York University
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
AP/SOCI 3110A Collective Behaviour
Fall 2016

Course Description:

Collective behaviour is a meaning-creating, social process characterized by new norms of behaviour that challenge conventional social action.  It constitutes forms of social behaviour whereby conventions cease to guide social action and people collectively transcend, bypass, or subvert established institutional patterns and structures.”  (Curtis and Aguirre, 1992:8)  Some examples of collective behaviour include panics, crazes, hostile outbursts and for some scholars, social movements.  The objective of this course will be to examine collective behaviour both as a theoretical concept and as an empirical phenomenon. The first part of the course explores important themes such as the impact of the collective on individual behaviour, the nature of collective behaviour and collective behaviour as a field of research.  We then look at some precipitating conditions for collective behaviour, early mobilizations, organizational arrangements and movement environments and responses and compare their nature to social movements. Finally, we explore some of the outcomes of collective behaviour and social movements.  The goal of the course is to show that conventional social organization and culture benefits from understanding non-institutionalized social change.

Course Evaluation:

Essay One	20%		(3 pages) Due Oct 6, 2016
Essay	40%		(8-10 pages) Due  Nov 3, 2016
Final Exam	20%		November 24th in Class
Participation	20%		(presentation, attendance plus overall contribution)
	100%

Course Text

HM 281 C546 1993
Collective behavior and social movements / edited by Russell L. Curtis, Jr., Benigno E. Aguirre

Reserve Text

Joesph B. Perry, Jr. and M.D. Pugh (1978) Collective Behaviour: Response to Social Stress New York: West Publishing.

Grading, Assignment Submission,
Lateness Penalties and Missed Tests
Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.).  Assignments and tests* will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g.  A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.) 
(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar)
Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis. For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the section of the Undergraduate Calendar in the Department of Sociology.: 

Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time.  Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment.  Assignments are to be handed in to the course director on the date specified above  

Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized.
Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).
(1/2 letter grade per day)

Missed Tests:  Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor..) Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents)  - 

• York’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website
• Ethics Review Process for research involving human participants 
• Course requirement accommodation for students with disabilities, including physical, medical, systemic, learning and psychiatric disabilities
• Student Conduct Standards

Religious Observance Accommodation
http:// www. yorku.ca/ secretariat cte main pages/ccas. htm

Religious Observance Accommodation
https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/regobs

Download outline as a PDF document.