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SOCI 217 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

SOCI 217 - Sociology of Aging

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course is a general course in social gerontology with an emphasis on the aging process and the problems of the aged.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Analyze the relationship between individuals, society, technology, and physical space, consistent with the sociological theory of intersectionality.
  • Identify potential solutions to social problems and ways of accomplishing these, based on current research in the social and behavioral sciences.
  • Develop and practice effective strategies to communicate about social science issues to a variety of audiences, including academics, work colleagues, and the general public.
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
  • Defining the Field of Sociology of Aging
  • Sociology and Social Theory
  • Aging and Agism
  • Biological vs. Social Approaches to Aging
  • Intersectional Theories of Aging
  • Work and Retirement
  • Education and Lifelong Learning
  • Health and Healthcare
  • Global Health
  • Technology
  • Future of Aging
  • Public Sociology
  • Social Change
Specific Course Requirements:

Students must have an internet connection and computer to access course content and complete assignments. If you are having trouble with internet or technology, check out the "Student Resources" section below. If technology access or problems are affecting your work, please let your instructor know.

Student Resources:
Technical support information can be found at the TN eCampus Help Desk.
Virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. To access virtual tutoring, visit the course homepage, and select Virtual Tutoring under Course Resources.
Information on other student issues or concerns can be located at TN eCampus Student Resources.

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:

This course utilizes open access resources to provide you with high quality, free content available online.
Links to these readings are embedded within each unit.

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:

None

Grading Procedures:

Your progress in this course will evaluated as follows: 

DescriptionPointsWeight
4 Individual Assignments
@100 Points Each
40030%
3 Discussion Assignments
@100 Points Each
30030%
Final Project and Preparation
@Various Points Each
40030%
5 Self Evaluations
@25 Points Each
12510%
Total1225100%

 

Grading Scale:

The following grading scale will be used to calculate your final grade: 

90 - 100% A
80 - 89% B
70 - 79% C
60 - 69% D
under 60% F

Assignments and Projects:
  • Individual Assignments - Students engage and critically interrogate sociological readings. Students will analyze, contrast, and reflect on the content of readings. Individual assignments may include scripting scenarios, reflections, and stakeholder analysis.
  • Discussions - Students will engage in multiple methods of analysis and communication to demonstrate understanding of content. These include utilizing images to communicate, causal layered analysis, and analytical writing.
  • Final Project and Preparation - Students create and original, creative final project that communicates something sociologically important about aging to an audience outside the classroom. Students brainstorm social problems, choose an issue, research problems and solutions, choose a strategic audience, develop a proposal, then create the project. This project has 4 graded components: (1) Brainstorming, 50 points; (2) Research, 50 points; (3) Proposal, 100 points, and (4) Final Project: 200 points.
  • Self Evaluation and Reflection - Students will reflect on and asses the quality of their learning.

 

Class Participation:

You bring unique, valuable knowledge to the class. A central feature of this class is students learning from each other, sharing insights, perspectives, and experiences. This course has no in-person or virtual meetings so class participation will be conducted through the assignments and projects listed above.

Late Policy:

Due dates are provided to help students pace their work, organize learning, and help the instructor provide timely feedback. Students are expected to submit work in accordance with the schedule provided but the instructor understands that sometimes students' lives and circumstances may conflict with the course schedule. Students should contact the instructor to discuss any trouble meeting due dates and options for success in the course.

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 August 19, 2021