SOC 202: Contemporary Social Problems

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: D2. Behavioral Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

Emphasis is placed on American society and social problems. Special attention is given to the causes and effects of social problems. Course content includes research, field observation studies, seminar discussion with special resource professionals. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Discuss three major theoretical sociological perspectives.
  • Identify objective conditions that must exist in order for a social condition to qualify as a social problem.
  • Identify subjective conditions that might be considered in the evaluation of a social problem.
  • Identify the current major social problems that exist in the United States today.
  • Discuss the subjective and objective concerns attached to the individual social problems.
  • Analyze possible solutions to the existing social problems.
  • Discuss the probable outcomes of the solutions to the social problems.
  • Develop an understanding of social problems while critically examining and evaluating possible solutions.

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction to Social Problems
    1. What is sociology?
    2. Sociological Imagination
  2. Problems of the Institutions
    1. Family
    2. Public education
    3. Problems of work
    4. Problems of physical health
    5. National Security
  3. Problems of Inequality
    1. Poverty and affluence
    2. Race and ethnicity
    3. Gender
    4. Sexual orientation
    5. Aging
  4. Problems Associated with Deviance
    1. Sex-related social problems
    2. Alcohol and other problems
    3. Crime and criminal
    4. Violence
    5. Mental illness

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Read Chapter 2 of Barbra Ehrenreich's book "Nickeled and Dimed."

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write a two page paper discussing the shrinking middle class in the United States. Analyze how and why this is happening. Is this good for our society? Why or why not?

Examples of Outside Assignments

Visit the website "voicethreads.com" and listen to the presentation titled "Wealth and Poverty". When you have finished listening to the presentation, post your comments about the "shrinking middle class" in America. Please then respond to at least one other person.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4J. Sociology & Criminology