101 Syllabus

Introduction to the Social Sciences

COURSE SYLLABUS

SSC 10101 Class number 70649 Fall Quarter, 2005
Dr. Dorothy D. Wills Cal Poly Pomona

Class meetings: MWF 9:15-10:20, Bldg. 5-143
Units: 4 (no lab)
Instructor: Dorothy D. Wills, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology
Format: Lecture, discussion, reading, activity/exercise
Final exam: Mon., 12/5, 9:10-11:10
Office: 5-147
Hours: MW 8:00 - 9:00 and 10:30 - 11:30, Tues. 11 - 12, or by appointment.
Phone: X3582
Home page: www.csupomona.edu/~ddwills/
Email: ddwills@csupomona.edu

Required Books

Zulke, Frank, and Jacqueline P. Kirley, Through the Eyes of Social Science. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press, 2002 (6th ed.).

Dick, Philip K., The Philip K. Dick Reader. New York: Kensington Books, 1997.

Other readings may be assigned or provided in class.

Catalog Description

SSC 101 Introduction to Social Sciences (4)

An analysis of the disciplines that make up the social sciences with particular emphasis on their interrelationships. A study of source materials and library techniques as well as methods employed by social scientists. Relevancy of the Social Sciences to understanding and solving contemporary problems at the national and global levels. 4 lecture-discussions.

Required Background or Experience

None.

Expected Outcomes

The student will have the ability to:

A. Identify the concerns of social science disciplines.
B. Articulate the basic terminology and theories prevalent within each discipline and across disciplines.
C. Construct research design(s) using both qualitative and quantitative models within the social sciences.
D. Write fieldwork exercises that apply the methods and theories of social science to contemporary issues.
E. Critically read popular and periodical literature from a social science perspective.

Outline of Classes

Topic Assignment/Activity

Sept. 23 Overview of course, requirements, goals. READ Zulke I for Mon.
Questions, discussion, assessment. WRITE question.

Sept. 26 Discussion of basic principles and concepts. Zulke II for Fri.
What is the basic epistemology of the social sciences? "Minority Report" for
Some standard approaches to gathering data. Mon.

Sept. 28 Survey of the social sciences. Prepare survey topic ideas.

Sept. 30 The social sciences: how they are related, and how "Hanging Stranger"
they are different. Some social science disciplines
that are interpenetrated with humanities or natural sciences.

Oct. 3 Historical foundations of the social sciences. Zulke III for Fri.
Is history a social science?

Oct. 5 Is objectivity possible in the study of human beings? HOMEWORK: Newspaper
Scientific method? Ethical issues in social science and science. article due Oct. 12th.

Oct. 7 Research design. Choose team survey project. Zulke IV.

Oct. 10 Social and biological evolution: the pitfalls of metaphor. Anthropology, the study of humankind. Biological basis of society and culture (if any?!). Zulke V for Fri.

Oct. 12 Guest speaker on economics: Dr. Ruiz. "We Can Remember it …"
For 10/19.

Oct. 14 Survey design and administration. Zulke VI for 10/24.

Oct. 17 Data collection week. Film shown in class.

Oct. 19 Analysis of data in teams in class, if necessary. Zulke VII for 10/26.

Oct. 21 Class discussion of surveys. Individual survey notes and analysis due Oct. 24th.

Oct. 24 Review of readings and issues. Culture and Zulke VIII.
ethnicity in America and the world. Aspects of individuals: gender, sexuality. Individual marriage survey reports due.

Oct. 26 Discuss research project. Sociology. "Paycheck" for Mon.

Oct. 28 Basic institutions of society.Marriage, kinship, the family and education. Zulke IX.

Oct. 31 Library research session with Emma Gibson. "The Father-Thing"

Nov. 2 Zulke X for Mon. Fieldwork: Neighborhood analysis. No class.

Nov. 4 Neighborhood analysis continues. No class.

Nov. 7 Variability, deviance, labeling and social groups. Social stratification. Zulke XI for Fri.

Nov. 9 MID-TERM. Neighborhood assignment due.

Nov. 14 Economic issues. Distribution of resources.
Planning and development. Causes and consequences of social problems. Zulke XII for 11/18.

Nov. 16 Political organization and behavior. "Exhibit Piece" for Mon.

Nov. 18 Different 'forms' and 'levels' of social organization. Design final project.

Nov. 21 Population research. Zulke XIII

Nov. 22 Varieties of religious experience. "Second Variety"

Nov. 23 The modern world. Zulke XIV.

Nov. 28 Changes in the concepts of the individual, the family, the neighborhood, community, etc. Serious problems of the future (and present): the environment, climate, over-population, war.

Nov. 30 Applied social science research. Choose a story.

Dec. 2 Discuss research projects and review. Projects due.

Dec. 5 9:10-11:10 Scheduled final.

Requirements for an excellent grade

1. Regular attendance. Participation in discussions is very desirable. If this is difficult for you due to language, shyness, or a disability, please see the instructor. If you will be unable to attend class, please inform me ahead of time (except in cases of emergency or illness). You are expected to take your own notes, unless you arrange with a classmate to borrow theirs, during an illness or other excused absence.

2. Completing all assigned work on time, including readings, projects, exercises, and test preparation.

3. Use of good communication skills in written and oral communication. If you have any English language difficulties, help is available (see me for further information). Always proofread written work.

4. Good performance on the mid-term, final exam, and other requirements.

5. Adherence to high standards of student ethics. If you are unsure of the definition of plagiarism or other violations, please ask me. We will discuss the proper form for citation of sources in class. Group study is highly recommended. However, the end product should reflect your own effort only.

Assignments

You have two homework assignments and two projects, which will be discussed in class. I have not decided whether to give a final or several quizzes in lieu of it. We can discuss that, too. The evaluation will approximately be as follows:

Homework #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Homework #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15%
Project #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
Project #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15%
Final/quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Class work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%

100%