SOCI 4320 180: Women in Criminal Just Syst

SOCI 4320 - Women in Criminal Just Syst

Fall 2025 Syllabus, Section 180, CRN 16927


Instructor Information

Susan Cody, PhD

Instructor of Criminology & Sociology

Email: susan.cody@tamiu.edu

Office Hours:
Generally accessible via email, text, or phone Monday -- Thursday, 10 AM -- 4 PM, EST. Response time during this window is around 24 hours. On Fridays and weekends, response time is 48-72 hours.
Feel free to reach out any time!

Office Phone: NA

Cell Phone: 678-939-7311

No physical office or office hours.


Times and Location

Does Not Meet Face-to-Face


Course Description

Analysis of incidence studies and examination of theories about women's criminality. The study of mass media stereotypes of female offenders and victims; female victimology; issues concerning women who work in police, court, and correctional facilities and criminal justice system processing of women offenders. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Interchangeable with CRIJ 4320.
Social Sciences Department, College of Arts & Sciences

Additional Course Information

Instructor Bio:

Greetings!

My name is Susan Cody and I will be your instructor for this course.  This is a great class which spans a few different fields -- primarily Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Sociology, with some "touches" of Psychology, Political Science, and Biology as well.  It is a very interesting and useful course, regardless of major.  If you work in (or plan to work in) the areas of Corrections, Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, Law, Criminology, Gender Studies, or a related field, I think you will find it especially valuable. 

My background is in both Sociology and Criminology.  I hold a PhD and MA in Sociology from the University of Florida, with specialties in gender, family, work, and social deviance.  I also hold a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia College & State University and a Graduate Certificate in Cyber-criminology from Georgia Southern University.

I look forward to working with you this semester!

Prof Cody

Text:  678-939-7311

Email:  susan.cody@tamiu.edu

Personal Email:  codyprof@gmail.com 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Describe the contributions of feminist scholarship to the study of gender and crime.  

Identify and discuss the major sources of crime data for both offending and victimization. 

Identify and discuss various theories of criminal victimization. 

Discuss the gender dynamics of certain crime categories, especially sexual assault, stalking, and intimate-partner violence. 

Describe the characteristics of female offenders, including causal factors.

Discuss the gender dynamics of female incarceration. 

Describe the causes and consequences of juvenile delinquency in girls. 

Discuss the experiences of women who work in the criminal justice system. 

Important Dates

Visit the Academic Calendar (tamiu.edu) page to view the term's important dates.

Textbooks

Group Title Author ISBN
Required Women, Gender, and Crime Mallicoat 9781071845240

Grading Criteria

In this course, you will complete:

10 Discussions

6 Quizzes

2 Exams (Mid-Term Exam & Final Exam)

One Journal Article Review Essay 

**This course utilizes a point system to determine final grades.  

Point Values are given below:

Each discussion:  40 points = 400 points

Each quiz:  40 points = 240

Each exam:  125 points = 250 points

Journal Article Review:  100 points 

Intro Discussion:  10 points

TOTAL:  1,000 points 

Brief descriptions of each assignment: 

Introductory Discussion:  Please introduce yourself!  No replies required.   :)  

Weekly Discussions:  You will respond to a question or set of questions provided by the instructor.  When answering the questions, draw on course concepts and/or theories.  Place these items in boldface.  For example:

Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world (Mallicoat, 2023). 

Use in-text citations in your postings (see example above) and place references at the end of your initial post!  Use APA formatting.  You must cite a minimum of one scholarly source for each discussion.  You may use our textbook, but you may identify outside resources as well.  In addition to composing a well-reasoned, well supported, and coherent initial post, you are required to reply to a minimum of two classmates. The purpose of the replies is to extend the discussion in some way.  How can you add to it? 

Proofread for grammar, spelling, organization, and clarity. 

Post by the deadline!  No late discussions accepted. 

Quizzes will cover content from the assigned readings for the module.  At times, content from an additional resource may be included; in such instances, I will let you know at the beginning of the week.  Quiz format includes multiple choice, T/F, short answer, and fill-in.  All quizzes are one attempt only and timed.  Please consult the module for the specific time limit.  You may use your book or Power Points but you are not permitted to work with others or share information about quizzes or exams with other individuals.  

Exams are similar to quizzes (see above!), but are longer, cover more content, and may include essay question items as well.  Exams are also one attempt and timed, but the time limit is typically in the range of 2 hours.  You may use your book (and/or Power Points), but you may not work with others.  You are not permitted to share information about the exams with other individuals.  

Late exams and quizzes are only permitted under emergency circumstances.  

For the Journal Article Review assignment, you will select a journal article from a peer-reviewed journal that deals with some aspect of gender, crime, and criminal justice.  During Week 2, I will provide you with a list of possible journals.  The article you select does not have to be focused on women; you may choose something that focuses on a disparity involving men/boys, if you prefer.  It just has to cover some type of dynamic involving gender and criminal justice.  

In your summary & analysis, you will share:

The title of the article; the title of the publication.  

A summary of the research question(s); what is being investigated?  

What is the independent variable?  The dependent variable(s)?  Are the researchers presenting a specific hypothesis?  (*if applicable ... if you are reviewing something qualitative, this will not apply)

Variable example:  Here is a very simple example of a quantitative study in which there is a clear independent and dependent variable ... if I'm researching the effects of playing violent, misogynist video games on attitudes toward women/girls, the independent variable is playing video games and the dependent variable is attitudes toward women & girls.  

What theoretical framework is being used? 

What is the research design?  (the method ... survey, observation, case study, etc.)

Describe the sample and the sampling strategy.

Are there any ethical concerns involved?  If so, what are they?

Discuss the findings and the conclusions. 

Does this research inform social policy in any way?  If so, discuss.  

What additional research is needed in this area?  (this comes from you!)  What questions have not been addressed?  If you were going to do a study in this area, what aspects would you want to consider?  Are there still gaps in our knowledge base?  If so, what are they? 

Formatting Requirements:  

Style:  Use APA style.

Length:  2-3 pages, not including ancillary pages.

Include a title page and Ref. page. 

Do not use bullets or numbering.  Format as a traditional essay.  

TAMIU Grade Scale:

GRADE PERCENTAGE
A 91-100
B 80-90.9
C 70-79.9
D 60-69.9
F Below 60

Open Boilerplate

Introduction Discussion:  10 points

Weekly Discussions:  400 points 

Exams:  250 points

Journal Article Analysis:  100 points

Quizzes:  240 points 

Total Possible Points:  1,000

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Agenda/Topic Reading(s) Due
8/25 MODULE 1
Introduction to the Study of Gender and Crime
CH 1 Disc. #1 and Quiz #1
8/31, 11:59 pm
9/1 MODULE 2
Theories of Victimization
CH 2 Disc. #2 and Quiz #2
9/07, 11:59 pm
9/8 MODULE 3
Rape and Sexual Assault
CH 3 Disc. #3
9/14, 11:59 pm
9/15 MODULE 4
Intimate Partner Abuse and Stalking
CH 4 Disc. #4 and Quiz #3
9/21, 11:59 pm
9/22 MODULE 5
Gender-Based Violence: Trafficking, Harassment, & Homicide
CH 5 Disc. #5 and Quiz #4
9/28, 11:59 pm
9/29 MODULE 6
Women, Gender, and Offending
CH 6 10/05, 11:59 pm
Disc. #6
10/6 MODULE 7: Study Module!
Prepare for Mid-Term Exam!
Read and re-read! 10/12, 11:59 pm
No discussion or quiz this week.
10/13 MODULE 8
EXAM #1 (Mid-term exam)
EXAM: CH 1 -- CH 6
No new readings.
Mid-Term exam due by Oct. 19!
10/19, 11:59 pm
10/20 MODULE 9
Girls, Gender, & Juvenile Delinquency
CH 7 10/26, 11:59 pm
Disc. #7
10/27 MODULE 10
Female Offenders and Their Crimes
CH 8 11/02, 11:59 pm
Disc. #8 and Quiz #5
11/3 MODULE 11
Processing and Sentencing of Female Offenders
CH 9 11/09, 11:59 pm
Disc. #9
11/10 MODULE 12
Supervision of Women: Comm. Corrections, Rehab., and Reentry
CH 10 11/16, 11:59 pm
Quiz #6
11/17 MODULE 13
Women, Gender, and Incarceration
CH 11 11/23, 11:59 pm
Discussion #10
11/24 MODULE 14
Thanksgiving Break! Happy Thanksgiving. :)
No assigned readings. Ends: 11/30
12/1 MODULE 15
Women Professionals & the Criminal Justice System
Women Prof in the System: Courts & Victim Services
CH 12
CH 13
12/05, 11:59 pm
Journal Article Review due by Dec. 5!
No discussion or quiz this week.
12/8 MODULE 16
FINAL EXAM PERIOD.
FINAL EXAM: CH 7 -- CH 13 Final opens on Dec. 3, due Dec. 8!

University/College Policies

Please see the University Policies below.

COVID-19 Related Policies

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please refer to the Student Handbook, Appendix A (Attendance Rule) for instructions.

Required Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend every class in person (or virtually, if the class is online) and to complete all assignments. If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to communicate absences with your professors. The faculty member will decide if your excuse is valid and thus may provide lecture materials of the class. According to University policy, acceptable reasons for an absence, which cannot affect a student’s grade, include:

  • Participation in an authorized University activity.
  • Death or major illness in a student’s immediate family.
  • Illness of a dependent family member.
  • Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a student’s presence.
  • Religious holy day.
  • Illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.
  • Required participation in military duties.
  • Mandatory admission interviews for professional or graduate school which cannot be rescheduled.

Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to faculty members within seven calendar days of their absence and return to class. They must substantiate the reason for the absence. If the absence is excused, faculty members must either provide students with the opportunity to make up the exam or other work missed, or provide a satisfactory alternative to complete the exam or other work missed within 30 calendar days from the date of absence. Students who miss class due to a University-sponsored activity are responsible for identifying their absences to their instructors with as much advance notice as possible. 

Classroom Behavior (applies to online or Face-to-Face Classes)

TAMIU encourages classroom discussion and academic debate as an essential intellectual activity. It is essential that students learn to express and defend their beliefs, but it is also essential that they learn to listen and respond respectfully to others whose beliefs they may not share. The University will always tolerate different, unorthodox, and unpopular points of view, but it will not tolerate condescending or insulting remarks. When students verbally abuse or ridicule and intimidate others whose views they do not agree with, they subvert the free exchange of ideas that should characterize a university classroom. If their actions are deemed by the professor to be disruptive, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (please refer to Student Handbook Article 4).

TAMIU Honor Code: Plagiarism and Cheating

As a TAMIU student, you are bound by the TAMIU Honor Code to conduct yourself ethically in all your activities as a TAMIU student and to report violations of the Honor Code. Please read carefully the Student Handbook Article 7 and Article 10 available at https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml.

We are committed to strict enforcement of the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code tend to involve claiming work that is not one’s own, most commonly plagiarism in written assignments and any form of cheating on exams and other types of assignments.

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own. It occurs when you:

  1. Borrow someone else’s facts, ideas, or opinions and put them entirely in your own words. You must acknowledge that these thoughts are not your own by immediately citing the source in your paper. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  2. Borrow someone else’s words (short phrases, clauses, or sentences), you must enclose the copied words in quotation marks as well as citing the source. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  3. Present someone else’s paper or exam (stolen, borrowed, or bought) as your own. You have committed a clearly intentional form of intellectual theft and have put your academic future in jeopardy. This is the worst form of plagiarism.

Here is another explanation from the 2020, seventh edition of the Manual of The American Psychological Association (APA):

“Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, idea, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due.  Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship” (p. 254).  This same principle applies to the illicit use of AI.

Plagiarism: Researchers do not claim the words and ideas of another as their own; they give credit where credit is due. Quotations marks should be used to indicate the exact words of another. Each time you paraphrase another author (i.e., summarize a passage or rearrange the order of a sentence and change some of the words), you need to credit the source in the text. The key element of this principle is that authors do not present the work of another as if it were their own words. This can extend to ideas as well as written words. If authors model a study after one done by someone else, the originating author should be given credit. If the rationale for a study was suggested in the discussion section of someone else's article, the person should be given credit. Given the free exchange of ideas, which is very important for the health of intellectual discourse, authors may not know where an idea for a study originated. If authors do know, however, they should   acknowledge the source; this includes personal communications (p. 11). For guidance on proper documentation, consult the Academic Success Center or a recommended guide to documentation and research such as the Manual of the APA or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. If you still have doubts concerning proper documentation, seek advice from your instructor prior to submitting a final draft.

TAMIU has penalties for plagiarism and cheating.

  • Penalties for Plagiarism: Should a faculty member discover that a student has committed plagiarism, the student should receive a grade of 'F' in that course and the matter will be referred to the Honor Council for possible disciplinary action. The faculty member, however, may elect to give freshmen and sophomore students a “zero” for the assignment and to allow them to revise the assignment up to a grade of “F” (50%) if they believe that the student plagiarized out of ignorance or carelessness and not out of an attempt to deceive in order to earn an unmerited grade; the instructor must still report the offense to the Honor Council. This option should not be available to juniors, seniors, or graduate students, who cannot reasonably claim ignorance of documentation rules as an excuse. For repeat offenders in undergraduate courses or for an offender in any graduate course, the penalty for plagiarism is likely to include suspension or expulsion from the university.
    • Caution: Be very careful what you upload to Turnitin or send to your professor for evaluation. Whatever you upload for evaluation will be considered your final, approved draft. If it is plagiarized, you will be held responsible. The excuse that “it was only a draft” will not be accepted.
    • Caution:  Also, do not share your electronic files with others. If you do, you are responsible for the possible consequences. If another student takes your file of a paper and changes the name to his or her name and submits it and you also submit the paper, we will hold both of you responsible for plagiarism. It is impossible for us to know with certainty who wrote the paper and who stole it. And, of course, we cannot know if there was collusion between you and the other student in the matter.
  • Penalties for Cheating: Should a faculty member discover a student cheating on an exam or quiz or other class project, the student should receive a “zero” for the assignment and not be allowed to make the assignment up. The incident should be reported to the chair of the department and to the Honor Council. If the cheating is extensive, however, or if the assignment constitutes a major grade for the course (e.g., a final exam), or if the student has cheated in the past, the student should receive an “F” in the course, and the matter should be referred to the Honor Council. Additional penalties, including suspension or expulsion from the university may be imposed. Under no circumstances should a student who deserves an “F” in the course be allowed to withdraw from the course with a “W.”
    • Caution: Chat groups that start off as “study groups” can easily devolve into “cheating groups.” Be very careful not to join or remain any chat group if it begins to discuss specific information about exams or assignments that are meant to require individual work. If you are a member of such a group and it begins to cheat, you will be held responsible along with all the other members of the group. The TAMIU Honor Code requires that you report any such instances of cheating.
  • Student Right of Appeal: Faculty will notify students immediately via the student’s TAMIU e- mail account that they have submitted plagiarized work. Students have the right to appeal a faculty member’s charge of academic dishonesty by notifying the TAMIU Honor Council of their intent to appeal as long as the notification of appeal comes within 10 business days of the faculty member’s e-mail message to the student and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement. The Student Handbook provides more details.

Use of Work in Two or More Courses

You may not submit work completed in one course for a grade in a second course unless you receive explicit permission to do so by the instructor of the second course. In general, you should get credit for a work product only once. 

AI Policies

Your instructor will provide you with their personal policy on the use of AI in the classroom setting and associated coursework.

TAMIU E-Mail and SafeZone

Personal Announcements sent to students through TAMIU E-mail (tamiu.edu or dusty email) are the official means of communicating course and university business with students and faculty –not the U.S. Mail and no other e-mail addresses. Students and faculty must check their TAMIU e-mail accounts regularly, if not daily. Not having seen an important TAMIU e-mail or message from a faculty member, chair, or dean is not accepted as an excuse for failure to take important action.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to download the SafeZone app, which is a free mobile app for all University faculty, staff, and students.  SafeZone allows you to: report safety concerns (24/7), get connected with mental health professionals, activate location sharing with authorities, and anonymously report incidents.  Go to https://www.tamiu.edu/adminis/police/safezone/index.shtml for more information.

Copyright Restrictions

The Copyright Act of 1976 grants to copyright owners the exclusive right to reproduce their works and distribute copies of their work. Works that receive copyright protection include published works such as a textbook. Copying a textbook without permission from the owner of the copyright may constitute copyright infringement. Civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for copyright infringement. Civil penalties include damages up to $100,000; criminal penalties include a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment. Copyright laws do not allow students and professors to make photocopies of copyrighted materials, but you may copy a limited portion of a work, such as article from a journal or a chapter from a book for your own personal academic use or, in the case of a professor, for personal, limited classroom use. In general, the extent of your copying should not suggest that the purpose or the effect of your copying is to avoid paying for the materials. And, of course, you may not sell these copies for a profit. Thus, students who copy textbooks to avoid buying them or professors who provide photocopies of textbooks to enable students to save money are violating the law.

Students with Disabilities

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal education opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Office of Student Counseling and Disability Services located in Student Center 126. This office will contact the faculty member to recommend specific, reasonable accommodations. Faculty are prohibited from making accommodations based solely on communications from students. They may make accommodations only when provided documentation by the Student Counseling and Disability Services office.

Student Attendance and Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy

As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides
LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule (Section 3.07) and the Student LOA Rule (Section 3.08), which includes the “Leave of Absence Request” form. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (URL: http://www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs/StudentHandbook1.shtml).

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. A pregnant/parenting student must be granted an absence for as long as the student’s physician deems the absence medically necessary. It is a violation of Title IX to ask for documentation relative to the pregnant/parenting student’s status beyond what would be required for other medical conditions. If a student would like to file a complaint for discrimination due to his or her pregnant/parenting status, please contact the TAMIU Title IX Coordinator (Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, KLM 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857) and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600). You can also report it on TAMIU’s anonymous electronic reporting site: https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit.

TAMIU advises a pregnant/parenting student to notify their professor once the student is aware that accommodations for such will be necessary. It is recommended that the student and professor develop a reasonable plan for the student’s completion of missed coursework or assignments. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (Lorissa M. Cortez, lorissam.cortez@tamiu.edu) can assist the student and professor in working out the reasonable accommodations. For other questions or concerns regarding Title IX compliance related to pregnant/parenting students at the University, contact the Title IX Coordinator. In the event that a student will need a leave of absence for a substantial period of time, TAMIU urges the student to consider a Leave of Absence (LOA) as outlined in the TAMIU Student Handbook. As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule and the Student LOA Rule. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml).

Anti-Discrimination/Title IX

TAMIU does not discriminate or permit harassment against any individual on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, educational programs, or employment. If you would like to file a complaint relative to Title IX or any civil rights violation, please contact the TAMIU Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator, Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, Killam Library 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857, via the anonymous electronic reporting website, ReportIt, at https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit, and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office), U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600.

Incompletes

Students who are unable to complete a course should withdraw from the course before the final date for withdrawal and receive a “W.” To qualify for an “incomplete” and thus have the opportunity to complete the course at a later date, a student must meet the following criteria:

  1. The student must have completed 90% of the course work assigned before the final date for withdrawing from a course with a “W”, and the student must be passing the course;
  2. The student cannot complete the course because an accident, an illness, or a traumatic personal or family event occurred after the final date for withdrawal from a course;
  3. The student must sign an “Incomplete Grade Contract” and secure signatures of approval from the professor and the college dean.
  4. The student must agree to complete the missing course work before the end of the next long semester; failure to meet this deadline will cause the “I” to automatically be converted to an “F”; extensions to this deadline may be granted by the dean of the college. This is the general policy regarding the circumstances under which an “incomplete” may be granted, but under exceptional circumstances, a student may receive an incomplete who does not meet all of the criteria above if the faculty member, department chair, and dean recommend it.

WIN Contracts

The Department of Biology and Chemistry does not permit WIN contracts. For other departments within the college, WIN Contracts are offered only under exceptional circumstances and are limited to graduating seniors. Only courses offered by full-time TAMIU faculty or TAMIU instructors are eligible to be contracted for the WIN requirement. However, a WIN contract for a course taught by an adjunct may be approved, with special permission from the department chair and dean. Students must seek approval before beginning any work for the WIN Contract. No student will contract more than one course per semester. Summer WIN Contracts must continue through both summer sessions.

Student Responsibility for Dropping a Course

It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course before the final date for withdrawal from a course. Faculty members, in fact, may not drop a student from a course without getting the approval of their department chair and dean.

Independent Study Course

Independent Study (IS) courses are offered only under exceptional circumstances. Required courses intended to build academic skills may not be taken as IS (e.g., clinical supervision and internships). No student will take more than one IS course per semester. Moreover, IS courses are limited to seniors and graduate students. Summer IS course must continue through both summer sessions.

Grade Changes & Appeals

Faculty are authorized to change final grades only when they have committed a computational error or an error in recording a grade, and they must receive the approval of their department chairs and the dean to change the grade. As part of that approval, they must attach a detailed explanation of the reason for the mistake. Only in rare cases would another reason be entertained as legitimate for a grade change. A student who is unhappy with his or her grade on an assignment must discuss the situation with the faculty member teaching the course. If students believe that they have been graded unfairly, they have the right to appeal the grade using a grade appeal process in the Student Handbook and in the Faculty Handbook.

Final Examination

All courses in all colleges must include a comprehensive exam or performance and be given on the date and time specified by the Academic Calendar and the Final Exam schedule published by the Registrar’s Office. In the College of Arts & Sciences all final exams must contain a written component. The written component should comprise at least 20% of the final exam grade. Exceptions to this policy must receive the approval of the department chair and the dean at the beginning of the semester.

Mental Health and Well-Being

The university aims to provide students with essential knowledge and tools to understand and support mental health. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer access to Telus Health, a service available 24/7/365 via chat, phone, or webinar. Scan the QR code to download the app and explore the resources available to you for guidance and support whenever you need it. The Telus app is available to download directly from TELUS (tamiu.edu) or from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Distance Education Courses

Course Structure:  Fully online.  No in-person meetings. 
 
Submission of work:  All work must be submitted in Blackboard.  

Student-Instructor Communication Policy and Response Time:

Monday -- Thursday:  Response time is 24 hours. 

Friday(after 12, noon)/Saturday/Sunday:  Response time is 48-72 hours.  

Announcements/Course Messages/Emails

I am in my virtual office Monday -- Thursday, 10 AM - 4 PM, EST.  Response time to messages during this time frame is about 24 hours.  For messages left on Fridays or weekends, response time is between 48-72 hours.  Feel free to leave a message any time!   You may reach me at my TAMIU email address or via text (or phone) at:  678-939-7311.  

Assignments and Assessments

Feedback for written assignments (and discussions) will be provided within one week of the due date.  Regarding discussions, I will select a few discussion posts each week to which I will respond.  Although I cannot respond to each one, I do read all posts every week! 

Course Communication Guidelines (Netiquette)

There are course expectations concerning etiquette or how we should treat each other online. We must consider these values as we communicate with one another. Visit Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ web page on Netiquette for further instruction.

Accommodations/Accessibility Policy

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Director of Student Counseling and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodation. For more information, contact the online at Office of Disability Services for Students (DSS), via phone at 956.326.3086 or by visiting the staff at the Student Center, room 118. A link to the Disabilities Services for Students site has also been included under the "Resources" tab inside the course.

Student Support Resources

The University wishes to have all students succeed in their courses. To provide support to our students, an array of services in the areas of technology support, academic support, student support, and accessibility support may be found at the University. For more information, visit the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services page on University Resources and Support Services.

Computer/Technology Requirements

When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Online students will need regular access to a personal computer that runs on a broadband Internet connection.  *Note that computer breakdowns or lack of internet connectivity are not reasons to request a make-up or submission of a late assignment.  

It is recommended that you meet the technical requirements listed on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage when using the learning management system (LMS) of the University.

NOTE: Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services may check out available webcams to students on a first-come, first-served basis. To check out a webcam, please stop by Killam Library, Room 259, and request an available webcam.

Additional Software. TAMIU Students may access online versions of this software through their Dusty Office 365 account at https://dusty.tamiu.edu/. This site also provides students access to download the Microsoft suite for educational use. See instructions for downloading the Microsoft Office suite.

Note: Students, if you do not own the required hardware or software or do not have access to the Internet, it will be highly challenging for you to make any progress in this class. However, my goal is to assist you in finding solutions and guide you appropriately most of the required materials can either be found free of charge at TAMIU’s library, classrooms, and available computer labs. Visit Media Services’ web page on the availability of on-campus computer labs. In addition, you may also purchase any of these items at any electronic store.

Learning Management System (Blackboard)

Students are provided with an orientation (*eLearning (Blackboard) Student Orientation*) and access to guides on how to use the Blackboard LMS. Guides may be available at Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services' Student eLearning Tutorial Videos page or by contacting the eLearning team at elearning@tamiu.edu.

Minimum Technical Skills Expected

When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Students in distance education should have knowledge of basic computer and Internet skills, as mentioned on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage.

Technical Support Services

Because of the nature of distance education courses, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) computing and information services are vital to the success of online students. This webpage covers contact information for Distance Education Services (Blackboard Support), the OIT Help Desk, and E-mail support: Technical Support Services.

Late Work Policy:

Except for emergencies, late work is not accepted.  In the unfortunate event that you are facing a true emergency, please let me know and I will work with you.  Emergency situations involve serious illness, injury, military deployment, and family death.  Situations that do not qualify as "emergencies" include, but are not limited to:  minor illness, technology issues, work, and travel.  

Course Evaluation:

At the end of this course, students are encouraged to complete a course evaluation that will be distributed to them via email and through a course link.

Proctoring

Respondus LockDown Browser will be used to monitor the exams.  

Accessibility and Privacy Statements on Course Technologies

At Texas A&M International University, we believe that all students should have equal technology opportunities in the classroom. These technologies/sites may also require user data, such as the creation of a username and password. You may find the accessibility and privacy policies of the technologies used in this class on the following pages: Accessibility Statements and Privacy Statements.

Syllabus Subject to Change

While information and assurances are provided in this course syllabus, it should be understood that content may change in keeping with new research and literature and that events beyond the control of the instructor could occur. Students will be informed of any substantive occurrences that will produce syllabus changes.

Policy on AI

This course encourages students to explore the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT.  Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited. It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GAI output that is submitted; you bear the final responsibility. Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct. Note, too, that different classes could implement different AI policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to conform to expectations for each course.

Further, you should note that AI tools have a tendency to make up incorrect facts and fake citations, and/or to make highly flawed or offensive claims. In many ways, the use of AI is harder and places a heavier burden on the student, as you will have to verify the credibility of all information and the accuracy of claims.  You cannot assume it to be true.  You will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content you submit regardless of whether it originally comes from you or a foundation model. If you use a foundation model, its contribution must be acknowledged; you will be penalized for using a foundation model without acknowledgement.

The university's policy on plagiarism still applies.  All work must be properly cited.  Work that is plagiarized will receive a score of "0," and may be subject to disciplinary action by the department or the university.