Course Description
This course will focus on an examination of social diversity within the American society. The course will describe essential issues and the social significance of cultural minorities with special emphasis on the experiences of African Americans, as well as Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and Euro-American ethnic groups. The student will explore the interrelationships of values, socioeconomic status, social mobility, racism, assimilation, and segregation. This course is also designed to sensitize the student to the roles that race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and sexual orientation play in societal definitions of social diversity. (3 credits)
Students who have completed SOC 211: Sociology of Diversity will not receive credit for SOC 315.
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
- SOC 101: Sociology
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Comprehend and apply the defining characteristics of social diversity according to Sociological principles.
- Comprehend, apply and analyze the underlying theoretical perspectives of concepts pertaining to social diversity.
- Exhibit knowledge and comprehension of the concerns and issues surrounding race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age and social diversity.
- Synthesize and evaluate the value, scope and historical context of social diversity as it pertains to race, ethnicity, social class and gender.
- Analyze, synthesize and evaluate the importance of theories that reinforce definitions and concepts of social diversity.
- Comprehend, apply and evaluate the wide-ranging effects of social diversity and contemporary social issues.
- Apply, synthesize and evaluate perspectives and research to currents issues and concerns of social diversity.
- Identify, analyze and synthesize the major issues of social diversity within our contemporary society.
- Develop, apply, analyze and evaluate problem-solving strategies as they pertain to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and social class.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions Questions | 25% |
Weekly Quizzes (listed as "Quickie Quiz" at the end of the lesson) | 25% |
Midterm Essay Exam (Week 4) | 25% |
Final Essay Exam (Week 8) | 25% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
- This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are no cost for students.
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1, 2, 3 | Topics: Principles and Concepts of Social Diversity
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2 | 1, 3, 4, 5 | Topics: Assimilation and Pluralism
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3 | 2, 5 | Topics: Prejudice and Discrimination: Individuals and Society
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4 | 4, 6 | Topic: Evolution of Dominant-Minority Relations in theU.S.
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Midterm Exam | |||
5 | 3, 4 | Topics: African Americans and Native Americans
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6 | 3, 4 | Topics: Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans
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7 | 3, 4, 7, 8 | Topics: Euro-American Ethnic Groups, Immigration, Assimilation, and Social Diversity
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8 | 4, 6, 9 | Topic: Gender, Sexual Orientation and Social Diversity, Themes, Patterns, and Trends for the Future
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Final Exam | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.