Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title SOC 1616: Social Problems

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 5/History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Goal 9/Ethical and Civic Responsibility

Course Description

This course is a sociological analysis of the nature, causes and possible responses to a variety of contemporary and future American and global social problems. These include problems associated with individual and group deviance, inequality and exploitation, social change, institutional dysfunction and international and global conflict. College level reading and writing recommended.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

December, 2024

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. The Sociological analysis of social problems
    1. Defining and describing social problems
    2. Theoretical explanations of social problems
    3. Constructing responses to social problems
    4. The future: predicting and preventing problems
  2. Problems associated with individual and group deviance
    1. Substance abuse
    2. Interpersonal violence
    3. Crime
    4. Gangs
    5. Prostitution
    6. Pornography
  3. Problems of social inequality and exploitation
    1. Poverty
    2. Racism
    3. Sexism
    4. Ageism
  4. Problems associated with social change
    1. Modernization
    2. Urbanization
    3. Industrialization
    4. Demographics
    5. The environment
  5. International and global problems
    1. International conflict and war
    2. Terrorism
  6. Problems of institutional structure and dysfunction
    1. Problems associated with the Institution of family
    2. Problems associated with politics and government
    3. Problems associated with economics
    4. Problems associated with the institution of religion
    5. Problems associated with the institution of education
    6. Problems associated with health care
    7. Problems associated with criminal justice

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe social problems by articulating the process by which stratification affects individuals and apply sociological concepts and theories to specific social problems.
  2. Identify empirical patterns and effects of social inequality and discuss how processes of stratification create and reproduce social problems in human society.
  3. Describe how cultural, social, political, and economic changes affect social problems and discuss how social movements contribute to social change.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 5/History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

The student will be able to:

  1. Employ the methods and data that historians and social behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
  2. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
  3. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Goal 9/Ethical and Civic Responsibility

The student will be able to:

  1. Examine and articulate their own moral views.
  2. Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
  3. Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Global Awareness and Diversity
Students will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for human diversity through their words and actions.

Special Information (if any)

None