SYG 2010 - Social Problems

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2019 (555)

Requisites

(Prerequisite ENC 0025 and
Prerequisite REA 0017) or
Prerequisite EAP 1695 or
Prerequisite appropriate score on the SPC placement test.

Course Description

This course is an analysis of major social problems in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the causes of social problems, approaches to the analysis of problems, and the interrelationship of problems. Course topics include: crime, mental illness, poverty and inequality, family and marital problems, population and the environment. This course partially satisfies the writing requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements. (Note: Study Abroad opportunities may apply to this course https://blog.spcollege.edu/international/study-abroad/).

Course Topics

Topic
  Study Abroad- Ireland

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will understand the sociological approach to social problems by:
    1. defining sociology and recognizing its relationship to other behavioral sciences, and to social problems.
    2. explaining the value-conflict, the deviant, and the social disorganization approaches to the study of social problems.
  2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of data and basic research methods in the analysis of social problems by:
    1. recognizing the use of social statistics.
    2. identifying the methods of interviewing, participant observation, and the survey research.
  3. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the social and behavioral aspects of deviant and problematic behavior by:
    1. recognizing the relationship between social group involvement and deviant behavior.
    2. defining the principle approaches used in sociology to explain social deviance.
  4. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the stratification and structure of society and how they contribute to inequality and discrimination by:
    1. interpreting the structural-functional approach to the study of stratification.
    2. interpreting the conflict-approach to the study of stratification.
    3. summarizing the sociological usage and meaning of majority and minority groups in society.
  5. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the principle problems in the major institutional areas of the United States by:
    1. identifying the major problems of the modern family.
    2. recognizing the major problems of political institutions.
    3. defining the major problems of the economy.
    4. identifying the key problems of American education.
    5. recalling the major problem areas of modern religion.
  6. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the causes and the effects of increases in population growth by:
    1. recognizing changes brought about by the industrial revolution.
    2. identifying basic demographic and ecological processes in population growth.
    3. distinguishing key problems associated with the physical environment as a result of material technology and population increase.
  7. The student will demonstrate increased ability in writing by planning and writing one or more of the following (all of which are evaluated):
    1. research, analysis, outline, evaluation or other types of papers completed outside of the direct classroom experience.
    2. research, analysis, outline, journal, evaluation or other types of essays completed during the direct classroom experience.
    3. any type of expository, evaluative, persuasive or personal response writing as described in the college publication entitled " A Resource Manual for Writing Across the Curriculum."

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

Revised 7/1/83 Revised 8/84 DBT 11/15/ 84 Effective Session II, 1984-85 DBT 11/21/89 Effective Session II, 1989-90 3 YR C&I Review 1993-94 DBT 1/24/96 Effective Session I, 1996/97. 3 Year Review 2000. SCNS Eff 20011 (I, 2001). Online 2001. 3-Year Review 2004. Amend prereq(consistency)eff20071(0385). 3 Year Review 2008 (was a carryover from 2007 3yr). Amended prerequisites effective 20112 C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2012 (450).
C&I Approval: 07/26/2018, BOT Approval: 09/18/2018, Effective Term: Spring 2019 (555)

Related Programs

  1. Social Work (SOCIAL-TR) (670) (Active)
  2. USF Tampa - Social Work (FTBSW-TR) (670) (Active)