Instructor:  Dr. Alex Thomas	Office:  416 Fitzelle
Office Hours: by appointment	Phone:  (607) 436-2149
	Email:  thomasa@oneonta.edu

Website: http://webserver1.oneonta.edu/faculty/thomasa/

 

Course Description & Objectives

 

 This course discusses the question of deviant behavior and how it relates to community structure.  The student will gain an understanding of a variety of deviant organizations, including small religious organizations and organized crime.

 

Course Format & Policies

 

1.      You are expected to attend all classes and read all assigned materials.  You may expect to be tested on all assigned reading whether discussed in class or not.  Similarly, materials discussed in class but not in the assigned reading should also be expected on exams.

 

2. In the event that you miss an exam, you have one opportunity to take a make-up exam at a mutually agreeable time.  The exam may not be the same exam given to the rest of the class.  Exams must be made-up within one week of the exam date.

 

3. Assignments are considered due at the beginning of class.  Late assignments are lowered a grade for every class period late.  Missing a class and turning in an assignment later the same day is still late.  Similarly, exam times are the beginning of class.

 

4. Always save a copy of any work submitted for your own records.

 

Grading

 

Assignment	% of Grade	Date Due
Exam One	30	July 20
Exam Two	30	August 3
Class Presentation 1&2	25	TBA
Class Participation	15	Ongoing

 

 

Required Materials

Schaefer & Zellner: Extraordinary Groups.  Eighth Edition.

 

Woodiwiss: Organized Crime and American Power: A History

 

Course Schedule

 

Date:	Topic:	Reading:
July 9	Introduction to Course	n/a
July 10	Community and Commitment	n/a
July 11	Amish	Schaefer/Zellner 1
July 12	Oneida Community	Schaefer/Zellner 2
July 13	Gypsies	Schaefer/Zellner 3
July 16	Christian Science	Schaefer/Zellner 4
July 17	Father Divine Movement	Schaefer/Zellner 5
July 18	Mormons	Schaefer/Zellner 6
July 19	Jehovah’s Witnesses	Schaefer/Zellner 7
July 20	Scientology	Schaefer/Zellner 8
July 20	EXAM 1
July 23	Introduction to Organized Crime	n/a
July 24	Organized Crime 1	Woodiwiss 1
July 25	Organized Crime 2	Woodiwiss 2
July 26	Organized Crime 3	Woodiwiss 3
July 27	Organized Crime 4	Woodiwiss 4
July 30	Organized Crime 5	Woodiwiss 5
July 31	Organized Crime 6	Woodiwiss 6
Aug 1	Organized Crime 7	Woodiwiss 7
Aug 2	Organized Crime 8	Woodiwiss 8
Aug 3	FINAL EXAM	Comprehensive - See below

 

Class Presentations

 

Each member of the class will present material from two of the readings to the class and lead the discussion for that session.  Topics will be decided in class.  Visual aids are not necessary and presentations are to be informal.  However, each presenter should prepare an outline of the readings for that day and make photocopies (at their own expense) for each member of the class, including the instructor.  These assignments are worth 25 percent of the final grade.