Welcome Page

Social Problems, Hybrid (SOC 202 DE)

Spring 2015

Frank Ha, PhD

Link to Moodle (instructions on how to log on is below)

Syllabus

The syllabus is in two parts. The first part contains course information, including required books and course requirements. The second part contains the course schedule.

Syllabus, Part 1: Course Information

Syllabus, Part 2: Course Schedule

Waitlist procedure

If you are on the waitlist, please read the college waitlist procedure found here. If you are still on the waitlist on the first day of class, Tuesday, January 20, you will be sent an add code in the morning. If there are more than ten students on the waitlist, only the first ten are guaranteed an add code. YOU MUST ADD THE CLASS BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY.

Welcome and start date

My name is Frank Ha and this is the hybrid version of the Social Problems (Sociology 202) course that I teach. If you have never taken an online course or used Moodle, you will need a few hours to get familiar with the structure. This is a hybrid course, meaning that you will have to come on campus to take exams five times (see below). You will be able to log on to Moodle (our learning management system that we will be using) on the first day of class. Instructions for logging on are below.

Mandatory meetings

This section has mandatory face-to-face meetings, on the following Mondays: 2/9, 3/2, 3/23, 4/20 and 5/18 in room 6304 from 5:00-7:00pm on the San Luis Obispo campus.

Contact information

Contact information can be found on my main page at academic.cuesta.edu/fha (opens in new window). The best way to reach me is via email at fha@cuesta.edu.

Logging on to Moodle:

1. Go to the Moodle site at moodle.cuesta.edu (opens in new window).

2. Click on the login link at the upper right corner of the page.

• Login name matches your my.cuesta login name: firstname_lastname.
• Default Moodle password is: Changeme1 (note that the C is capitalized)
• You will be forced to change your password the first time you log in. The password must have at least 6 characters, at least 1 digit, and at least 1 upper case letter.

If you forget your password:

1. Click on the “Forgotten your username or password?” link on the login page.

2. To reset your password, submit your username or your email address on the reset password page. If they can find you in the database, an email will be sent to your email address, with instructions how to get access again.

For more information, you can read the Moodle Quick Reference(http://library.cuesta.edu/distance/docs/Moodle_for_students_QR.pdf) (opens in new window).

Getting started:

After you log in, find our course by clicking on the category SOC and then clicking on "Spring 2015 - SOC 202 - CRN# - Social Problems" on the page that lists the SOC courses.

Instructions on getting started can be found there.

Problems logging on?:

If you are having problems logging on, go to Cuesta Technical Support(http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/technical_support.html) (opens in new window) for information on how to get help. You can also try calling the Help Desk in the Computer Lab, room 3400. Their phone number is 546-3100 ext: 2802. If no one is there, send an email to support@my.cuesta.edu.

Instructions for late add students

If you did a late add, you will also have to be added to the Moodle site. To do this, send an email to support@my.cuesta.edu and tell them you need to be added to Moodle. Include the following information:

Name: __________

Class: Social Problems

CRN: __________

Instructor: Frank Ha

MyCuesta login: __________

Logging on to Moodle screencast

A screencast covering how to log in to Moodle can be found here: Logging on to Moodle (opens in new window).

Required textbook

THINK Social Problems, 2/E. 2013. John D. Carl. Pearson.

The above textbook is required. The textbook is available at the campus bookstore (link to the Cuesta campus bookstore).

Instructor-initiated dropping of students who do not log on to Moodle and make at least one post by Sunday, January 25:

Students who have not logged on to Moodle and made at least one post by Sunday, January 25 may be dropped from the course unless the student contacts the instructor before that day. If you do not plan dropping the course, you must drop by yourself. It is the student’s responsibility to drop if you do not plan on taking this course.

Reinstatement policy

If a student has been dropped due to this attendance policy, the instructor may reinstate the student if all of the following conditions have been met:

a. The student appeals for reinstatement based on extenuating circumstances for the absence. Extenuating circumstances are verified cases of accidents, illness, and other circumstances beyond the control of the student.

b. The student had been doing satisfactory work and has a reasonable chance of passing the course based on the instructor’s judgment.

c. The student is readmitted is by March 29.

Dropping the course

It is the student’s responsibility to officially drop a class by the withdrawal deadline.

Last day to add class: 01-FEB-15

Last day to drop with a refund: 01-FEB-15

Last day to drop without a "W": 01-FEB-15

Last day to drop with a "W": 19-APR-15

Census Date: 02-FEB-15

NOTE: All courses in which you earn a grade of "D", "F", "NP" and/or "W" are counted as "unsatisfactory" attempts to successfully complete the course. You are only allowed 3 attempts to repeat courses for which you receive an "unsatisfactory" grade. A "W" on your transcript will count as an "unsatisfactory" attempt to successfully complete the course.

Student learning outcomes

• Demonstrate that I have the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the study of sociology.
• Use critical thinking and perceptive reading skills
• Use my skills for sociological analysis
• Show an understanding of concepts, language, and definitions sociologists use to interpret their vision of social life.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method.
• Analyze social events using major sociological perspectives.
• Describe the characteristics of current social problems. Discuss the types and extent, the causes, the consequences, possible solutions, and the politics surrounding them
• Describe the research methods and theories used to understand social problems from a sociological perspective
• Display a critical understanding of how social problems are shaped by historical transformations and current societal patterns
• Discuss the role of inequality, power, and prejudice in understanding social problems

Academic integrity

Cheating is absolutely not tolerated. You are encouraged to study together for the exams. You are encouraged to discuss take-home essays with others, but you cannot work on the essay together. Take-home essays should be written completely independently. Plagiarism will result in a zero on that part of the exam, at minimum. Also, asking someone who has taken an exam before you have about the content of the exam, for example, if there is an essay on the exam or not, or receiving information about an exam that you have not yet taken is prohibited. For more information on the college's policy regarding cheating refer to the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct(including Student Computer Technology Access Agreement)http://academic.cuesta.edu/president/2008BP/BP5000/AP 5500_Standards of Conduct.pdf(opens in new window).

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) or the instructor as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. The DSPS phone number is 546-3148, and they are located in the Academic Support Center, Building 3300. Here is the link to the DSPS page: http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/dsps/ (opens in new window).

Student computer competency requirements

Students are expected to know how to use a computer and use an internet browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, or Chrome. Why don't you take the Online Class Readiness Quiz : http://library.cuesta.edu/distance/survey.htm (opens in new window) to see if you are ready.

Computer requirements

Browser requirements and minimum computer specifications can be found at http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.html (opens in new window).