This course for undergraduate community college students explores how people experience social problems. The course focuses on structural inequality, equity, inclusion, and interdependence in scholarship, activists, people and case studies. Chapter topics include health, mental health, harmful drug use, death and dying, and disaster recovery. These topics are relevant to students particularly in this time of pandemic, climate crisis and racial injustice.
This course was designed to be taught as hyflex. Students choose weekly to be in the classroom or on zoom for two two hour class sessions, or complete the work asynchronously. Because this was a fall term class it was 11 weeks.Â
Included in this course are an instructor guide and course map as well as weekly overviews, course material lists, and assignments. The course readings include an open textbook for each topic.
Accessibility Statement: This course pack includes the following known accessibility issues:
Some streaming videos lack accurate captions and transcripts.
Attribution and Licensing:
Creator: Curated and Designed by Kim Puttman (Oregon Coast Community College)
Published: 11/1/2024
Relevance: Course based on SOC 206 at Oregon Coast Community College
Level: Undergraduate
License: CC BY 4.0Â
Describe the ways in which social problems are defined and constructed.
Analyze the causes and consequences of social problems using a sociological perspective.Â
Differentiate between individual and structural explanations of social problems.
Explain the relationship between race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other social locations, and the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege.
Critically evaluate strategies for responding to interdependent social problems using individual agency and collective action to expand social justice.
Demonstrate respect for diversity, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving skills through active classroom, college, or community engagement.