SOCIAL CONTROL AND DEVIANCE, SYP 4570
				        Syllabus
			      Florida Atlantic University
				     Fall, 2014	
				    3 credit hours
 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-12:20
Locations: GCS 120								
INSTRUCTOR:	Dr. Thomas C. Wilson
			office: CU 245
			e-mail: wilson@fau.edu
			phone: 561-297-3273
	office hours: T-TH 12:30-3:30 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Credit from this course counts toward the sociology major provided the grade earned is C or better.  There are no prerequisites for this course.

The sociology of deviance and social control addresses the kinds of, causes of, and reactions to behavior that many people find to be immoral, repulsive, untoward, or merely odd. 

 In studying deviance, it is crucial to avoid taking a moralistic stance.  Instead, the student must attempt to hold his or her moral beliefs in abeyance, in order to understand rather than to judge.  

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 
1.	 Students will learn the difference between the absolutist and relativist conceptions of deviance.  Students will learn to critique the former, and learn how the latter approach provides a better sociological understanding of deviance. 
2.	Students will learn to apply the macro-sociological theory of functionalism to deviance, and will learn how deviance and our reaction to it contribute to social cohesion.
3.	Students will learn that deviance is often taken as evidence of social disorganization, but is often more accurately seen as evidence of social change from traditional to modern social formations. 
4.	Students will learn the processes by which deviant persons and deviant behaviors are social constructed as a result of the collective reaction of social groups.

EVALUATION OF STUDENTS: There will be three take-home essay exams, each counting 1/3 toward the final grade.  Students will have one week to complete each exam.   

Final course grades will use the following scale and will NOT use pluses and minuses: A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F < 60% .

POLICY ON MAKE-UP EXAMS AND LATE WORK:  It is recognized that exam dates and deadlines sometime prove impossible for students for serious reasons that are beyond students’ control.  (These do NOT include mere matters of convenience). If you need a special arrangement, please discuss your circumstances with me before the exam date. 

READINGS:  All readings will be posted on  BLACKBOARD (http://blackboard.fau.edu).  Be sure to check often for new posts.  

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY:  The quality of your performance on the exams will surely be enhanced by your regular class attendance.  Students are strongly urged to arrive to class on time, and to remain until class is over.   Roll will occasionally be taken, and students in attendance will receive bonus points. 

ACCOMODATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:  In Compliance with the Americans with  Disabilities Act (ADA), students who require special accommodations due to a disability to properly execute coursework must register with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) located in Boca Raton – SU 133 (561-297-3880) and follow all OSD procedures.  

CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY STATEMENT: Students at Florida Atlantic University are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards.  Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, is considered a serious breach of these ethical standards, because it interferes with the University mission to provide a high quality education in which no student enjoys an unfair advantage over any other. Academic dishonesty is also destructive of the University community, which is grounded in a system of mutual trust and places high value on personal integrity and individual responsibility.  Harsh penalties are associated with academic dishonesty.  For more information, see University Regulation 4.001 at http://www.fau.edu/regulations/chapter4/4.001_Code_of_Academic_Integrity.pdf

SOME RULES AND SOME ADVICE:  

Class demeanor: This class will be tolerant of all opinions.  Personal attacks and criticisms will not be tolerated.  Any student who is not respectful of their fellow students will be asked to leave.  

Laptops and other electronic devices ARE NOT TO BE USED during class time. 

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.  This includes but is not limited to: 
 cell phone use or text messaging during class;
 reading materials not related to the course in class;
 conversations with other students in class; 
 ostentatious displays in inattention (e.g., napping). 

Read assigned material BEFORE coming to class.   Class lectures and discussions are likely to make little sense if you haven't. 

Frequently check BLACKBOARD for new posts. 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:  

Week 1: Aug. 19, 21		What is deviance?  

Week 2: Aug. 26-28		Absolutism v. relativism.

Week 3: Sept. 2-4		Approaching functionalism.

Week 4: Sept. 9-11		The functions of deviance

Week 5: Sept. 16, 18		Review to date; review exam 1 questions.

Week 6: Sept. 23-25	 	Deviance and social disorganization.  

Week 7: Sept. 30, Oct 2	Social disorganization (cont.)

Week 8: Oct. 7-9		Defining deviance down.

Week 9: Oct. 14-16		Video: Blood in the Face

Week 10: Oct. 21-23	Review of social disorganization; review of Exam 2 questions.

Week 11: Oct. 28-30		The social construction of reality.

Week 12: Nov. 4-6		The social construction of deviance. 

Week 13: Nov. 11-13		No class Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day; 
				The societal response to constructed deviance.

Week 14: Nov. 18-20		The societal response (cont.)

Week 15: Nov. 25		Review of social construction; review of Exam 3 questions. 

Tuesday, December 9		Final Exam, 10:30-1:00