SOC 250 - Social Problems

1. Introduction
   1. definition of social problems
   2. research methods for studying social problems
2. Problems of inequality (gender, race, class, etc)
   1. social class and poverty
   2. race and ethnic inequality
   3. gender inequality
   4. other (e.g., inequality based on age, sexual orientation)
3. Institutional problems
   1. health care: problems of physical & mental illness
   2. problems in education
   3. the changing family
4. Selected topics (optional)
   1. prostitution, pornography & the sex industry
   2. alcohol & other drugs
   3. crime & criminal justice
   4. population, urban, problems and the environmental crisis
   5. global social problems: war & terrorism

1. Propose sociological approaches to social issues in society. 
2. Review methods for collecting sociological data. 
3. Examine the social nature of inequality (gender, race, class, etc). 
4. Investigate the diverse types of inequality found in the American social class system, including possible solutions.
5. Analyze selected social problems from an institutional perspective, including possible solutions.