Course Syllabus
Social
Problems 152
Spring, 2004
PART I: THE SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
WEEK ONE: JANUARY 13/15
Tuesday: Course
Introduction/What is a social problem?
Thursday: Review
Texts
WEEK TWO: JANUARY 20/22
Tuesday: Sociological
Perspective--General Framework
Social
Problems: Chapter 1—How Sociologists View Social Problems:
The Abortion Dilemma pp. 1-13
The Culture of Fear: Introduction
Thursday: Sociological
Perspective—Questions to Consider
Social
Problems: Chapter 1 pp. 13-23
The
Culture of Fear: Dubious Dangers on Roadways and Campuses
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK THREE: JANUARY 27/29
Tuesday: Sociological
Theory—Explaining Social Problems
Social
Problems: Chapter 2—Interpreting Social Problems: Aging pp.
25-39
Social
Problems: Chapter 13—Population and Food pp. 435-439, 444-448
The
Culture of Fear: Crime in the News
Thursday: Sociological
Research Methods
Social
Problems: Chapter 2 pp. 39-47
Social
Problems: Chapter 15—War, Terrorism, and the Balance of Power pp.
509-518
The
Culture of Fear: Youth at Risk
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK FOUR: FEBRUARY 3/5
Tuesday: Presentation
Work and Review
The
Culture of Fear: Monster Moms
Thursday: TEST
1
PART II: SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS
WEEK FIVE: FEBRUARY 10/12
Tuesday: Marriage
and Family Issues
Social
Problems: Chapter 11—The
Changing Family pp. 362-379
The
Culture of Fear: Black Men
Thursday: Family
Problems
Social
Problems: Chapter 11 pp. 379-397
The
Culture of Fear: “Smack Is Back”
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK SIX: FEBRUARY 17/19
Tuesday: Health
and Illness
Social Problems: Chapter 10—Medical Care: Problems of
Physical and Mental
Illness pp. 320-337
The Culture of Fear: Metaphoric Illness
Thursday: The
Social
Problems: Chapter 10 pp. 337-360
The
Culture of Fear: Plane Wrecks
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK SEVEN: FEBRUARY 24/26
Tuesday: Health
Care Reform
Chapter
10 review
Chapter
14—The Environmental Crisis pp. 477-491
The
Culture of Fear: Final Thoughts
Presentation
Work
Thursday: Education
Issues and Review
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK EIGHT: MARCH 2/4
Tuesday: Urban
Problems/Education Issues
Social
Problems: Chapter 12—Urban Problems pp. 403-417, 428-433
Thursday: TEST
2
SPRING BREAK WEEK
PART III: SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND NORM VIOLATIONS—SOCIETAL
ISSUES
WEEK NINE: MARCH 16/18
Tuesday: Poverty:
Definition and Demographics
Social
Problems: Chapter 7—Economic Problems: Wealth and Poverty pp. 212-
222
Social
Problems: Chapter 13—Population and Food pp. 435-452
The Burden of Bad Ideas: Introduction and The
Billions of Dollars That Made Things Worse
Thursday: Poverty: Demographics and
Explanations
Social
Problems: Chapter 7 pp. 222-237
The
Burden of Bad ideas: Behind the Hundred Neediest Cases
Group
Presentation Work
WEEK TEN: MARCH 23/25
Tuesday: Social
Welfare: Universal versus Categorical and Welfare Reform
Social
Problems: Chapter 7 pp. 237-245
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Public Health Quackery
Thursday: Sexual
Deviance
Social
Problems: Chapter 3—Prostitution, Homosexuality, and Pornography pp.
50-79
The Burden of Bad Ideas:
WEEK ELEVEN: MARCH 30/APRIL 1
Tuesday: Alcohol
and Drug Use/Abuse
Social
Problems: Chapter 4—Alcohol and Other Drugs pp. 87-111
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Why Johnny’s Teacher Can’t Teach
Presentation
Thursday: Alcohol
and Drug Abuse
Social
Problems: Chapter 4 pp. 112-128
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: An F for Hip-Hop 101
Presentation
WEEK TWELVE: APRIL 6/8
Tuesday: Crime
and Criminal Justice
Social
Problems: Chapter 5—Violence in Society: Rape and Murder pp. 131-
142, 151-163
Social
Problems: Chapter 6—Crime and Criminal Justice pp. 167-192
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Revisionist Lust: The Smithsonian Today
Presentation
Thursday: Crime and Criminal Justice
Social
Problems: Chapter 6 pp. 192-210
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Homeless advocates in Outer Space
Presentation
Easter Break
WEEK THIRTEEN: APRIL 13/15
Tuesday: Presentation/Review
Thursday: TEST
3
PART IV: SOCIAL INEQUALITY—GENDER AND RACE
WEEK FOURTEEN: APRIL 20/22
Tuesday: Sex
and Gender: Socialization Issues
Social
Problems: Chapter 9—Sex Discrimination pp. 286-304
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Compassion Gone Mad
Presentation
Thursday: Gender:
Social Structure and Social Inequality
Social
Problems: Chapter 9 pp. 304-318
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Welfare’s Next Vietnam
WEEK FIFTEEN: APRIL 27/29
Tuesday: Race
and Ethnicity/Prejudice and Discrimination
Social
Problems: Chapter 8—Race and Ethnic Relations pp. 248-266
The
Burden of Bad Ideas:
Foster Care’s Underworld
Thursday: Social
Inequality and Social Policy
Social
Problems: Chapter 8 pp. 266-283
Social
Problems: Chapter 13 p. 454
The Sociological Perspective: A Retrospective View and
Analysis
Review
for the Final Exam
The
Burden of Bad Ideas: Diallo Truth, Diallo Falsehood
(Final Exam: As scheduled by the Registrar)
Our Exam will be held in our classroom during the following
time period:
Thursday, May 6th at