Sociology 322 (Sect 1)
MINORITY GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES
Spring, 2008 (Syllabus/Contract)

Course Table of Contents

 

Instructor:     Dr. John S. Mahoney, Jr. Ph.D.

Class Meets:   Monday and Wednesday: 4:00-5:15 PM

Office: Scherer Hall, 923 W. Franklin St. Room 414

Classroom: Harris Hall (HHall) Room 2129  (Formerly, the Business School)

Phone:            (804) 828-6515

e-mail:            jmahoney@vcu.edu

Office Hours:   Monday-Thursday 1:00 PM–2:00 PM; Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-11:30 AM (or by appointment)

 Web Sites:     http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jmahoney/index.htm    

                        http://www.abacon.com/parrillo8e/                       

Required Texts: (Available at the VCU Book Store.  You may also want to check the VCU Student Government Sponsored Book Exchange web page at http://www.vcusga.com/.  Be careful to compare prices and make sure that you get the right edition.)

Parrillo, Vincent N.    Strangers to These Shores: Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States. (8th                                    ed.) New York: Allyn & Bacon Publishers, 2006.

Gould, Stephen J.      The Mismeasure of Man. (2nd ed.) New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1996. 

Ridgeway, James.      Blood in the Face, The Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, Nazi Skinheads, and the                                    Rise of a New White Culture. (2nd ed.) New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1996.

Overview:

    The United States is a land of immigrants; a cultural mosaic formed by a wide diversity of racial and ethnic groups. Understanding racial and ethnic relations is crucial to comprehending social life in this country.  Vincent Parrillo, the author of this course's primary text, has stated that "The field of race and ethnic relations touches everyone--directly and indirectly-- in personal, national, and global terms."  This course's primary focus is upon patterns of relationships involving the large number of racial, ethnic and religious groups that exist in our society.  In sociological terms, "majority" generally refers to the group holding power-- the "dominant group" in society. Minorities, on the other hand, tend to lack power, receive unequal treatment, and are held in low esteem by the majority (and possibly other minorities).  Understanding the minority experience in the United States is difficult because three major theories offered to explain the integration of minorities into the larger society (assimilation, amalgamation, or pluralism) have taken on a political tone of what avenues should be open to minorities.  This course addresses in detail the experiences undergone by American minorities.  Sociology, with its emphasis on group life, is especially suited to this task.

 Course Objectives:  

1.

Apply the sociological perspective to an understanding of majority/minority relations in this country. 

2.

Explore as fully as possible the meaning of power as it defines majority and minority and the relations between them.

3.

Understand patterns of tension between majority and minority and explore means of resolving them. 

4.

Examine the experiences undergone by selected minority groups in their quest to attain equal opportunity in this country.

5.

Consider the basic philosophies offered to incorporate minority groups within society and debate the problem of providing minorities with full equality under the law. 

6.

Examine the threat posed to all American minorities (especially racial, ethnic, and religious) by radical right wing movements. 

Tests:

     There will be two tests (each representing 20 percent of the course grade) and a final examination which will comprise 25 percent.  Each will cover material discussed in class and the material that you have been assigned to read.  Tests will contain both an "objective" section comprised of multiple choice, matching, or fill-in-the-blank questions, and an essay section.  The final examination is cumulative.  You will also be required to write two 6-9 page papers on course-relevant topics of your choice (subject to my approval)... or there is also an option for you to do a project of your choice which we will discuss together.  The papers will comprise 20 percent of your grade. Class participation counts 15 percent.

Class Attendance and Participation:

     A course such as this works best when all class members are active participants.  Class participation will count 15 percent toward your final grade.  If you accumulate unexcused cuts I will lower your grade at my option.  Six or more unexcused cuts can result in a course grade of "F."  Please arrive on-time.  Students arriving late may not be given attendance credit.  Whenever possible, I want to be informed in advance if you will miss class.  I will be assigning specific readings and articles for class members to research and present.

Make-Up Tests:

     Normally, I do not give make-up tests, but students with valid excuses who cannot take any of the tests on the days scheduled will be allowed to take a make-up test under the following conditions:  The excuse must be valid-- e.g., serious illness, death in the family, participation in a university sponsored athletic event, etc.  Whenever possible, I want prior notice in writing.  College policy requires that make-up tests be given as close to the scheduled test date as possible.

Academic Integrity Policy:

     I expect all students to abide by VCU's Honor Code, which means simply, that all the work that you do for this course (and the university as a whole) must be your own.  Do not cheat and do not tolerate those who do!   Class participants who violate the honor code can be dismissed from this course and from the university. This also applies to plagiarism.  The work that you do on the written assignments must be your own and all source material that you use must be properly cited.  I cannot stress this enough.  If I find evidence of plagiarism, I will either assign a zero to the paper or turn it into the University Honor Council.  If you are unsure of what the VCU Honor System is, go to this web address and read carefully: http://www.vcu.edu/provost/univ_policies/honor.htm

Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Accommodation Policy:

     If you have a disability which is covered under the ADA and you wish an accommoda­tion relative to this class, please discuss this with me within the first two weeks of class.  This informal discussion must be followed up with a formal request, in writing.  Together we will find the right accommodation.  Assistance in the form of accommodation ideas, can also be obtained through VCU's Office of Disability Support Services (Ms. Joyce Knight, jbknight@vcu.edu, coordinator) University Student Commons, Suite 102;  Mailing address: PO Box 842500, Richmond VA 23284-2500   Phone: (828‑2253).  

Security-- What to Know and Do To Be Prepared for Emergencies at VCU:
1. Sign up to receive VCU text messaging alerts (http://www.vcu.edu/alert/notify). Keep your information up-to-date.
2. Know the safe evacuation route from each of your classrooms. Emergency evacuation routes are posted in on-campus classrooms.
3. Listen for and follow instructions from VCU or other designated authorities.
4. Know where to go for additional emergency information (http://www.vcu.edu/alert).
5. Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234).  Report suspicious activities and objects.

Important Dates:

Monday, January 21

University Closed to Observe Holiday

Wednesday, February 6

First Paper/Project

Proposal Due 

Wednesday, February 20

First Test 

Wednesday, March 5

First Paper/Project Due

Sunday, March 9 – Sunday March 16

Spring Break

Wednesday, March 19

Second paper/Project  Proposal Due

Friday, March 21

Last Day to Drop Class With a Grade of "W"

Wednesday, March 26

Second Test

Wednesday, April 23

Second Paper/Project Due

Monday, April 28

Last Day of SOCY 322 

Monday, May 5

Final Exam (4:00-6:50 P.M., HIBBS 303) 

 

Course Outline and Reading Schedule

Part I:

Tools of the Trade: The Sociological Perspective and Its Application to the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations; (defining majority and minority; sociological theory; the cultural context; power, and the American mosaic) 

(January 14 – February 18)  (TEST:  Wednesday, February 20st) 

Parrillo; (We will cover about one chapter per week).

Chapters.  1-4:  pp. 1-124
(OPTIONAL) Chapter 14: pp. 508-521 

Gould;

Chapters. 1 through 4 

Part II:

A Detailed Examination of Selected American Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups-- Social Interaction, and Social Structure; (Native Americans, African Americans, and Europeans) 

(February 25 – March 24th)  (TEST:  Wednesday, March 26th) 

Parrillo; 

Chapters. 7, 10, 5, 6; pp. 210-258; 340-384; 126-165; 166-207 

Gould;

Chapters 5, 7 (all) Chapter  6: pp. 264-280; 291-302; 303-315; 322-326

Part III:

Asian and Hispanic Immigrants; Religious Minorities and Women-- Minorities as Victims of the Politics of Hatred; (The Radical Right:  Extremism and the roles of power and hatred in minority oppression) 

(March 31st –  April 29th)

(FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 5th 4:00-6:50 PM; (HHall) Room 2129 ) 

Parrillo; 

Chapters 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14; pp. 260-304; 306-338; 386-428; 432-472; 476-505; 522-541 

 Ridgeway; 

(All) 

 

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