SOC 120 - Current Social Problems [SUN# SOC 2250]

1. Apply the sociological imagination and its relevance to the study of social problems.
2. Describe the interconnectedness of societal social problems and the way we view social problems and peoples’ relation to society.
3. Discuss in a historical context the relevance of local, national, and global social problems and their interconnectedness, with problems including, among others human rights, neo-liberalism, racism, patriarchy, hate crimes, and gender issues.
4. Assess social problems both at the national and international levels, and discuss social problems affecting culturally diverse groups within a global context.
5. Develop solutions to address local, national, and global social problems.

1. Causes and Effects of Social Problems
   1. Social problems and the relevance of the sociological imagination, and world interconnectedness
   2. Sociological approaches to social problems
   3. Sociological research methods and approaches
      1. Cross cultural problems
      2. Global approaches
   4. Critical global approach to national and global social problems
2. Social Power and Local, National, and Global Structures
   1. Environmental and ecological social problems: local, national, and international impacts on people
   2. Economic inequality and poverty, health, and education
   3. Economic inequality and class, race, ethnicity, gender, age and sexuality
   4. Women, children, and families: empowering the blocs of society
   5. Public policy and private action
3. Quality of Life and Local, National and Global Structures
   1. Problems of behavioral variance
   2. Problems of inequality
   3. Problems of social institutions
   4. Global social problems
4. Complexity of Solutions
   1. Population and underdevelopment
   2. Globalization, victimization, and empowerment
   3. Concentration of political and economic power
   4. Militarism and war
   5. Terrorism, crime, repression, warfare, and violence in a global society
   6. Changing institutions