If you have never taken an online course or used Canvas, you will need a few hours to get familiar with the structure. If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself. You will need a few hours to get familiar with the structure. Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students. You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face-to-face. Since there is no face-to-face lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required. Again, if you put in the time, you can succeed, and I am here to help you!

About me

I have been teaching sociology full time since 2001 when I first started here at Cuesta. As this is a sociology course, I work hard to create an environment where students feel safe enough to share their honest thoughts, but this requires that everyone is committed to being polite and respectful. Polite, respectful honesty is the standard I try to uphold in this class.

My wife and I live in Arroyo Grande. In my spare time I like to hike and go to the beach.

Waitlist procedure

If you are having problems logging on, go to Cuesta Technical Support for information on how to get help. You can also try calling the Help Desk in the Computer Lab, room 3400. Their phone number is 546-3100 ext: 2802. If no one is there, send an email to support@my.cuesta.edu.

Required textbook

Desmond, M., & Emirbayer, M. 2020. Race in America. 2nd ed. W. W. Norton, Incorporated.

The above textbook is required.

First Day Program

This course is participating in the First Day program. That means you will have immediate access to the ebook (required) and InQuizitive (optional) assigned in our course starting the first day of class through links in our Canvas course found in Modules and Assignments.

You have until Census date to decide if you would like to opt out of the program. To opt out, go to our Canvas course and click on Course Materials (First Day Access) on the left side. You will see the materials listed for this course and the price and can opt out from there if desired. If you opt out, you will need to purchase the course materials another way. If you opt out and you want want access to the ebook or InQuizitive, then after the opt-out date, when you click on the ebook or InQuizitive in our Canvas course, you will be prompted to register a code (found in the front of new print books) or purchase access ($43.95 for the ebook with InQuizitive or $20 for InQuizitive standalone) to continue using these materials.

If you do not opt out, you will be charged the reduced rate listed for the course materials to your campus student account. This charge comes after the Census date and will be listed as a course materials fee. If you have financial aid, you may be able to apply it to this fee. Check with the campus bookstore for more information.

First Day access is often the most affordable option for your course materials ($41.29), but you can decide what will work best for you.

If you would prefer to use a print book, you have two options:

1. If you stay opted in for First Day access, you may purchase a print upgrade through the campus bookstore website. You will also continue having access to the ebook and InQuizitive.
2. If you have a print book you purchased elsewhere, you may opt out of First Day access. A new textbook comes with a code with access to the ebook and InQuizitive. You do not need the ebook if you have a print version. So if you prefer not to do the optional InQuizitive quizzes, you can buy a used copy of the textbook which does not come with a code with access to the ebook or InQuizitive.

Here is a video showing you how to access the course materials:

Canvas Inclusive Access

Here is the link to Norton’s Help Desk for ebook/InQuizitive tech support.

Course description and objectives

Introduces students to the interdisciplinary analysis of race, ethnicity, and racism, focusing on the US American context. Examines the lived experiences and social struggles of various racial and ethnic groups. Critically examines the historical and contemporary patterns of interaction between racial and ethnic groups. Analyzes how institutions and socioeconomic, political, and cultural practices sustain or challenge racism and racial and ethnic inequality. Evaluates efforts to create a more just and equitable society at the individual, interpersonal, and societal levels. Transfer: CSU; UC. 

Student learning outcomes

•    Analyze the historical, political, cultural, and economic factors that shape race and ethnic relations across different historical contexts and societies

•    Explain how theories, particularly critical theories, are used in the study of race and ethnicity

•    Evaluate the research methods used in sociology and various other disciplines in the study of race and ethnicity

•    Evaluate data and research findings from sociology and various other disciplines related to race and ethnicity 

Course requirements

• Module proctored quizzes = 50 percent 
• Assignments = 40 percent
• Module discussions = 10 percent

The scale below will be used when calculating your final grade

A 90 percent and above
B 78 to 89 percent
C 65 to 77 percent
D 60 to 64 percent
F below 60.0

I reserve the right to modify the grade scale when computing final letter grades to account for the level of difficulty of the course. I will not modify the scale to your disadvantage.

Dropping of students who do not log on to Canvas by Sunday, January 26 at 11:59 pm and post an introduction:

Students who have not logged on to Canvas by Sunday, January 26 at 11:59 pm and post an introduction may be dropped from the course unless the student contacts the instructor before that day. If you do plan on dropping the course, you must drop it by yourself. It is the student’s responsibility to drop if you do not plan on taking this course.

Dropping the course

It is the student’s responsibility to officially drop a class by the withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: If you drop this class after the last day to drop without a "W," you will receive a "W" on your transcript. All courses in which you earn a grade of "D", "F", "NP" and/or "W" are counted as "unsatisfactory" attempts to successfully complete the course. You are only allowed 3 attempts to repeat courses for which you receive an "unsatisfactory" grade. A "W" on your transcript will count as an "unsatisfactory" attempt to successfully complete the course.

Academic integrity

Cheating is absolutely not tolerated. You are encouraged to study together for the quizzes. You are encouraged to discuss assignments with others, but you cannot work on the assignment together. Assignments should be written completely independently. Plagiarism will result in a zero for that assignment, at minimum. Also, asking someone who has taken an exam before you have about the content of the exam or receiving information about an exam that you have not yet taken is prohibited. After taking the exam, please do not discuss the exam with anyone who has not already taken the exam. Do not post or share the questions with anyone or anywhere. For more information on the college's policy regarding cheating refer to the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct.

Note about using AI

Four rules regarding use of AI for your assignments:

• If you use an AI app such as ChatGTP you must cite the AI program. You must include the citation in your references section and include in-text citations.
• If the AI program provides information that is not common knowledge, then you must track down a reliable source for that information and cite that source. You must include it in your references section and include in-text citations.
• You must include an appendix where you list ALL questions asked AI and ALL answers given by AI.

If you violate the first two rules, your essay will be considered plagiarism and you will, at the least, be given a zero on the assignment. If you violate the third rule, you will get an automatic 40 percent. If you got an automatic 40 percent and want to revise your paper, contact me immediately and we will discuss options.

• If you did NOT use AI you MUST state that you did not, either at the top of your essay or at the end.

If you did not use AI and did not include a statement, you will get an automatic 40 percent. If you got an automatic 40 percent and want to revise your paper, contact me immediately and we will discuss options.

Students with disabilities

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) or the instructor as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. The DSPS phone number is 546-3148, and they are located in the Academic Support Center, Building 3300.

Student computer competency requirements

Students are expected to know how to use a computer and use an internet browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, or Chrome.

Computer requirements

Browser requirements and minimum computer specifications

College Support Services

• Tutorial services are provided to students and can be found at the following link: Tutorial Services.

• For a list and reference to library services, including learning research and assistance, please follow the link: Library and Learning Resources.

• Veteran’s services.

Help and Technical Support

• For issues related to accessing Cuesta's Canvas Site or other technical issues, email: support@my.cuesta.edu.

• If the Cuesta server goes down or the power is out, you are still responsible for accessing the course. When this happens, you can access the class through

• If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.
• If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.
• Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome. This may solve your problem! Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specifications.
• For all other issues related to the course or course content, please email me.

Course and College Policies

• General Campus Policies (including: Withdrawal, Repeatability, Student Code of Conduct)

• Student Technology Access Agreement.Links to an external site.

• Academic Honesty Agreement (PDF file)Links to an external site.

• Authentication policy: Authenticating student identity will be conducted through the use of the Learning Management System, Canvas. Canvas requires each student to log into the program using a secure login and password to access.

• Regular Effective Contact policy: Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through weekly instructor initiated threaded discussion forums; weekly announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and office hours which may be asynchronous or synchronous.

Add/Drop Policy

In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops

• Add Policy
• Drop Policy

Student Expectations

• Students should log on to the course at least three times per week.
• In order to succeed in the course, students should buy the required book listed above.
• In order to succeed in this course, expect to spend at least 9 hours per week doing the readings, assignments, participating on the discussion forums, and preparing for quizzes.