Spring 2026 | SOC-1010-VR01 - Introduction to Sociology

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Melissa Holmes
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

General Education Requirements

Social Science

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of the basic issues, concepts, theories, and methods of sociology. Students learn to think critically about the nature of society and social institutions, and the relationship among individuals and groups. Topics will include social organization, socialization and social change, social stratification, class and class conflict, biological sex, gender expression, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, and ability.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the origin and development of sociology as a social science and give examples of how sociological concepts, theories, and methods can be used to explain cultural and social phenomena around the world.
2. Discuss how the interrelationships of heredity, environment, and social agents contribute to the development and socialization of the self.
3. Discuss the influence of social, cultural, and institutional contexts on behavior norms in global societies.
4. Compare the structure and function of various social groups and identify the factors which affect group dynamics.
5. Differentiate between functionalist, conflict, and interactionist explanations of deviance and social control.
6. Compare theories of social stratification based on biological sex, gender expression, sexuality, class, race, ethnicity, age, and ability and discuss resulting inequalities including power differentials, prestige, and privilege.
7. Identify key social institutions such as the family, education, religion, politics, and economy and examine their composition and function in global societies.
8. Demonstrate and interpret how demographic and statistical research is used to understand and respond to social change and recognize critical questions and ethical issues related to quantitative claims.
9. Describe the applications of sociology locally and globally and the various roles that sociologists play in today's societies.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

Teaching Methods/Learning Activities

• Small-group and whole-class discussions
• Mini-lectures with Powerpoint with Audio
• Small group activities
• Reaction writing and writing assignments
• Mini retention quizzes from time to time, no major tests
• Midterm Research Methods Sociological Study
• Career Exploration Assignment
• End of Class Reflection Papers
• Use of movies and modern works of fiction and fact

Evaluation Criteria

• How Your Work Is Evaluated in This Course

  Your written work is the heart of your learning in this class. Sociology becomes meaningful when you connect ideas to your own life, so your weekly reflection papers and assignments make up 55% of your final grade. These are your opportunities to think deeply, apply concepts, and make the material real.

  You will also complete two major assignments:

• Midterm Study – 20%

• Final Capstone Reflection Paper – 20%

• These larger pieces allow you to synthesize what you’ve learned and demonstrate your growth across the semester.

• Attendance & Participation (5%)

  Being present—physically and mentally—matters. Participation is worth 5 points, and while that may sound small, it can shift your final grade significantly. You are allowed three absences without penalty. After that, attendance affects your score.

  Please note:

• Arriving late or leaving early will reduce your participation points.

• Not participating at all—or dominating the conversation—can also negatively impact your score.

• Don’t worry: I will always provide comfortable, accessible ways for you to participate, including smallgroup discussions, partner work, and collaborative activities. My goal is to help every student find a voice that feels authentic and safe.

• Participation is about balance, respect, and engagement, not performance.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Late Work Policy (Clear, Strict, and Kind)

Submitting work on time is an important part of your success in this course. To respect your time and mine, and to keep our class running smoothly, I use a clear and consistent latework policy.

You do not need to email me to ask permission to submit late work or to explain why it is late. You are adults managing complex lives, and I trust you to handle your responsibilities.

Here is the policy:

• Late work is accepted for up to two weeks after the due date. After two weeks, the assignment will not be accepted.

• A 5point deduction is applied for each day the assignment is late. One hour late and 24 hours late both count as one day (5).

• No points are deducted for verified systemwide outages.

This policy rewards students who plan ahead and submit work on time, while still giving flexibility when life gets complicated.

If you experience a major life event—such as a serious illness, injury, or death in the family—please reach out as soon as you are able. Documentation will be required, and we will make a plan together. These situations should be rare, and I will always approach them with compassion.

Experiential Learning Expectations

Hours: 1-5

Interview Assignment Overview

In this course, you'll complete an interview with a professional working in a helping-related field. This is your chance to connect classroom learning to the real world.

Who Can You Interview? Choose someone who works in one of these areas:

• Sociology

• Social Work

• Counseling or Therapy

• Education

• Criminal Justice

• Healthcare

• Or any role that focuses on helping others or creating social impact

What’s the Goal? You'll learn how professionals apply key ideas from class in their day-to-day work—how they handle challenges, make decisions, and serve their communities.

Assignment Details

• Find a professional and schedule an interview

• Use guiding questions provided in class

• Submit a reflection/report based on your interview

Need Help? If you're not sure who to contact, I’ll help you brainstorm ideas or point you toward helpful resources.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.