SOC 005, Social Problems

This course is designed to introduce students to the main societal issues facing humanity at the present time and in the foreseeable future. Although the course examines a number of social issues in the United States (such as crime and poverty), the course generally takes an international and inter-cultural perspective. The primary social issues that affect individuals and their children today are global, rather than national, in scope. For this reason, globalization is a recurring theme in the course.   Discussion and questions are encouraged in all sections.

 

Sociology 005 provides excellent preparation for most upper level sociology courses. Because this course introduces students to social problems that will confront their generation in the near future, it also is relevant to other majors and disciplines, such as political science, economics, and health and human development. This course meets a General Education requirement in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Sociology Department at University Park offers two large-enrollment sections of this course (300-350 students) every semester. The Department offers small-enrollment sections of this course (30-50 students) during the summer and occasionally during the fall or spring. All courses are for 3 credit hours.