About This Resource

Lehman College, The City University of New York · Department of Sociology

SOC 250: Racial and Ethnic Communities in the United States

Summer 2026 (6 weeks) — Online Asynchronous

This is an open syllabus for the summer session of SOC 250: Racial and Ethnic Communities in the United States, a 6-week online asynchronous course at Lehman College, CUNY. The condensed format is anchored by weekly documentary screenings paired with selected readings, podcasts, and data visualizations. Two writing-centered assessments structure student engagement: weekly discussion posts and a final documentary analysis worksheet.

Adoption Notes for Instructors

• The course schedule is built for a 6-week summer session running early June through early July. For shorter or longer sessions, redistribute weekly themes accordingly.
• The course centers writing as a tool for learning. The discussion-post-plus-final-project structure gives students sustained low-stakes practice (Weeks 1–4) before they take on a formal analytical task (Weeks 5–6).
• Documentaries are accessible through the linked sources (PBS, Netflix, National Geographic). Substitutions are straightforward — replace each documentary with one matched to your week's theme.
• Course materials are no-cost and accessible via Brightspace; no textbook is required.
• The accompanying Documentary Analysis Worksheet (also available as an OER) can be paired directly with this syllabus. The worksheet table of documentaries is keyed to Weeks 1–5 of this course.
• A Spring 2026 (15-week) WAC-annotated version of the SOC 250 syllabus is also available as a complementary OER for instructors interested in the underlying writing pedagogy.
• Accessibility: the source HTML version of this syllabus is structured for WCAG 2.1 AA conformance and works with screen readers and keyboard navigation. The Word version preserves heading structure, list semantics, and descriptive link text.

Course Information

Term: Summer 2026 (6 weeks)

Credit Hours: 3 Units

Class Dates: June 1 – July 9, 2026

Instruction Mode: Online Asynchronous

Instructor: Hart M. Zhang

Course Description

Catalog Description: Sociological description and analysis of a specific racial or ethnic community.

Welcome to SOC 250!

This course offers an introduction to sociological perspectives on race and ethnic relations in the United States. It emphasizes that race and ethnicity are social constructs, meaning they are created and maintained by society and influence all aspects of social life. These constructs are deeply embedded in social structures and institutions and change over time and across different places.

The summer session of this course covers key topics in contemporary sociological scholarship, ranging from foundational frameworks of racial formation and the intersectional convergence of race vis-à-vis urban political economy, to movements calling for racial justice, equity, and reparations. Each week features a mix of learning materials — book chapters, news stories, documentaries, data visualizations, and more — to guide your learning and class engagement.

Over the course of six weeks, you are expected to complete all weekly reading and writing assignments by their designated deadlines. If you are struggling or feeling pressured in this course, please do not resort to AI chatbots as a shortcut. There are plenty of resources available to you, and I believe that you can succeed here. Please contact me anytime and let's talk about it. I will work with you to support your success in this course!

Course Format and Technology

This course will be conducted entirely online and asynchronously. You are expected to have access to a computer, internet connectivity, and the following technology: Brightspace (D2L), Microsoft Office, and a PDF reader. All course activities and assignments are hosted on the Brightspace course site. Course communications will be sent to the Announcements section on Brightspace, your Lehman email address, or your preferred email address listed in CUNYfirst.

If you have questions about your Lehman email address, or if you experience any issues accessing Brightspace, please contact the Lehman IT Help Desk at (718) 960-1111 or visit the Lehman IT website. If you need a laptop or tablet, please fill out the device request form.

Course Materials

No textbook is required for this course. All course materials are accessible at no cost to students through the Brightspace site.

Course Learning Objectives

• Use sociological concepts to examine how the identities of a specific racial and ethnic community in the United States are shaped and contested within systems of power and inequality.
• Develop critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills by analyzing empirical evidence on a specific racial and ethnic community in the United States.
• Discuss histories of policies and practices of institutions and their impact on a specific racial and ethnic community in the United States.
• Identify key sociological figures and engage with changing perspectives over time in the context of theorizing a specific racial and ethnic community in the United States.
• Describe the roles of social movements in shaping the experiences of a specific racial and ethnic community in the United States.
• Evaluate how a specific racial and ethnic community has shaped the development of the United States.

Grading Policy

Your final grade is based on two assignments: weekly discussion posts (80%) and a documentary analysis worksheet (20%). Both are described in detail below. Final grades will be calculated and posted on CUNYfirst using the following scale:

Discussion Posts (80% of Course Grade)

Due: Every Sunday, Weeks 1–4, at 10:00 PM

The discussion forums in an online course serve the same purpose as classroom participation in a face-to-face class. Consistent engagement throughout the entire session is crucial. From Weeks 1–4, you will compose a reflective and analytical post (approximately 200–250 words) in the discussion thread on the Brightspace course site based on that week's assigned readings and media materials. Posts should offer analysis rather than summary alone. These posts are designed for you to process course materials and practice active reading skills. For example, consider what questions you have about the arguments raised in the readings and whether you find those arguments convincing. Prompts will be provided each week, and resources and examples on how to write these posts will be available on Brightspace.

Please note that our class will focus on learning through discussions and other participatory activities. As we engage with course materials, it is critical that we respect the diverse experiences and opinions represented by our peers and direct our comments at ideas and theories, not at individuals. There is zero tolerance for any behavior that involves threatening or demeaning language or actions. By enrolling in this class, you agree to adhere to this policy.

To receive full credit, you must participate weekly and complete four satisfactory responses. You will also receive feedback weekly.

Final Project: Documentary Analysis Worksheet (20% of Course Grade)

Due: Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:00 PM

The final project invites you to apply an analytical lens to a documentary of your choice from the course. You will connect key concepts covered in the weekly modules by completing the documentary analysis worksheet provided to you. Submit your work as early as you can to avoid a last-minute rush. Your final grade will be posted on CUNYfirst within 48 hours after the deadline unless otherwise notified.

Email and Communications

Please include a clear and specific subject line that reflects the content of your email, such as "Question about Final Project." Allow up to 48 hours for a response. Emails sent during weekends or holidays may take longer to receive a reply.

Course Policies and Student Resources

Verification of Enrollment (VOE)

Certifying VOE is a mandatory CUNY requirement for federal compliance and financial aid eligibility. Students must actively participate in this course at least once during the first three weeks by completing an academically related activity, such as submitting an assignment, completing a class task, or contacting the instructor with a course-related question. Simply logging into the online course does not count as participation. Students who do not meet this requirement will be marked as not attending, which may result in an administrative withdrawal (WN grade) and loss of financial aid eligibility.

Accommodating Disabilities

Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula for all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, at (718) 960-8441. Additionally, CUNY Accommodate is a CUNY-wide platform available for all students to initiate accommodation requests.

Religious Accommodations

Consistent with New York State Education Law Section 224-a, students who are absent from school because of a religious belief will be given the equivalent opportunity, without any additional fee charged, to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. Students requesting such accommodations should contact the Office for Student Affairs at the College or unit in which they are enrolled.

Instructional Support Services Program (ISSP)

ISSP houses tutoring and academic coaching programs at the college. ISSP provides appointment-based tutoring in the humanities, social sciences, and writing, as well as general writing and academic skills workshops. For more details, visit the ISSP website or call ISSP at (718) 960-8175.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Your academic work should reflect your own thoughts and understanding of course material. It must be original and created specifically for the current course. You are expected to cite all sources properly, whether quoted or paraphrased. Additionally, you must write all work yourself and not use online sites that create or share content, nor submit work completed by others. For the full statement, see CUNY's Academic Integrity Policy.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

In this class, you may use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or similar technologies, to help you proofread and provide feedback on your writing. However, these tools should not replace your own critical thinking, reflections, and voice. Your assignments must represent your own intellectual work and analysis. Using AI to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. If you are uncertain about AI policies or disclosure requirements, please contact the course instructor before submitting your assignments.

Course Agenda

Important Note. To reflect current events and developments, any changes or updates to this syllabus, including the course schedule, will be posted on Brightspace and communicated via email in advance.

Week 1 — Race, Education, and Nation-Building

Readings and Discussion Post (Due June 7 at 10:00 PM)

• Course Syllabus, Brightspace Walkthrough Tutorial, and Study Guides
• Documentary: The Five Demands (PBS, 2023)
• 1969: Student Protests at City College
• The Black Teacher Archive: Black Educational Timeline
• Book Talk Recording: American Grammar by Jarvis R. Givens (2025)

Week 2 — Eugenics, Biopolitics, and the Making of Citizens

Readings and Discussion Post (Due June 14 at 10:00 PM)

• Documentary: The Eugenics Crusade (PBS, 2018)
• "Eugenics and Scientific Racism" — National Human Genome Research Institute (2022)
• Podcast: The Controversial Life and Legacy of Margaret Sanger (Handley-Cousins, 2023)

Week 3 — The Carceral State, Policing, and Racialized Surveillance

Readings and Discussion Post (Due June 21 at 10:00 PM)

• Documentary: 13th (Netflix, 2016)
• Report: "The United States of Incarceration" — The Marshall Project (2020)
• "(Un)Forgetting Latinas in American Prisons" by Linny Kit Tong Ng (2024)

Week 4 — Police Violence, the Courts, and Urban Uprising

Readings and Discussion Post (Due June 28 at 10:00 PM)

• Documentary: LA 92 (National Geographic, 2017)
• Discussion Guide: LA 92
• Presentation: "Race and Police Violence" by Devon W. Carbado (2019)
• Data Dashboard: Mapping Police Violence (2026)

Week 5 — Racial Capitalism, Black Wealth, and Reparations

Readings and Work on Final Project (No Weekly Forum Post)

• Documentary: Tulsa Race Massacre: 100 Years Later (PBS, 2021)
• Digital Storytelling: "The Massacre of Black Wall Street" — The Atlantic (2019)
• "Black Reparations in the United States, 2024: An Introduction" (2024)
• Tulsa Plans $105M in Reparations for America's 'Hidden' Massacre (BBC, June 2, 2025)
• Oklahoma Supreme Court Rejects Reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre (June 21, 2024)

Week 6 — Finals Week

Final Project:Documentary Analysis Worksheet — Due Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM.