Police in Society (SOC*3750)

Code and section: SOC*3750*01

Term: Winter 2025

Instructor: Patrick Parnaby

Details

Details
Time & Location: M/W/F 4:30 PM - 5:20 PM (MCLN 102)
Instructor: Dr. Patrick Parnaby
Office: Mackinnon 638
Office Hours: TBA
Email: pparnaby@uoguelph.ca
TAs: TBA
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All readings on electronic reserve (ARES)
ASSESSMENT (Subject to change given W25 resource decisions)
Test 1 (25%)
Test 2 (25%)
1000-word video assessment assignment (20%)
2500-word final term paper (30%)
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is fundamentally about the relationship between the police and society. We will be discussing several
issues, including (but not limited to) training, stress & anxiety, misconduct, the role of technology, crime prevention,
and racial profiling. The course is designed to familiarize you with the most important research and debates in what
is now a huge body of literature. Getting the most out of Police in Society will require you to be intellectually curious
so you can fully appreciate and benefit from the many different approaches scholars use to think about policingrelated
issues.
Learning Outcomes
1. Analyze, evaluate, and apply specific theoretical frameworks to policing.
2. Assess the reliability and validity of research methods in relation to police scholarship.
3. Write clearly, professionally, and with precision while addressing complex and/or sensitive issues.
4. Critically reflect on culture, social relations, and social structures to develop a broader and deeper
understanding of policing.
These learning outcomes map directly onto the outcomes established by the Department of Sociology and
Anthropology.

LECTURES
I do not make copies of my lecture notes or slides available to students; however, I will make certain slides available if/when necessary (e.g., diagrams, lengthy or complex slides). Also, if you have made proper arrangements with SAS and if slides are required, I will certainly make them available to you. Finally, although the size of the class precludes small group discussion, please ask questions and make comments whenever the mood strikes you. Your participation will always be appreciated.
YOUR READINGS
Make time to read your course materials carefully. We can’t stress this enough. If you don’t read carefully, you probably won’t do well in 3750. Please understand that we assume you have read and understood the assigned readings when we grade your assignments. Some of the articles are theoretically and methodologically complicated, so please reach out to me or a teaching assistant if you have questions about what you have read.
EMAIL POLICY
Email is an official mode of communication. We will respond to emails between 9AM and 5PM Monday through Friday. Please allow 24-48 hours for a reply. If your email requests operational information that is readily available on CourseLink or that has been addressed extensively in class, we may take a little longer to reply. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & AI
The prevailing assumption will be that you have read and understood the University’s policies on academic misconduct. Please note that we will be using Turnitin as a teaching tool during the semester. Because you will have access to your originality reports before handing in your assignments, you will be able to make sure your work meets all expectations regarding academic integrity before it is graded. Because Turnitin is fully integrated with the CourseLink drop box system, all you have to do is upload your paper before the due date and wait for your originality report to be generated. You can then revise your document, if necessary, before uploading your final draft. Do your best to get your similarity score into single digits.
Students are not permitted to use generative AI in this course. Please refer to the University of Guelph-issued statement on artificial intelligence systems, ChatGPT, and academic integrity from March 2023 and regulations and procedures around academic misconduct in the undergraduate and graduate calendars.

Syllabus

Attachment	Size
SOC3750 Outline Web - W25.pdf	94.86 KB