Course title: Introduction to Sociology

Course prefix, number, and section number: SOCI 1301. Sec. 401

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2026

Semester start and end date: January 12, 2026, to May 7, 2026

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Hybrid

Class meeting location, days, and times: Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Corinth Campus room 364

Lab meeting location, days, and times: None

Semester credit hours: 3

Name of instructor: Dr. Cherly Furdge

Office location: Online

Telephone number: 940-498-6238

E-mail address: cfurdge@nctc.edu

Course Description: The scientific study of human society, including ways in which groups, social institutions, and individuals affect each other.  Causes of social stability and social change are explored through the application of various theoretical perspectives, key concepts, and related research methods of sociology.  Analysis of social issues in their institutional context may include topics such as social stratification, gender, race/ethnicity, and deviance.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials: Macionis, John J. Society: The Basics. 16th edition.  Pearson.

Barnes and Noble Lion Book Bundle give immediate access to the textbooks from the first day of class by adding charge to your initial tuition was applied to cover this expense.

while the Lion Book Bundle is designed to help NCTC students easily obtain their course materials at a discounted price it may not fit every student. If you do not wish to participate in the program, you must opt out each semester. You can change your program status 30 days before the semester begins.

SPRING 2026 opt-out window:

Opens December 15th, 2025

Closes January 16th, 2026 (10:59 pm CST)

Office hours for students:

Monday:  By Appointment only

Tuesday: 11:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Thursday: By Appointment only

Friday By Appointment Only

What is a Hybrid Course?

A hybrid course (or blended course) combines traditional, in-person classroom instruction with online learning activities, reducing required campus time while maintaining face-to-face interaction for a flexible yet structured educational experience. Students split their learning between physical class meetings (for lectures, discussions) and online work (for readings, assignments, modules) through a learning management system. It is expected that students will complete the readings prior to coming to class and ask questions if needed.  Lectures may not be completed in class.  It is the student’s responsibility to complete readings and assignments on their own time.

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to change this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced in person and/or in writing as soon as possible.

 SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:        

7 Chapter Quizzes                   10%

4 Exams                                    20%

Mid-Term                                 20%

Final Exam                               20%

4. Reflective Essays                   10%

1 Concept App. Paper         20%

Final grade scale:                   90-100 A

                                                 80-89   B

                                                 70-79   C

                                                 60-69   D

                                                 59 and Below F

Late work policy: No assignments will be accepted late.  You must read your syllabus to ensure you are submitting your assignments on time.  All assignments will not be reflected on the to-do-list.  To see all assignments, you must click on module and go to the weekly modules to see all assignments SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: Cheating or collusion is prohibited.  There are no group assignments in this course.  Each student is responsible for their own assignment.  In the event you are caught cheating, the first time, you will receive a warning and a zero for the assignment.  Should you get caught cheating again, you will be dropped from the course and receive an F.

 Attendance Policy:  Attendance is Required. Not attending class will affect your grade.  You are allowed to miss 3 classes, excused or unexcused.  Every absence after 3, you will lose 5 points.  For example, if you miss 5 classes after the 3 allowable days, 25 points will be deducted from your final grade.

Withdrawal Policy  

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is March 30, 2026

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the basic theoretical perspectives of sociology.
2. Identify the various methodological approaches to the collection and analysis of data in sociology.
3. Describe key concepts in sociology.
4. Describe the empirical findings of various subfields of sociology.
5. Explain the complex links between individual experiences and broader institutional forces.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Empirical and Quantitative

Social Responsibility  

 COLLEGE POLICES

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodation.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority defines the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies’ rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

The use of any and all AI tools in this class is strictly prohibited.  This not only includes AI generating software such as Chat GPT, but also generative/corrective AI assistants like Grammarly or CoPilot.  The only extent of writing aid used should be simple spell-checking tools such as those provided by Microsoft Word.  AI usage will be verified by the TurnItIn service commissioned by the college and no other AI checking tool will be considered by the instructor. If caught using any AI for any writing assignments, the student will receive a zero on the assignment for the first offense and a warning from the instructor.  Any second offense will result in a zero for the entire class and an Academic Disciplinary Report submitted to the student’s record.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all the rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class.  If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division.  If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

Name of Chair/Coordinator: Charles Adams

Office location: Flower Mound Campus, room 107

Telephone number: 972-899-8424

E-mail address: cadams@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson

Office location: Gainesville Campus

Telephone number: 940-668-4209

E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu