SOC 212W - Social Problems

Credits: 3

1.      Apply scientific method to the study of major American social problems.
2. Correctly interpret simple statistical tables, correlations, and data as it relates to social problems.
3. Identify the major research strategies on social problems including demographic studies, survey research, field observation and, social experiments.
4. Define a social problem and be familiar with the key components of the definition.
5. Identify the major myths and logical fallacies that relate to specific social problems.
6. Demonstrate understanding of multi-level analysis to social problems on the local to global spectrum.

2.   Demonstrate understanding of specific effects from social problems. 

1. Distinguish between a micro and macro analysis of social problems.
2. Employ a micro analysis to specific social problems such as mental illness, crime and delinquency, prostitution, etc.
3. Employ a macro analysis to specific social problems such as poverty, education, and health care.
4. Identify the effects of specific social problems, such as drug abuse, at the individual level of analysis.
5. Assess the effects of specific social problems, such as incest and child abuse, on the family.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of specific social problems, such as violence, on the American educational system.
7. Identify the effects of a specific social problem, such as poverty, at multiple levels of analysis: on individuals, family, the educational system, and on society at large.

3.    Demonstrate understanding of the major sociological theories that are used to an analyze social problems.

1. Identify the multi-casual factors that result in specific social problems.
2. Distinguish between biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on the issue of causation.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of what multi-casual analysis involves and distinguish between primary and secondary causes.
4. Explain functional theory and apply to the analysis of a specific social problem such as poverty.
5. Explain value conflict theory and apply to the analysis of a specific social problem such as gender inequality.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of labeling theory and apply to the analysis of a specific social problem such as mental illness.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the essential of social disorganization or change theory and apply to a specific social problem such as stress and institutional dysfunction.
8. Be able to employ various theories that relate specifically to deviant behavior such as differential association theory, control theory, subculture theory, and means-ends theory.
9. Be able to utilize a number of these theories in combination to analyze specific social problems.

4.    Assess solutions for given social problems.

1. Apply sociological knowledge to the solutions of major social problems.
2. Identify the complicating factors that make social problems difficult to resolve or solve, such as the visibility of the problem, interrelatedness of social problems, lack of publicity, subjective immersion, and the heterogeneity of American society.
3. Assess current solutions to given social problems, such as crime and mental illness.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of why various solutions to specific social problems, such as poverty, are not particularly effective.
5. Compare a single solution approach with a multiple solution approach to specific social problems.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of what ways solutions to specific problems, such as poverty, can directly cause other social problems to emerge.
7. Based on a critical assessment of solutions to various social problems, be able to propose more effective alternative solutions.

5.    Use writing tasks to promote learning.

1. Practice critical writing skills within the subject.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of subject matter.