SOCY 443: Deviance (Fall 2018)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:15
Davis 212
Dr. Joanna Hunter
Office: 3107 CHBS | Phone: 831-5130 | email: jhunter35@[Link]
Office hours: Wednesdays 1:00-4:00 re escrip and Objectives
Three hours classroom lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. This course explores
major sociological theories of deviance and examines the socio-political dynamics surrounding
definitions of "morality," "normalcy" and goodness in societies. Particular attention is given to
sociological approaches to crime, mental disorders, drug/alcohol use, and sexuality.
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the social and cultural factors that shape individuals’ deviance.
2. Explain social or behavioral science concepts.
3. Use social or behavioral science concepts to interpret real-world problems of crime and
deviance, including the underlying origins of such problems.
4. Examine contemporary issues relating to deviance in the United States.
Requred Readings
The following texts, available at the University bookstore, are required for this class:
Inderbitzen, Michelle, Kristin Bates, and Randy Gainey. 2013. Deviance and Social Control: A
Sociological Perspective. Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4129-7377-9.
Wilkins, Amy. 2008. Wannabes, Goths, and Christians: The Boundaries of Sex, Style, and
Status. University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 978-0-226-89843-8.
Course Assignments and Grading
Analysis Paper: In order to aid your understanding of the sociology of deviance, you will
produce a 12-15 page paper that provides in-depth analysis of a topic of your choosing. This is
a scaffolded assignment, meaning you will turn in various portions of the assignment throughout
the semester, which will culminate in a final paper due December 7. More information is
provided in a separate document. The Analysis Paper is worth 40% of your final grade in this
class.
Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative and will consist of essay questions. The final exam is
worth 40% of your grade.
Discussion and Participation: I will distribute a sign-up sheet during the first class. Each
student will sign up to be a designated discussant and a designated respondent for one
day/reading. You will be graded on the quality of your work. This portion of your grade is with
20% of your grade in this class.
Grading Scale
Final Grade Breakdown
A
100-94
A-
93-90
Analysis Paper
40%
B+
89-87
B
86-83
Final Exam
40%
B-
82-80
C+
79-77
Discussion and Participation
20%
C
76-73
C-
72-70
D+
69-67
D
66-63
Total
100%
D-
62-60
F
59 and below
Course Policies
Attendance: I firmly believe that you are all adults and, as such, can make an informed decision
whether to attend class. Therefore, I will not entertain conversations about “excused” absences,
except in extraordinary circumstances. The outcome of missing class due to a “legitimate”
reason such as your own illness is the same as missing class because you didn’t feel like coming
that day: you are not present for classroom discussion. As noted above, 10% of your final
grade in this course is based on the quality of your participation in class and your completion of
various unannounced classroom assignments.
Religious Holidays and Other Excused Absences: If you will be missing class for religious
reasons or University-sponsored functions, you must contact me in advance of missing class and
you are still responsible for any material covered.
Communication: In accordance with RU policy, I consider your [Link] email address the
default method of communication with you. You are responsible for checking your email
regularly for announcements. I expect that you have regular access to a computer that can access
the Internet and that you will consistently log in to the D2L site to complete your work.
Late Work. As noted, in-class assignments cannot be made up. Exams may be taken in
advance with a legitimate excuse (i.e. University-sponsored travel, etc) but may only be made up
after the fact in extraordinary circumstances. Components of the Analysis Paper should be
submitted to D2L on the dates listed below by 5:00 PM. Subsequent late submissions will be
penalized 10% per 24 hour period (including weekends). No assignments may be submitted
more than 5 days past the due date barring any extraordinary circumstances.
General Courtesy and Professionalism: Please arrive on time to class; arriving late is a
distraction both to me as the instructor and to your fellow classmates. Please turn your cell
phones off during class as they are disruptive. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates
during class discussions by not reverting to personal attacks or otherwise unprofessional
behavior. Diversity of experience adds to our classroom climate and I expect you to respect
that.
Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment
to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in
strict observance of the Honor Code. The Office of the Dean of Students has additional
information on their website at [Link]/dos.
Students with Disabilities: Students seeking academic accommodations under the Americans
with Disabilities Act must register with Radford University’s Center for Accessibility Services
(CAS). The policies regarding students with disabilities may be found at their website
([Link] or by calling the main office at (540)831-6350 or emailing
cas@[Link].
