SOCI 212 - Contemporary Social Problems

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course investigates pressing social issues and alternative solutions offered for their alleviation. Selected problems like suicide, environmental abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS will be discussed.

Text
Lauer, R. H. (2023). Social problems and the quality of life (15th ed.). New York:

McGraw-Hill Education.

Objectives
The student will be able to:

A. Research the major social problems confronting our society.

B. Cite and evaluate relevant sociological data.

C. List and recognize various relationships between social theory and social policy.

D. Identify the past history of selected social problems, the present trends, and future prospects for change.

Content
A. Sociology of Social Problems: the concepts of social change; cultural relativity; and the various approaches to the study of social problems (such as social disorganization, personal deviation, and value conflict) are investigated.

B. Analysis of a series of current social problems involving the family, religion, crime, race, population, social class, homosexuality, AIDS, and pollution.

C. Presentation of the most relevant facts bearing upon the origin and development of the problem, upon its present status as indicated by scientific research, and upon the various possible lines of future development.

Student Evaluation
Evaluation will be determined by results of quizzes, two major tests, oral and written reports, and a final examination.

Bibliography
Arthur, John (ed.). Morality and Moral Controversies. Englewood Cliffs:

Prentice, 1993.

Brown, Michael H. The Toxic Cloud: The Poisoning of America’s Air. New York: Perennial Library, 1988.

Costanzo, Mark. Just Revenge: Costs and Consequences of the Death Penalty. New York: Saint Martin’s P, 1997.

Demenberg, Tia S. Alcohol and Drugs: Issues in the Workplace. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of National Affairs, 1983.

Dow, Bonnie J. Prime-time Feminism: Television, Media Culture, and the Women’s

Movement Since 1970. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania P, 1996.

Ehrlich, Paul R. The Population Explosion. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990.

Hendin, Herbert. Suicide in America. New York: Norton, 1982.

Langone, John. AIDS: The Facts. Boston: Little, Brown, 1988.

McCuen, Gary E. The AIDS Crisis: Conflicting Social Values. Hudson:

McCuen Publications, 1987.

Rossi, Peter Henry. Down and Out in America: The Origins of Homelessness. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1989.

Rudy, Kathy. Beyond Pro-Life and Pro-Choice: Moral Diversity in the Abortion Debate. Boston: Beacon P, 1996.

Shilts, Randy. And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic. New York: St. Martin’s P, 1987.

Toffler, Alvin. The Third Wave. New York: Morrow, 1980.

Whitney, Catherine. Uncommon Lives: Gay Men and Straight Women. New York: New American Library, 1990.

Wolfe, Alan (ed.). America at Century’s End. Berkeley: U of California P, 1991.