Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY /BRAZIL- SOCI 1010

Instructor: Shannon Little, Associate Professor Southwest Tennessee Community College

Credit Hours: 3

Catalog Course Description:

Introduction to Sociology introduces the student to the field of Sociology - its concepts, methods, theories and theorists. The sociological perspective is used in examining social interaction, social structures and social change.

How Program Site will be incorporated into the course:

Brazil's culture and society provide our students with a grand opportunity to appreciate a truly unique country. We will be able to explore Rio, one of the most exciting cities in the world, with its special culture. Samba, soccer, and sun with an emphasis on race relations and how it differs from the United States. Our stay leads up to The World Cup and will provide an exciting experience for our students. A major international event such as this is something our students rarely will have a chance to experience. The Sociology of Soccer will allow our students to understand how other societies differ from our football as a sport. Interacting with local Brazilians will allow us to interact and appreciate more the Brazilian culture.

Prerequisites:

SPW 0800, DSPR 0800 or equivalent

Textbook(s) and Other Course Materials:

Sociology by John Macionis. 14th edition ISBN 978-0-205-11671-3. You may use a previous edition if you can find one.

I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:

First Week: Topic 1

The Sociological Perspective, culture, society, socialization, interaction, groups, deviance. The World Cup will provide examples of how the U.S. and Brazil view sports.

Second Week: Topic 2

Social Inequality, social class in the United States compared with Brazil. Global and gender stratification, race and ethnicity with emphasis on race relations in Brazil.

Third Week: Topic 3

Social Institutions: the economy, politics and government, the family, religion, education (special emphasis on comparison with Brazil and the United States. Social Change and Social Movements. My article on Southern migration to Brazil after our Civil War will provide a useful example.

II. Course Goals

The course will:

A. Students will recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures, processes and the complexities of a global culture and a diverse society.

B. Students will think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in their own and other diverse cultures and explain how ones own belief system may differ from others.

C. Students will explore the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social development and quality of life of the individual, the family and the community.

D. Students will examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and their discipline's effects on individuals and society and use the most appropriate principles, methods, and technologies to perceptively and objectively gather, analyze, and present social and behavioral science research data.

E. Students will draw logical conclusions, and apply those conclusions to one's life and society take ethical stands based on appropriate research in the social and behavioral sciences.

F. Students will analyze and communicate the values and processes that are used to formulate theories regarding social context of individual human behavior for the social and behavioral sciences.

III. Expected Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

A. Students will develop an understanding of different cultures.

B. Students will understand society from a global perspective.

C. Students will understand and compare societies of American and Brazil.

D. Students will understand Brazil's institutions.

E. Students will understand the changes in Brazil's society over the past 25 years regarding race relations

IV. Evaluation:

A. Testing Procedures:Comprehensive final exam will count 50% of the grade andthree written assignments OR a film project to be determined with the instructorworth 25%B.Laboratory Expectations:NoneC.Research Paper:NoneD.Other Evaluation Methods:Service Learning - 25%E.Grading Scale:Please note that some TnCIS member institutions do not accept +and - grades, therefore all TnCIS grading scales must consist of only A, B, C, D, Fletter grades.A = 90-1000 = AB = 80-89 = BC = 70-79 = CD = 60-69 = DF = Under 60 = F