Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Structure
This 8-week course is divided into 16 modules (2 per week). Each week:
- The first module will unlock at 12:00 a.m. on Sunday
- The second module will unlock at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday
To access course content, you must first complete the Start Here module, which provides more information about course requirements and your instructor's expectations. In addition, the Major Assignments module provides you with access to all the free-standing assignments discussed in the syllabus. You are not required to complete any of these assignments early. This module simply serves as bookmark space where you can access the assignments in order to work on them and submit them when you are ready.
Course Materials
Required Course Materials
- Trevino, A. J. (Ed) (2018). The Cambridge handbook of social problems (Volume 1). Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-1-108-42616-9
- Note: The textbook can be purchased used or rented at a significantly reduced rate from a number of outlets including Amazon.com and BN.com.
- Materials posted in the weekly modules
- List of books for book reaction paper (any book not on this list needs to be approved by the professor):
- Sex object: A memoir, J. Valenti, 2017
- Blood and earth: Modern slavery, ecocide, and the secret to saving the world, K. Bales, 2016
- $2.00 a day: Living on almost nothing in America, K. J. Edin & L. Shaefer, 2015
- Hillbilly elegy: A memoir of family and culture in crisis, J. D. Vance, 2016
- The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, R. Skloot, 2011
- The last time I wore a dress, D. Scholinski, 1998
- Mean little deaf queer, T. Galloway, 2009
Recommended Course Materials
- American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). American Psychological Association.
Grades
Breakdown
| Graded Activities & Assignments |
Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|
| Module-specific online assignments | 30% |
| Topic Paper | 20% |
| Book Reaction | 20% |
| Final paper | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage Earned |
Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90-100% | A |
| 80-89% | B |
| 70-79% | C |
| 60-69% | D |
| <60% | F |
Course Components
Module-Specific Assignments
These assignments may include completing the assigned reading, participating in discussion posts, and/or writing reaction papers in response to materials posted online (e.g., videos, notes, etc.). Not all module-specific assignments will be graded. Specific information and instructions will be posted under the relevant weekly module. Graded module-specific assignments will be worth ten points. Five points will be possible simply for completing the assignment, two points will be possible for following the directions correctly, and three points will be possible for the overall quality of the work that is completed. If you complete a module-specific assignment late, your grade for that particular project will be reduced by 50%.
Discussion Posts
During weeks where graded discussions posts are due, you will be expected to make three postings to the relevant discussion forum. First, you will be expected to post a response to the posed question. This response will be due by Wednesday of the week during which the assignment is due. Then, by Friday of that same week, you will be expected to post a response to at least two of your classmates. You are encouraged to engage in a dialogue with one another, however, a minimum of two responses to your classmates is necessary. The professor will additionally make relevant postings to the forum.
You will need to make all posts to receive full credit for the assignment. However, the assignment will only be considered late if you do not make the final posting on time. Failure to make the first two posts on time will result in a two-point deduction for not following instructions correctly.
Reactions/Responses
During weeks that a response to online notes, videos, or the assigned readings are due, you will be expected to complete a written response to a reaction question. A question to which you are expected to respond, as well as the material needed to respond to the question and any relevant instructions, will be posted under the relevant module. Your response should be at least two to three double-spaced pages long.
Book Reaction
Throughout the semester, you should be reading your selected book review text (see above for a list of approved books). You may choose a book that is not on the list; however, your selection needs to be relevant to the context of the class and needs to be approved by the professor.
You will be expected to complete a written analysis of this book. The book review should be approximately five-to-seven double-spaced pages long and should include your critical analysis of the book (the cover page and references do not count towards the page limit). You should discuss the content of the book, the author’s perspective, and your thoughts on this, and the book’s relevance to our course material. You should include in your analysis a discussion of the larger literature on the issue the book addresses as well as any relevant current events. To this end, your references list may contain news articles and websites for advocacy organizations as well as scholarly sources. At a minimum, you should have five references, of which three should be scholarly (a peer-reviewed journal article, a chapter from an edited volume, or a book published by an academic press). You are encouraged to have more than five sources, but this is the minimum for this assignment.
Your paper should be typed using 12-point font and conventional margins, should be proofread and spell and grammar checked, and should be formatted using APA stylistic guidelines (we are using the 7th edition of the APA style guide). All outside sources should be cited appropriately using correct APA formatting. All papers should be submitted to Canvas.
Your paper will receive a grade out of 100 and will be graded using the following criteria: 20% for using appropriate formatting, etc.; 30% for critical thinking (i.e., the degree to which you provide thoughtful analysis and discussion of the book); and 50% for the content of your paper (i.e., the degree to which you meet the requirements of the assignment).
Do not hesitate to contact the professor if you have any questions about this assignment.
Topic Paper
For this paper, you will be expected to select one of the topics we are covering in class for further exploration. You may select any of the topics we have or will cover.
Your paper should include an overview of the topic that you have selected. You should explain the various dimensions of the problem (e.g., the ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, culture, etc. interact when considering this problem). Your discussion should move beyond what we covered in class and should represent a deeper dive into the topic.
You need to use at least seven sources for your paper, of which no more than two may be reports published by governmental, non-governmental, and/or non-profit organizations, news stories, or websites. The remainder of your sources needs to be scholarly books and/or journal articles. Only one of these may be a chapter we covered in class. Your paper should be approximately nine-to-ten pages long and should be typed, double-spaced, and should use conventional margins (the cover page and references do not count towards the page limit). Finally, your paper needs to conform to APA formatting guidelines (we will be using the 7th edition of the style guide).
Your paper will receive a grade out of 100. Final grades will be assessed in the following manner: 10 points for stylistic considerations (correct use of APA format, font, margins, page length, etc.); 60 points for content (the thoroughness of your discussion of the topic you selected and the completeness of your analysis, etc.); 30 points for critical thinking (the degree to which you provide a thoughtful analysis of the dimensions of the topic)
Final Paper
For your final paper, you will be expected to select an issue relevant to current problems in human relations to analyze. You will be required to obtain approval for your topic from the professor by the relevant date. It is highly recommended that you select an aspect of the problem to discuss; this will make your paper more manageable (e.g., rather than looking just at drug use in general, look at teenage drug use or discuss urban homelessness rather than homelessness in general, etc.). You may draw upon your textbooks and the book review books for examples of the kinds of problems you may want to consider. You may also email the instructor with any questions or for assistance in selecting or narrowing a topic. Selecting a topic that you are passionate about is recommended.
Your paper should include an overview of the problem that you have selected. You should explain the various dimensions of the problem (e.g., the ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, culture, etc. interact when considering this problem) and the reasons why you have selected it as a current problem for human relations. This should include a discussion of how the problem manifests (e.g., how the issue generates the kinds of consequences that make it a social problem). In addition, you should provide an analysis of some of the ways in which the problem can be addressed (what has already been done, why has this worked or not worked, what do you think should be done to address the problem and why, etc.?).
You need to use at least 10-15 sources for your paper, of which no more than three may be reports published by governmental, non-governmental, and/or non-profit organizations, news stories, or websites. The remainder of your sources needs to be scholarly books and/or journal articles. Only one of these may be a chapter we covered in class. Your paper should be approximately 10-15 pages long and should be typed, double-spaced, and should use conventional margins (the cover page and references do not count towards the page limit). Finally, your paper needs to conform to APA formatting guidelines (we will use the seventh edition of the APA style guide).
Your paper will receive a grade out of 100. Final grades will be assessed in the following manner: 10 points for stylistic considerations (correct use of APA format, font, margins, page length, etc.); 60 points for content (the thoroughness of your discussion of the problem you selected, the completeness of your analysis of potential solutions to the problem, etc.); 30 points for critical thinking (the degree to which you provide a thoughtful analysis of the dimensions of the problem, the thoughtfulness of your discussion of potential solutions to the problem, etc.)
Course Policies
Communication
Email is always the best way to reach your professor. You should expect a response within 48 hours (including weekends and holidays). If 48 hours or more have passed without a response, a follow-up email may be sent. Any urgent questions or concerns that require more immediate attention should be flagged as such in the subject line (simply write “urgent”). During the week, you can expect a response to an urgent request within a few hours. However, on weekends there may be a delay of a few hours to a day before you can expect a response. The professor will communicate with you via the “announcements” section of your Canvas page as well as through Canvas messages. No email will be sent to personal email addresses. It is essential that you check the “announcements” regularly as well as that you read your OU email.
Late Policy
Late work will only be accepted for full credit if an acceptable excuse is provided. An acceptable excuse takes the form of a documented personal illness or emergency (e.g., a doctor’s note) or documentation of required participation in a work or government-sponsored activity that precludes the completion of the required coursework (e.g., a notice of jury duty). However, students should always contact the professor in the event that they experience difficulties completing their work in a timely manner. Each case will be considered on its own merits, and a student who is struggling for any reason should reach out for assistance as this is the best way to ensure success in the program. If your instructor does not know that you are struggling, they cannot help you!
If you anticipate that you will need additional time to complete an assignment or that you will be unable to meet the original deadline for any reason, it is your responsibility to communicate with your professor earlier rather than later in order to discuss a possible extension. Otherwise, if you hand in an assignment late, it is necessary to get in touch with your professor ASAP in order to discuss the reasons for your late assignment and to provide documentation where appropriate.
Outside of an excused late assignment (extensions will be granted at the discretion of the instructor), any work handed in more than ten minutes after the deadline will be considered late. All late work will receive a 10-point deduction for every 24-hours it is late. Note, the policy for module-specific assignments is different, and these will receive a 50% deduction when handed in late.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding of the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|