SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Catalog description

What is a social problem? How does a particular social phenomenon become defined as a social problem? These are the types of questions that this course will begin to answer. This course will provide an analysis of some of the most significant social problems in the United States, and other nations, including: poverty, homelessness, racism, segregation, health, and environmental destruction. We will examine the social and structural factors associated with the creation of these and other problems as well as ways to address and overcome them. We will pay particular attention to how issues become defined as social problems, who gets to define them, and the implications that these problems have for society and its members. Using a sociological perspective, we will delve deeper into these issues to gain a better understanding of their causes and possible solutions and how people experience and make sense of these issues. By the end of the course, you should come away with a better understanding of what constitutes a social problem and possible ways of addressing and solving them. Prerequisite: Completion of an English Sequence (4 credits)