SOCIOLOGY 2145

Sociology of Death and Dying

Spring 05 CRN# 20135

Instructor: Susan E. Claxton

Class:  Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:15       Office Hours: Posted

E-mail: sclaxton@highlands.edu

Last day to Withdraw with a W: March 1, 2005

Course Description:

An interdisciplinary survey of research, last rites and customs from various cultures concerning end of life issues. Topics covered include but are not limited to: the dying patient, medical directives, hospice, euthanasia, grief, widowhood, life after death, and spirituality. Experiential learning techniques (i.e. labs, field projects, etc.) will be utilized along with the lecture. Emphasis on social issues, practical problems, and personal and professional strategies for dealing with these issues will be incorporated.

This course is designed for human service students.  Please be aware that it may not transfer to four year institutions.

Course Objectives:

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

1. Discuss the context of death historically and cross-culturally
2. Discuss how attitudes toward death develop throughout the life cycle and how variables such as sex, occupation, religion, social class, affect these attitudes.
3. Discuss the stages of the dying process as may be experienced by patient who is terminally ill.
4. Recognize the importance of and the process of grief work
5. Describe the sociological and psychological models of suicide
6. Describe traditional philosophical and theological attitudes toward death
7. Recognize and discuss ethical issues as relates to the area of death and dying in contemporary society.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, purpose, and current practices in funeral rituals.

Text

DeSpelder, L. & Strickland, A. (2002).  The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying.

Course Requirements:

TEXTBOOK AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:

It is the responsibility of the student to read and study all assigned material in the text. Handouts from class sessions should be studied thoroughly.

The assigned material in the text provides the background for informed participation in class. The student should be prepared for class by becoming thoroughly familiar with assigned material.

CLASS MEETINGS

Students are expected to attend class regularly and participate in all class activities. Full participation involves taking part in class discussions, involvement in group activities, and completion of in-class assignments.

Since the instructor will be providing information to augment the text, if it is necessary for a student to be absent from class, the student should, immediately upon return to class, check with instructor regarding work missed, obtain class notes from anther student, and arrange to view audio-visual presentations.

PARTICIPATION

Attendance is extremely important: part of the learning experience involves BEING PRESENT IN CLASS. Attendance will be taken during each class period and counts for 30% of your final grade.

There is a great deal of reading for this course and students are expected to have read and studied the required material for each class period before coming to class.

Learning is best achieved in an atmosphere of open discussion—students are expected to draw upon their own experiences, observations, and areas of expertise in making contributions to class discussions. Do not feel that you have to share very personal or painful experiences with the class; but if you do, be assured that your statements will be received with respect and support.

PAPER

Students are required to write a literature review based on information gleaned from scholarly journals.   The purpose of this paper is to give the students an opportunity to explore an area of special interest, while at the same time developing the skills set out in the leaning objectives.

OR

SERVICE LEARNING

Students may choose to do a service learning project instead of a paper.  Students must complete 20 volunteer hours/service learning at a designated site approved by the instructor.  Additional information will be provided in class.

ASSIGNMENTS/JOURNAL

Every student in this class is required to abide by all of the deadlines. Assignment grades will be averaged and will count as 35% of your final grade.  Your assignments will be kept in a journal which will be turned in at midterm and the end of the semester.  (Periodic checks may occur throughout the semester. )

GRADING SYSTEM

Paper/Service Learning.......................................................35%

Assignments/Journal...........................................................35%

Class Participation/Attendance.........................................30%

Total.......................................................................................100%

Students receiving a grade of :