Social Problems (Sociology 202)
Spring 2020
Frank Ha, PhD
This is the tentative course schedule. Modifications to this schedule will be announced.
Week 1, Part 1
Introductions and overview of the course
Week 1, Part 2
Chapter 1. Sociology: Studying Social Problems
Lecture: The Study of Social Problems (Slides)
Lecture: Theoretical Perspectives (Slides)
Week 2, Part 1
Lecture: Research Methods (Slides)
Week 2, Part 2
Chapter 2. Economic Inequality
Lecture: Poverty and Wealth (Slides)
Week 3
Chapter 3. Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Lecture: Race and Ethnicity (Slides)
Recommended reading: Bobo, Lawrence D. and Camille Z. Charles. 2009. "Race in the American Mind: From the Moynihan Report to the Obama Candidacy." Annals, AAPSS 621: 243-259. (link) (PowerPoint)
Week 4
Exam 1
Video (if time permits)
Week 5, Part 1
Chapter 4. Gender Inequality
Lecture: Gender (Slides)
Recommended reading: The Double-Bind Dilemma for Women in Leadership: Damned if You Do, Doomed if You Don’t (pp. 1-25 -- recommended) (link) (PowerPoint)
Recommended reading: Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide. Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever (pp. 1-10 -- recommended) (link) (PowerPoint)
Recommended reading: Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty? Shelley J. Correll, Stephen Benard, and In Paik (link) (PowerPoint)
Week 5, Part 2
Chapter 5. Sexuality and Inequality
Lecture: Sexual Orientation (Slides)
Week 6
Chapter 6. Aging and Inequality
Lecture: Aging (Slides)
Week 7
Exam 2
Video (if time permits)
Week 8, Part 1
Chapter 7. Crime, Violence, and Criminal Justice
Lecture: Crime (Slides)
Lecture: Criminal Justice (Slides)
Week 8, Part 2
Chapter 8. Alcohol and Other Drugs
Lecture: Drug and Alcohol Abuse (Slides)
Week 9
Chapter 9. Physical and Mental Health
Lecture: Physical health (Slides)
Lecture: Mental health (Slides)
Week 10
Exam 3
Video (if time permits)
Week 11
Chapter 10. Social Media
Lecture: Media and Technology (Slides)
Week 12, Part 1
Chapter 11. Economy and Politics
Lecture: Politics (Slides)
Week 12, Part 2
Chapter 12. Work and the Workplace
Lecture: To be determined
Week 13
Exam 4
Video (if time permits)
Week 14
Chapter 13. Family Life
Lecture: Social Problems of Marriage and Family (Slides)
Week 15, Part 1
Chapter 14. Education
Lecture: Problems in Education (Slides)
Week 15, Part 2
Chapter 16: Population and Global Inequality
Lecture: Globalization and Inequality (Slides)
Week 16
Student presentations
Week 17
Final