HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOC-121Bergen Community College
Division of Business, Social Sciences & Public Services
Department of Social Sciences
Departmental Policy Syllabus
SOC-121 Changing Roles of Women
Date of Most Recent Syllabus Revision: March 5, 2009
Course Typically Offered: Fall____ Spring____ Summer____ Every Semester__x__ Other_________________
Syllabus last reviewed by: BCC General Education Committee ____ Date:____________
(Most courses need review Ad Hoc Committee on Learning Assessment ____ Date:____________
by only one of the following) Curriculum Committee: ____ Date:____________
An individual classroom syllabus for this course must include as much of the following information as
is applicable:
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and Year:
Course and Section Number: [e.g., SOC-121-001]
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional]
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
SOC-121 is an introductory, interdisciplinary study of the changing roles of women with an emphasis on
analyzing women’s roles utilizing basic sociological perspectives. From an historical and contemporary
context, topics of discussion include feminism and the women’s movement, biological, psychological, social
and cultural influences on gender, the media and gender, gender and families, and women’s gains and non-
gains in education, work, and politics. In each instance, the course will utilize fundamental concepts, theories
and data to explore changing women’s roles.
3 lectures, 3 credits
Prerequisites: None
C-requisites: None
Social Science Elective
General Education Course
Diversity Course
Student Learning Objectives/Means of Assessment
Objectives: Upon successful completion, the
student will be able to:
Means of Assessment: This outcome will be
measured by one or more of the following:
1. demonstrate the ability to apply basic
sociological theories in understanding the
changing roles of women in America (i.e.,
conservative, liberal, and radical perspectives, as
well as functionalism, conflict theory, and
symbolic interactionism) to a variety of social
phenomena and institutions)
Objective tests, essay questions, oral reports, class
discussions, and writing assignments
2. apply the perspective of cultural relativism when
viewing the diverse social world in which we all
live.
Objective tests, essay questions, oral reports, class
discussions, and writing assignments
3. utilize the scientific method and the unique tools
developed by sociologists and feminist
researchers to objectively analyze social
environments.
Objective tests, essay questions, oral reports, class
discussions, and writing assignments
4. use critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate
the ways in which sociologists and feminist
researchers examine their social world.
Objective tests, essay questions, oral reports, class
discussions, and writing assignments
5. state and support their own views on feminism
and the changing roles of women in America, as
well as related issues addressed in the course,
both orally and in writing, with logical rigor and
clarity.
Objective tests, essay questions, oral reports, class
discussions, and writing assignments
Course Content
This course is designed for the students to:
1. gain an historical overview of women's changing roles in America;
2. gain a broad understanding of feminism;
3. recognize important views and theorists within feminist literature/women's studies;
4. understand the economic and social diversity of women's roles;
5. understand women's gains and non-gains in education and work;
6. recognize the importance of political power for women's issues and social issues in general;
7. understand the role of violence as power and control; and
8. learn about the lives of minority women in America and their needs.
Topic headings that are preceded by an asterisk (*) are considered essential topics in this course.
The coverage of additional topics in this class are at the discretion of the individual instructor.
Part I – Introduction
Chp. 1: Studying Women: Feminist Perspectives*
Part II Gender, Culture, and Sex
Chp. 2: The Social Construction of Gender*
Chp. 3: Gender, Culture, and the Media: The Social Construction of Knowledge*
Chp. 4: Sexuality and Intimate Relationships
Part III Gender and Social Institutions
Chp. 5: Gender, Work, and The Economy*
Chp. 6: Gender and Families*
Chp. 7: Women, Health, and Reproduction
Chp. 8: Women and Religion*
Chp. 9: Women, Crime, and Deviance
Chp. 10: Gender, Education, and Science*
Chp. 11: Women, Power, and Politics*
Part IV Gender and Social Change: Frameworks of Feminism
Chp. 12: Women and Social Reform, Liberal Feminism*
Chp. 13: Contemporary Frameworks in Feminist Theory*
Special Features of the Course (if any) [to be designated by the instructor]
E.g., the use of learning technologies in the course (Internet, PowerPoint, etc.); the inclusion of
technological literacy and/or information literacy learning in the course; etc.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
Valuable Texts for Reference:
Women’s Roles in 20th Century America by Marta May, Praeger Press, 2008.
Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives, by Kirk and Okazawa-Rey, McGraw Hill, 3rd. Edition, 2004.
Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions, McGraw Hill, 2nd Edition, 2004.
Research, Thinking, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s)
All students in the Changing Roles of Women course will be expected to engage in one or more written
assignments. These assignments may be essay questions on one or more tests, an essay test, or a short
written report based on outside readings or activities. Students should be encouraged through classroom
activities to think about, analyze, and use basic sociological concepts in the analysis of the changing roles
of women. Memorization of key concepts and theories should be thought of as the first, not the final,
stage of learning significant course materials.
Grading Policy
In determining a student’s semester grade, a minimum of three, and preferably more, grading
mechanisms should be employed. Multiple choice, matching, fill-in, true/false, and short answer
questions are appropriate. Term projects and research reports may be utilized, as well as essay
questions based on outside readings should be considered. If a web site for the course is develope d (this
is encouraged), students may also be evaluated on the basis of their participation in online discussions.
Online exams are acceptable, if they are one of several assessment tools.
Grading System:
Students will be presented with a grading system for the course on the first day of the semester. The
grading system will include, at a minimum, two or three components:
1. A scale for determining grades A-F, such as the following:
a. A = an average of 90 or higher
b. B+ = an average between 87 and 89
c. B = an average between 80 and 86
d. C+ = an average between 77 and 79
e. C = an average between 70 and 76
f. D = an average between 65 and 60
g. F = an average lower than a 65
2. An explanation for the value of course components can include as per the following:
a. 3 tests: each test represents 25% of the final grade for a total of 75%
b. 1 short paper: represents 20% of final grade
c. attendance/participation represents 5% of final grade, or if online,
d. 5 online discussions: each discussion is 20% of final grade for a total of 100%
Attendance Policy
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Sociology Discipline Attendance Policy:
The discipline has agreed to leave attendance policies up to the discretion of each course instructor.
Attendance Policy in this Course:
To be determined by the instructor
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements [optional but recommended]
Examples:
Code of Student Conduct.
Statement on plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty.
ADA statement.
Sexual Harassment statement.
Statement on acceptable use of BCC technology.
Statement on the purpose and value of faculty office hours.
Student and Faculty Support Services [optional but recommended]
List support services, e.g., the Writing Center, the Math Lab, the Tutorial Center, Online Writing Lab
(OWL), Office of Specialized Services, etc.
Include a statement on the BCC Library.
Example:
Student and Faculty Support Services
The distance Learning
Office-for any problems
you may have
accessing your online
courses
Room C-334
210-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
Smartthinking Tutorial
Service
On Line at: www.bergen.edu/library/learning/tutor/smart/ind
ex.asp
The Tutoring Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
The Writing Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
The Online Writing Lab
(OWL)
On Line at: www.bergen.edu/owl
The Office of Specialized
Services (for Students
with Disabilities)
Room S-131 201-612-5270
www.bergen.edu/oss
The Sidney Silverman
Library
Room L-226 201-447-7436
Include a Course Outline and Calendar
The Course Outline and Calendar must include all of the following elements;
A daily or (at least) weekly schedule of topics to be covered.
Dates for exams, quizzes, or other means of assessment.
Due dates for major assignments-e.g., due dates for the paper(s), due dates for the project(s) etc.
Any required special events-e.g., a lecture by a visiting speaker, a dramatic performance etc.
A note to students stating that the course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
UNIT # TOPIC ASSIGNMENT
Week 1
Part I: Introduction:
Studying Women: Feminist
Perspectives
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 1
Week 2
Part IV:
Gender and Social Change:
Frameworks of Feminism:
Women and Social Reform,
Liberal Feminism
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 12
Week 3
Contemporary Frameworks
in Feminist Theory
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 13
Week 4
Part II Gender, Culture, and
Sex: The Social
Construction of Gender
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 2
Week 5 Gender, Culture, and the
Media: The Social
Construction of Knowledge
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 3
Week 6 Test 1 and
Sexuality and Intimate
Relationships
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 4
Week 7
Part III Gender and Social
Institutions:
Gender, Work, and The
Economy
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 5
Week 8
Gender and Families
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 6
Week 9
Women, Health, and
Reproduction
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 7
Week 10
Test 2 and
Women and Religion
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 8
Week 11
Women, Crime, and
Deviance
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 9
Week 12
Gender, Education, and
Science
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 10
Week 13
Women, Power and
Politics
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 11
Week 14
Women, Power and
Politics Continued
Thinking About Women: Sociological
Perspectives on Sex and Gender, by
Margaret L. Andersen, Pearson
Publishers, Chapter. 11
Week 15 Presentation of Special
Projects and Review
Week 16
Test 3/Final Exam,
Final Essay
Papers/Projects Due, If
Assigned
Note to Students: This Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending upo n the
progress of the class.