REQUIRED TEXT:  Giddens, Anthony, Sociology , 4 th edition. Other readings will be assigned on a case-by-case basis.

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM: In this class you will learn a lot about yourself, the groups, the community, and the society in which you live in now. Most importantly however, you will be challenged, through exercise of the Sociological Imagination, to think about yourself and social life in new ways, away from the ordinary and mundane. Using this kind of framework, we will come to understand basic sociological concepts and the processes of sociological investigation. The readings and lectures cover a broad range of subject matter, all of which will intrigue you in different ways. Examples include sociological theory, research methods and how to apply them, culture, society, social interaction, globalization, social groups, deviance, global stratification, race, ethnicity, gender and family, as well as social inequalities, and social change. We will discuss, explore, and learn how to appreciate that which seems invisible in our social lives and thereby gain a stronger sense of the world.

            II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course provides an introduction and overview to the discipline of sociology, the study of human society and human life. As you might already know, it is a social science that enables us to understand the social world we are living in today, yesterday and tomorrow. In essence, sociology offers a unique perspective—an approach on how to view the world sociologically. We will first learn what makes sociology distinctive among the social sciences and how to critically consider our personal environments and the larger world in which we live from a sociological perspective.

III.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

•  Class Participation (class discussion and serious effort): (15%)

•  3 Essays: (30%)

•  3 Exams – Drop the lowest grade: 30% (15% each)

•  Final examination: (25%)

More on assignments:

The aim of the written assignments is to get you engaged with the material and familiarize you with sociological research. Needless to say, your papers must be free of grammatical and typographical errors. They will be graded on both content and style. The citations and bibliographies should conform to the Modern Language Association (MLA). You should become acquainted with some specific examples and use of the MLA Style Guide http://library.osu.edu/sites/guides/mlagd.html . The assignments must be double spaced, in 12-point font, with 1-inch margins all around. Do NOT use extra spacing for titles, etc. Your bibliography page does not count as part of the page limits stated above. The Writing Center is a great resource – use them.

Essays: You will have one week to complete the assignment . All papers must be the full length as listed in the assignment (usually it will be four pages). I will ask you to choose ONE question that is related to our readings, and class discussions. You MUST consult at least three sources from JSTOR. The articles you have consulted must be attached to the paper (otherwise I will not accept it and you will receive a 0) . Please see me or e-mail if you have any questions about papers. AVOID PLAGIARISM – YOU WILL RECEIVE A 0.

More Assignment Evaluation:
Please make your responses both concise and thorough. Generally speaking, the comments that I will write on your assignments may be in the form of questions designed to help look closer at the phenomenon at hand. Grades will be assigned according to several criteria including:
Completeness of response— For each assignment, use an essay format to write your answer. There should be an introduction, body and conclusion. Refer to concepts, terms and/or ideas given in the text when appropriate.

Accurateness of response— Although I will not comment on the rightness or wrongness of your own personal beliefs, I will expect that you use concepts, theories and ideas presented in your textbook correctly.

Thoughtfulness of response— I expect that you will demonstrate your knowledge of the material with clear and concise, well-thought responses.

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

IV. COURSE OUTLINE 

Week One
Course Introduction/Themes/Requirements

Week Two
Introduction to Sociology - Chapter 1

Week Three
Culture and Socialization - Chapter 2

CASE

Week Four
A Changing World - Chapter 3; Everyday Life – Chapter 4

Week Five – ESSAY ONE HAND-OUT
EXAM 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)

*** Week Six - ESSAY ONE DUE at 5:00 pm ***
Gender and Sexuality - Chapter 5; Sociology of the Body – Chapter 6

CASE

Week Seven
Families - Chapter 7

CASE

Week Eight
EXAM 2 (Chapters 5, 6, 7, and assigned reading)

Week Nine – ESSAY TWO HAND-OUT
Race, Ethnicity, Migration – Chapter 9

CASE

***Week Ten - ESSAY TWO DUE at 5:00 pm ***
Poverty– Chapter 11

CASE

Week Eleven
Education - Chapter 16

EXAM 3 (Chapters 9, 11, 16, and assigned reading)
Week Twelve

Work and Economic Life – Chapter 13;

Government - Chapter 14

Week Thirteen– ESSAY THREE HAND-OUT
Religion - Chapter 17;

Urbanization - Chapter 18;
CASE

Week Fourteen
Methods of Social Research – Chapter 20

***Week Fifteen – ESSAY THREE DUE***
FINAL (“LAST”) EXAM (Chapters 13, 14, 17, 18, 20 and assigned reading)

V. Importan Notes and Policies:  

This course serves as an important pre-requisite for ‘Social and Economic Development'. If you need this course as part of your major (please check), students must earn a minimum of a C- in ‘Sociology' in order to qualify for future enrollment.

- In order for you to succeed and master the required elements of this course, it is highly essential that you fully commit yourself to be a member of this course so that you are able to complete all the readings that have been assigned. I strongly recommend that you do not leave everything until the day they are due- you will ‘drown' if you choose this secondary option and failure becomes evident.

- I teach all of my classes in the form of an ongoing dialogue with my students, rather than in a traditional lecture format. For this reason, discussion of the readings in class is both encouraged and expected. In my view, strenuous debate and discussion facilitate the learning process – some of the most important insights are often gleaned in the heat of an argument. If you don't agree with a point that is being made (either in a reading or in class discussion) speak up and we'll address your issue. The class will be more interesting for all of us if you don't allow yourself to become passive recipients of the material.

- As your instructor, I am responsible for facilitating learning and serving as a resource for you in this class. It is my job to challenge you, to consider your work against the standards I set forth and objectively salute your progress. My ultimate goal is for all of you to succeed.

-Students who approach their education with a sense of excitement and a willingness to learn become more productive students. Holding on to the belief that you HAVE TO take this course prevents you from embracing the point that you GET TO take this course. This course may be outside your major area of interest, but the content will relate to your daily activities at home, work, and school. Enjoy the class and look for the concepts to be applicable in your daily life and I think you'll be surprised at what you can accomplish this semester.

-You are expected to notify me if you must miss a scheduled exam. Out of fairness to all students, I have a very strict assignment and examination policy. Here is the policy: Missed assignments will be counted as F's, and absolutely no late assignments will be accepted except under exigent circumstances and with prior approval from your Instructor. Late assignments or missed exams have an automatic 10 percent deduction.

-If you need to sleep, please do so outside of class. Cellular phones MUST be switched off during class. On no account should students answer their cell phones during class, or leave the room to do so.

-Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable. Plagiarism is quoting from, paraphrasing, or using specific ideas contained in any published work, e.g. books periodicals, public documents, internet, etc…, or using another person's ideas without providing an appropriate citation or recognition which credits the author and/or origin of the work or idea, and presenting them as if they are your own. Academic dishonesty can refer to a range of inappropriate and unethical behaviors including but not limited to cheating on exams, falsification of sources, and so on. As in other courses at the University, students in this class are expected to do their own work and conduct themselves in a fair, honest, and ethical manner. Those who plagiarize or engage in academic dishonesty of any kind may minimally expect to fail the assignment at hand and perhaps the entire course. In addition, instances of academic dishonesty and plagiarism may be dealt with through proper University channels for investigation and disciplinary action. Any student found cheating on the exam or plagiarizing a paper will receive an “F” for the exam or paper and may receive an “F” for the entire course. If you have any concerns about what counts as plagiarism, please speak to me or your student advisor as soon as possible.

-All students are expected to arrive to class on time, not to disrupt the class and to treat each other with the utmost respect. Disruptive behaviors that interfere with the instructor's ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn will NOT be tolerated. Examples may include routinely entering class late or leaving early; carrying on running conversations not related to the classroom discussions; using beepers, cellular phones or other electronics during class. If extraordinary circumstances exist where a student must carry a beeper/cell phone to class, prior approval of the instructor will be required. CONTINUAL DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN THE STUDENTS COURSE GRADE OF UP TO 10 %.

-You are responsible for making sure you keep on top of all requirements and assignments in the class. This is YOUR education, and YOU have to take responsibility for it. Keep an updated copy of your syllabus with you at all times and check it regularly to see what is due.

- Please Note: If you feel that you have special learning difficulties, please, make an appointment with Marita Flagler. She is trained to help students with learning difficulties.

-If you are having trouble with anything in class please contact me as soon as possible.

- Classes that fall on National Holidays will be rescheduled on the same week that they were missed. Be advised that failure to show up in the ake-up classes will result in an absence.

REQUIRED TEXT:  Wade, Carole & Tavris, Carol, (2003) Psychology New Jersey, Prentice Hall (7^th ed.)

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM: This course is an overview of the field of psychology. It is intended to provide students with knowledge of the most recent findings about human nature, the methods used to gather scientific information, and the status of controversies in the discipline of psychology. It attempts to answer the kind of questions that you may have asked about yourself.

            II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: It is expected that by the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.      Describe the scientific methods used in psychology for gathering knowledge.

2.      Describe the major dimensions of personality. Identify the basic concepts of learning.

3.      Discuss reasons why we forget and how to improve memory.

4.      Describe the relationship among stress, health, and coping.

5.      Discuss the concept of intelligence, how it is measured, and the controversies surrounding its measurement and use.

6.      Identify the basic concepts of learning.

7.      Discuss the impact of societal and cultural influences on behavior.

8.      Describe the basic components of the various types of psychological disorders.

            III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

            A. Attendance and Participation:  Attendance in class is mandatory and students who miss more than three classes may be required to withdraw from the course.

Students with perfect attendance will be given extra credit toward their final grade (for example, a B would become a B+).

            B. Class Discussion Topics: At the beginning of each class, each student will submit in writing, two original discussion topics/questions based on each chapter of assigned reading for the week. The pages in the text on which the questions are based will be cited. Please, make sure that the answer of your questions is not in the book.

            Ten percent (100 points) of your final grade will be based on Class Discussion Topics.

            C. Examinations:  There will be two exams including the final examination.  They will consist of a series of multiple choice questions, short answers and essay questions covering the material presented in your textbook, material discussed in class and all assigned readings. EACH exam will account for twenty-five percent (250 points) of your final grade.

            Make up exams will NOT be given unless the instructor is notified one week prior to the scheduled exam or in documented cases of emergency

            D. Group Presentation: Students will be divided into groups of three (max.) Each group will choose a different, specific topic of their interest, which is relevant to the course material. The topic must be approved by the instructor. Each group will review the literature (books, scholarly articles) and present the findings in class for further discussion. Each group is required to provide a copy of the outline presentation to the classmates and to the instructor. Presentations should be 30 minutes in length and should facilitate the class discussions.

The second day of the class, students should have made the decisions on their favorite topic. Ten-percent (100 points) of your final grade will be based on the presentation.

            E. Paper:  Each student is required to prepare a paper. You may choose to write about a specific aspect/issue of the same topic of your group presentation. Remember, your paper needs to be unique and individually written.. The paper should be 4-5 pages long, and must be typed and double-spaced. The paper will account for 200 points of your grade.

IV.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

            Attendance and Participation-                           100 points

            Class Discussion Topic -                                   100 points

Midterm Examination -                                      250 points

            Final Examination -                                            250 points

            Group Presentations-                                        100 points

            Paper-                                                              200 points 

Total:                                                                          1000 points 

Grading scales: 

V. COURSE OUTLINE 

Chapter                                                                     Session

1. What is Psychology                                                      1

2. Psychology and Research                                             2

13. Theories of Personality                                               3

5. Body Rhythms and Mental State                                   4

7. Learning                                                                       5

11, 12. Emotions & Motivation                                        6

Midterm Exam                                                              7

8. Behavior in Social Context                                           8

9. Thinking and Intelligence                                              9

10. Memory                                                                   10

6. Sensation and Perception                                            11

3. Evolution, Genes & Behavior                                      12

15. Stress and Coping                                                    13

16. Psychological Disorders/Treatments                          14

Final Exam                                                                   15

Guidelines for writing the paper 

As mentioned above, the paper will be graded on a 200-point scale as it follows:

 10 points - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

                         10 points - Is clearly written and easy to follow

                         30 points - The defense of your position.

50 points - At least four references (Internet web sources –1; books or professional journal articles – 3)

                         50 points - Demonstration of critical thinking.

                        50 points - Mastery of course material. 

• Late papers will result in a 10-point deduction each day the assignment is overdue (for example, the paper will be given 190 points if submitted 1 day after deadline, 180 points after 2 days, 170 points after 3 days, etc.)
• Any medical illness must be reported in advance to the instructor to be considered excused.
• You should begin thinking about areas of interest as soon as possible, and you will need to meet with the instructor to discuss the scope of your paper and receive final approval.
• I strongly advise you to consult with your English professor for writing assistance.
• Papers must be prepared according to APA Style. Be sure to proofread your work to assure that there are no incomplete sentences, nor spelling or grammatical errors. Please refer to these useful links:

APA Style- http://www.apastyle.org/

APA Publication Manual Crib Sheet - http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html 

http://www.csubak.edu/ssric/Modules/Other/plagiarism.htm 

Purdue Writing Lab-                                                   http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/index.html 

• Any work turned in that is not your own will result in a failing grade.
• I am always willing to review draft papers before they are submitted. Please note that I can preview any completed papers e-mailed to me at least 1 week  before the due date.  I am not responsible for computer problems or your inability to complete papers in a timely fashion. 
• A successful paper will follow the basic format:

1-Introduce your topic - What is the topic and Why you have selected it? This section should be 1 -2 paragraphs.

2-Summarize what you know about the topic. USE YOUR OWN WORDS!!  This section should be approximately 2 - 3 paragraphs. 

3-Describe what you found out from the literature review.  This section should be at least 2 - 3 paragraphs. 

4-Discuss the findings, by comparing them with text material. Define and explain your own opinion. Make sure to strongly support your arguments. Be sure you tie it into what you have discussed in the previous paragraphs.  This section is the MAIN part of your paper and should be at least 3 - 4 paragraphs. 

5-Provide one-paragraph conclusion of your study of this topic.

REQUIRED TEXT:  Muchinsky, Paul M. Psychology Applied to Work , Brooks/Cole Publ. (7 th ed.)

 GENERAL INFORMATION:

            I. AIM: Industrial/Organizational psychology deals with the human behavior in the workplace. I/O psychology tends to increase the fit between work force and workplace, by focusing on both the workers and the organizations, which employ them. Topics like personnel recruitment and selection, psychological testing, interviewing, training and performance evaluation are some of the major topics that will be discussed.

             II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

A . Attendance and Participation: Attendance in class is mandatory and students who miss more than three classes may be required to withdraw from the course.
Participation has 10% of the Final Grade, therefore all students are encouraged to contribute in all class discussions.

B. Case Studies: At the beginning of each class, each student will submit a one to two page (maximum two pages) analysis of the Case Study assigned for that week. The Case will be related to assigned reading material. There are 11 Case Studies in your schedule, however only 10 Cases will be marked and they will account for 20% of your grade. Each student can choose for him/herself the case that he/she wants to skip.

C. Examinations: There will be two exams including the final examination. They will consist of a series of multiple choice questions, short answers and essay questions covering the material presented in your textbook, material discussed in class and all assigned readings. EACH exam will account for 25% of your final grade.

Make up exams will NOT be given unless there are documented cases of an emergency.

D. Group Project (Paper and Presentation): The purpose of this project is to put in practice some of the theory learned in this course. The students may choose to do one of the following:

• Find a company in Tirana which will allow you access to some of its employees. Through the interviews and your observations, find matters related to industrial / organizational psychology theory that has been discussed in class. Find areas that need improvement and suggest changes. The format of the presentation and paper should be as if you were consultants to the company manager.
• Same as the above, just that instead of making your case by observing a real life company, you find your case by reviewing and researching literature.

The instructor will divide the students in groups of 3. Each group is required to provide an 8-12 page (double spaced) written analysis of the case and present their findings in a PowerPoint presentation to the class. Presentations should be 25 minutes in length and should facilitate class questions and discussions. Twenty percent (10% the written presentation and 10% the PowerPoint one) of your final grade will be based on this group project.

The topic must be approved by the instructor. Please see below for the date.

III.  EVALUATION AND GRADING

Attendance and Participation          10%

Case Studies                                   20%

Midterm Examination                        25%

Final Examination                             25%

Group Project                                  20%

Total:                                                                          100 points 

Grading scales: 

IV. COURSE OUTLINE 

Introduction to Industrial Psychology Week 1
and its Historical Background

Research Methods in I/O Psychology Week 2
Assignment: Case Study

Criteria: Standards for Decision Making Week 3
Assignment: Case Study

Predictors: Psychological Assessments Week 4
Assignment: Case Study

Personnel Decisions Week 4
Assignment: Case Study

(Group Project: Topics Due – will receive feedback next class)

Training and Development Week 5
Assignment: Case Study

Midterm Exam Week 6
Organizational Change Week 7
Assignment: Case Study

(Group Project: Topics Confirmed)

Teams and Teamwork Week 8
Assignment: Case Study

Holiday Week 9
Organizational Attitude and Behavior Week 10

Assignment: Case Study

(Group Project: Last day for Review)

Performance Appraisal Week 11
Assignment: Case Study

Work Motivation Week 12
Assignment: Case Study

Leadership Week 13
Assignment: Case Study

Group Presentations Week 14

Final Exam Week 15