SOC 115 - Social Problems

• Evaluate the role of social problems in our society and in the societies of the world today.

Course Objectives:

• • Define the concept of a social problem and provide contemporary examples of social problems in American society and other societies of the world today.
  • Identify the term sociological imagination and its importance in the study of social problems.
  • Describe basic concepts of research methods as applied to the study of social problems.
  • Identify the roles of social problems and the impact that such roles have on American society and other societies.
  • List and explain the main stages of a research study as applied to social problems.

• Analyze social forces at work in societies that have an impact on social problems.

Course Objectives:

• • Identify various social structures and explain how they have a major impact on social problems.
  • Define social movements and explain how they have a major impact on social problems.
  • Explain how mass media and social media have a major impact on social problems.
  • Explain how government and politics have a major impact on social problems.
  • Explain how the economy and work have a major impact on social problems.

• Recognize the interconnectedness of contemporary social forces which significantly influence the creation and continuance of social problems in our society and in the societies of our world.

Course Objectives:

• • Explain how globalization has contributed to social problems related to the economy, such as unemployment, poverty, and socioeconomic inequality.
  • Assess the impact of a post-industrialized society on social problems in America and around the world.
  • Explain how globalization has contributed to social problems related to such phenomena as health care, population growth, crime, the natural environment, and drug abuse.
  • Explain how globalization affects the permeability of international borders, and related social problems involving immigration, transnational corporations, and free trade agreements.
  • Evaluate the movement towards globalization of technology and its impact on social problems in America and other societies.

• Interpret sociological perspectives explaining the origin and functioning of social problems.

Course Objectives:

• • Describe the four primary sociological perspectives: structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and feminism.
  • Describe and analyze how structural functionalism explains the origin and functioning of social problems.
  • Describe and analyze how conflict theory explains the origin and functioning of social problems.
  • Describe and analyze how symbolic interactionism explains the origin and functioning of social problems.
  • Describe and analyze how feminism explains the origin and functioning of social problems.

• Appraise how social and cultural factors influence our definition of a social problem and critically analyze the various problems.

Course Objectives:

• • Describe the concept of race as socially constructed and critically analyze social problems related to race and racism.
  • Describe the concept of ethnicity as socially constructed and critically analyze social problems related to ethnicity and ethnocentrism.
  • Describe the concepts of sex and gender as socially constructed and critically analyze social problems related to sex, gender, and sexism.
  • Describe the concept of sexual orientation as socially constructed and critically analyze social problems related to sexual orientation and heterosexism/homophobia.
  • Appraise how social and cultural factors influence our definitions of prejudice and discrimination, and critically analyze prejudice and discrimination as they relate to such phenomena as employment, education, crime, and drug abuse.

• Comprehend the relativity of cultural values held among various world cultures sub-cultural groups, and the influence of these culturally held values in creation and continuance of social problems in our world today.

Course Objectives:

• • Summarize the diversity of cultures and subcultures in the world, and analyze the role played by cultural differences in the creation and continuance of social problems.
  • Identify the cultural patterns of interaction between people and groups of different races and ethnicities, and how such patterns of interaction can contribute to social problems.
  • Identify the cultural patterns of interaction between people and groups of different genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations, and how such patterns of interaction can contribute to social problems.
  • Identify the cultural patterns of interaction between people and groups of different religions, and how such patterns of interaction can contribute to social problems.
  • Summarize the diversity of families around the world and the influence of families in the creation and continuance of social problems.

• Assess some of the social problems of our society and the societies of the world.

Course Objectives:

• • Describe the consequences of poverty, economic inequality, unemployment, and other economic-based social problems for individuals, families, and societies.
  • Analyze the role of crime and drug abuse on individuals, families, and societies, and the various responses to such ever-changing problems.
  • Analyze various types of prejudice and discrimination and their overall impact on individuals, families, and societies.
  • Analyze the role of education and the consequences of educational inequities for individuals, families, and societies.
  • Analyze the role of healthcare and the consequences of unequal access to health care for individuals, families, and societies.