semester and the proposal must receive approval before the stated deadline for approval. Those who do not get their proposal approved before the deadline will be assigned a topic for the final project. It is expected that each student will report on a different topic. The final project will be turned in as a final exam at the end of the semester. Instructions for the project and its proposal are available in Module IV.

Class Participation:

Students are expected to frequently participate in all module discussion groups. Their grades on the discussions will depend on the frequency and quality of their posting, their reading others' postings, and the spacing of their postings throughout the duration of the module. For example, a student who makes 4 postings on the same day and none at any other time will receive less credit than a student who makes 4 postings on 4 different dates. There will also be a discussion board for students to post questions and receive answers on the readings and assignments. Students are expected to check this discussion board regularly, and to offer their insights when other students submit questions. Students must use email to communicate with the instructor on individual matters, and are expected to check their email regularly. You should be aware that the settings on some computers may be such that you aren't allowed to see that you have email.

Students may find general instructions regarding posting on graded discussions in the How to participate in course discussions section of the Getting Started section before module I. Specific guidelines for each discussion are available under the Discussion items of the course menu for each module.

Assignments will be presented as noted in the course Calendar/Schedule. You will have until the due date on the calendar to complete each assignment. You are expected to communicate with other students in threaded discussions, learn how to navigate the course management system, D2L, and stay aware of course announcements/news posted on the course home page. You should use your assigned RODP email addresses for all communication. You should address any technical problems immediately. You should observe course etiquette at all times. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. For further clarification, see the Statement of Academic Honesty at http://www.tnecampus.info/online-integrity

Late Policy:

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on May 10, 2017