SOC 1500 - Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 40109,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Molly McNamara
Professional Qualifications:
Social historian, 36 years of teaching and research experience, Trained in public history, nineteenth century America, colonial America, minority history, WWI, and modern Europe, social history and deviance.
Undergrad YSU
Graduate degrees Kent State University
Dr. M McNamara. Bachelors in anthropology, Masters in History, PhD in social history
Email: mamcnamara@ysu.edu
Office: De Bartolo
Additional Contact Methods:
mamcnamara@ysu.edu
Preferred Contact Method: email
How to Refer to me:
Dr. or professor
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Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Diana Kendall Sociology |
The text book is embedded into the course and available to students. Additional articles are also available to students and accessed on Blackboard. Students must have access to Blackboard Ultra for this course. You may also share a link to computer lab locations on campus. Textbook: Diana Kendall Sociology
Articles are all located in the course content and are available to students
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introduction to class "rules of engagement" | Please attend the first day of class Development and origins and Diana Kendall suggested reading: chapter 1, and class notes what is sociology? Why study sociology? The various related disciplines, and important contributions | attend class |
| Thu | 8/27 | begin reading Diana Kendall | is sociology common sense? | attend lecture |
| Tue | 9/1 | Background on Sociology History of the discipline and social science Kendall chapter 1, and class notes chapter 5 Kendall, "How Sociologists Do Research." perspectives and theories | Kendall chapter1, and 5 | read and attend |
| Thu | 9/3 | Background on Sociology History of the discipline and social science Kendall chapter 1, and class notes chapter 5 Kendall, "How Sociologists Do Research." perspectives and theories | read Kendall, artilces, and notes | read and attend |
| Tue | 9/8 | Sociologists, methods of research | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 9/10 | Discussion #1 due by 10:45 AM students must attend class | class lecture Discussion #1 due | complete the discussion before class |
| Tue | 9/15 | culture chapter 2 Kendall | class lecture, Kottak article, Chagnon, Fernea | read the articles |
| Thu | 9/17 | culture | lecture | attend class |
| Tue | 9/22 | culture | lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 9/24 | Quiz #1 taken outside of class due by 11:59 PM | Quiz 1 open book note. Students must attend class on this day Quiz 1 Kendall Chapter 3, pages 62-89 |
take the quiz attend class |
| Tue | 9/29 | social structure | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 10/1 | social structure groups and organizations | Discussion #2 due by 10:45 am | complete discuss and attend class |
| Tue | 10/6 | social interaction | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 10/8 | Exam I due OUTSIDE of class | Exam I is taken online outside of class. Do not miss the exam. | take the exam |
| Tue | 10/13 | socialization, personality | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 10/15 | socialization into gender | class lecture | attend class |
| Tue | 10/20 | social groups, interaction, deviance | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 10/22 | Quiz #2 due by 11:59 PM | Quiz 2 is taken online outside of class. Students must attend class Social groups, Kendall 92-104, chapter 5 124-137 |
take the quiz and attend class |
| Tue | 10/27 | social interaction, deviance, social control | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 10/29 | social control, prison system | class lecture | attend class |
| Tue | 11/3 | deviance | class lecture and review for Exam II | attend class |
| Thu | 11/5 | EXAM II taken outside of class 9:30-10:45 AM | Exam II must be taken on this date outside of class | take the exam |
| Tue | 11/10 | social straification | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 11/12 | Discussion #3 due by 10:45 AM | attend class | attend class and take notes |
| Tue | 11/17 | social class, caste versus class. Inequality | class lecture | attend class |
| Thu | 11/19 | Quiz #3 must be taken outside of class by 11:59 PM | Quiz #3 due. Students must attend this day The Family and Marriage in Kendall pages 320-345 |
take the quiz nad attend class |
| Tue | 11/24 | Discussion #4 due by 10:45 AM | last discussion due | attend class and do the discussion |
| Thu | 11/26 | OFF | OFF | |
| Tue | 12/1 | race and ethnicity | class lecture and articles | attend class |
| Thu | 12/3 | Quiz #4 due by 11:59 PM | Quiz #4 must be taken outside of class. Students must attend this day Kendall Healthcare 424-450 |
take the quiz and attend class |
| Tue | 12/8 | finals week | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | FINAL EXAM 8-10 am outside of class, online | Finals are set by the university and must be taken at the scheduled time. DO NOT MISS THE FINAL The final concludes the class. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.