FIELD SCHOOL IN TUSCANY, ITALY
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Sociology courses to be instructed abroad
Summer 2008
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
SYLLABUS FOR SOC 475
THE CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS OF ITALY
Instructor: Drs. Lee Miller and Alessandro Bonanno
Objectives:
- To develop an understanding of the basic social and cultural characteristics
of Europe.
- To develop an understanding of the most fundamental cultural aspects of
the Italian society
- to understand the primary features of the Italian social structures including
institutions, groups, and patters of interaction.
- To gain exposure to examples of primary cultural and social dimensions of
the Italian way of life.
Procedures:
- The class will normally meet in the Pontremoli medieval castle. This is
a XIV century structure which has been remodeled to accommodate the needs
of modern scientific class instruction.
- The class will be normally held from 9:00 to 11:00 five days a week from
May 14 to May 28. Additional class meetings will take place in other
Italian cities and at special events.
Evaluation:
- Students are required to produce one research term paper (15 pages) illustrating
their experience in Italy. This assignment will account for 60 percent of
the final grade. Moreover, they will be required to generate in class oral
presentations on assigned topics. These presentations will be discussed in
class and will serve as bases for the term paper. Presentations and class
discussion will account for 40 percent of the final grade.
Textbook: A selection of readings on relevant topics will
be made available to students before departure. This includes journal articles
and book chapters selected by the instructor.
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
SYLLABUS FOR SOC 168
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
(Not offered in Summer 2008)
Instructor: Dr. Alessandro Bonanno
Objectives:
- This course is designed to introduce students
to the topic of ethnic studies in sociology. . Students will become familiar
with key concepts - such as culture, minority, ethnocentrism and stratification
- and their analytic uses. This is a freshman level course.
- To study ethnic and racial social relations,
their interpretations, and pertinent debates in current scientific literature
- To compare racial and ethnic groups, religious
groups, and women in Italy the United States.
- To analyze and compare European and American debates on selected pertinent
issues.
Procedures:
- The class will normally meet in the Pontremoly castle of Piagnaro. This
is a XVI century structure which has been remodeled to accommodate the needs
of modern scientific class instruction. Other class meetings will take place
in various locations in the areas. Visits to relevant sites and meetings
with local scholars are included in the class schedule.
- The class will be normally held from 2:00-4:00 five days a week from May
11 to May 29 . Additional class meetings will take place in field locations
at other available times.
Evaluation:
- Students are required to produce two small (4-6 pages) term papers. This
assignment will account for 30 percent of the final grade. Moreover, they
will be required to generate in class oral presentations on assigned topics.
These presentations will be discussed in class and will serve as bases for
the assigned term papers. Presentation and class discussion will account
for 30 percent of the final grade. A final 12-15 term paper is required
and it covers the remaining 40 percent of the final grade.
Textbook: Selected readings will be provided prior to departure