SOC 1500 02: Introduction to Sociology

SOC 1500 - Introduction to Sociology

Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 41535,

Credit hours: 3

Course Meeting Times

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Instructor

Dr.Molly McNamara, PhD

Professional Qualifications:
BA YSU
MA
PhD Kent State University

Bachelors in Anthropology, Masters of Arts in social History, Doctorate in History

Email: mamcnamara@ysu.edu

Office: DeBartolo Hall 4th floor

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Public Instructor Information

Instructor Title: Dr, or professor 
Instructor Professional Qualifications:

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

Instructor Office Location: DeBartolo Hall 4th floor
Instructor Office Phone: mamcnamara@ysu.edu

Course Description

1500. Introduction to Sociology. An introduction to the science of human societies and groups: analysis of the structures, functions, and processes that bring about changes in societies, groups, communities, classes, and institutions. 3 s.h.

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

Diana Kendall Sociology 

provided articles :

Exam I:

“A Look Behind the Veil” Robert and Elizabeth Fernea

“The Yanomamo: The Fierce People” Napoleon Chagnon

“Even Anthropologists Get Culture Shock” Conrad Philip Kottak

Exam II:

“Surviving the Unbelievable” Elizabeth Rose

“The Sounds of Silence” Edward T. Hall/Mildred Hall

“Genie: A Case of Childhood Isolation” Susan Curtiss

Final Exam:

“The Land of Opportunity” James Loewen

“Why We Hate” Monieth, Winters

“Sociology” Tischler

“Miscounting Race” Gallagher

The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.  

Additional Course Materials

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Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives/Goals

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How to Succeed in This Course

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Attendance Expectations

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Late Work Submission Policy

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Additional Course Expectations

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Artificial Intelligence Policy Statement

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Assignments/Assessments

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Grading and Grading Scale

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University Policies

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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" policies and procedures
access the Kendall text and Blackboard please attend class
Thu 8/27 background on sociology Kendall text chapter 1 read the text
Tue 9/1 methods of research text attend class and read the text
Thu 9/3 methods of research, sociologists
Tue 9/8 theory, ethics in sociology PowerPoint attend class
Thu 9/10 Discussion #1 due by 12:15 go to the discussion board. Two posts are required: initial post and one response attend class, do the discussion before class
Tue 9/15 Culture read the articles on Culture Shock, the Yanomamo read the information, attend class
Thu 9/17 Quiz #1 due by 11:59 PM see the information on the quiz. Read Kendall Chapter 3 62-89, Genie article read the information
Tue 9/22 Culture, subsistence types read Fernea article attend lecture
Thu 9/24 Discussion #2 due by 12:15 components of culture attend class do the discussion
Tue 9/29 social structure class lecture attend class
Thu 10/1 socialization the personality attend class
Tue 10/6 socialization gender lecture attend class, read the information
Thu 10/8 EXAM I taken outside of class 11-12:15 ON line exam NO CLASS MEETING
Tue 10/13 feral children, child abuse Genie article read the article and text
Thu 10/15 Quiz #2 by 11:59 PM social groups Kendall chapter 4, 92-104, chapter 5 124-137 read the assigned material
Tue 10/20 social interaction, communication class lecture Hall article attend lecture
Thu 10/22 communication, deviance class lecture attend lecture
Tue 10/27 social control group conformity, obedience class lecture attend class and read the information
Thu 10/29 Discussion #3 by 12:15 PM take the quiz take the quiz are read the assigned information
Tue 11/3 social control prison system class lecture attend lecture
Thu 11/5 EXAM II 11-12:15 the exam is online outside of class. NO CLASS this day
Tue 11/10 social stratification lecture atted class
Thu 11/12 Discussion #4 due by 12:15 lecture do the discussion before class
Tue 11/17 Inequality and social class read the assigned articles read the articles
Thu 11/19 Quiz #3 by 11:59 PM take the quiz , class lecture. Quiz covers Kendall pages 320-345 the Family and Marriage take the quiz and read the chapters
Tue 11/24 social class poverty in America lecture attend lecture
Thu 11/26 OFF OFF
Tue 12/1 race and ethnicity lecture attend the lecture
Thu 12/3 Quiz #4 by 11:59 PM class lecture, review for final
Quiz covers Kendall Healthcare 424-450
read the material for the quiz
Tue 12/8 Finals week
Thu 12/10 FINAL EXAM scheduled by the university 10:30-12:30 10:30-12:30 mandatory online final taken outside of class take the final

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.