SOC1023G Social Problems:

Spring 2005 Section 1 Syllabus

©1999-2005 Ronald Keith Bolender

Title

SOC1023G Social Problems

Credit

3 semester credit hours

2 classes per week--Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 am through 1:00 pm in RH 16

Instructor

Dr. Ronald Keith Bolender, Professor

Office Location: RH 139k

Regular Office Hours: Monday (11:20 am through 3:20 pm), Wednesday (11:20 am through 3:20 pm), Due to various committee assignments and Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS) teaching assignments, always call ahead for an appointment.

E-mail: ronald_bolender@yahoo.com

Office Telephone: 740-392-6868 extension 3701

Course Description

A study of selected social problems emphasizing their analysis and evaluation of attempted solutions in relation to basic concepts and theoretical perspectives. (Mount Vernon Nazarene University: A descriptive catalog with explanations of undergraduate programs and courses for 2001-2002. 2001. Mount Vernon, OH: Mount Vernon Nazarene University.)

Position of the Course in the College Curriculum

This is a lower-division course which can be used to fulfill the Social Science General Education Requirement for the majority of majors at MVNU. It is required for all sociology programs (majors in sociology, sociology minor, associates in applied science in human services, the social studies comprehensive sociology track), and the social work major.

Objectives of the Course for the Student

• To summarize the content of the three major sociological theories, i.e., functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory;
• To apply the concepts of the three major sociological theories to selected social problems;
• To analyze possible causes of social problems using sociological theories;
• To evaluate possible solutions to social problems from a sociological perspective;
• To summarize the impact of social problems on individuals, groups, and society;
• To evaluate the common sense beliefs about social problems; and
• To identify the interconnectedness of social problems.

Institutional Goals Promoted by the Course

• To analyze, synthesize, and integrate various types of information and structures of knowledge, including the causal relationships of events and the logical relationship of ideas;
• Acquire attitudes which stimulate awareness of both oneself and the total environment enabling one to respond creatively and positively; and
• Becoming aware of a social problem that needs a creative solution and developing one's career goals to solve or aid that problem.

Departmental Goals Promoted by the Course

• To foster the ability to think like a sociologist;
• To acquire knowledge about the social sciences both for personal enrichment and professional competency, and
• To contribute to an understanding of human society from a Christian perspective.

Texts/Required Reading

See "Outline and Schedule" section for reading requirements.

Method Used in Course

This course utilizes a course management system (CMS) called Blackboard. MVNU has adopted this CMS as the official on-line course delivery method via the Internet. Currently, SOC1023G Social Problems is taught as a Web-enhanced course--not as a pure on-line course. However, if a student so desires, the majority (not all) of this course can be experienced as an on-line course. The instructor will give weekly lectures and be available during class session time to meet with students for individual needs, group work, etc. This format is like a two-sided coin--it allows students greater flexibility in achieving the course objectives while at the same time it requires students to be more self-directed, more responsible.  Realization of course objectives depends upon both the instructor and the student. The instructor's role is primarily facilitator. The student bears the responsibility of learning; grades reflect what the student has learned. Important Note: All times listed for Blackboard related deadlines are in Eastern Standard Time.

Problems Accessing Blackboard

If there are any problems accessing Blackboard while posting to the Weekly Discussion or during a Weekly Exam, you MUST send the facilitating instructor an e-mail message--immediately. The e-mail will be a "timestamp" validation that you were attempting to work with Blackboard but were unable to complete the task due to problems with Blackboard. However, if you cannot send an e-mail, you must send a voice mail message to the facilitating instructor. The voice mail message will include a "timestamp" validation of the message. The importance of the "timestamp" is to help the facilitating instructor to determine the time you attempted to post to a Weekly Discussion or take a Weekly Exam. You must follow this process in order to receive an extension of time to post to the Weekly Discussion or take a Weekly Exam beyond the deadline posted in the Outline and Schedule section of this syllabus. There are certain limitations with this process for the Final Exam (Unit 13). Note: Excessive use of this process will be reviewed by the facilitating instructor.

Attendance

Due to the use of Blackboard in this course, attendance is optional. The only extra credit awarded in this course is for class attendance in class sessions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. A maximum of 10 extra credit points per class session will be awarded if all of the following conditions are met: (a) you are in the classroom when the facilitating instructor begins the class session, (b)  you do not leave prior to the the dismissal of the class session, and (c) you are "experiencing" the class session--sleeping, working on other courses, or listening to music is not "experiencing" the class session. A maximum of 130 extra credit points can be earned. You cannot "makeup" extra credit points--for ANY REASON--ANY EXCUSE!

Method of Evaluation

Final Grade Scale

Important Note Regard SIR In-Class Surveys

The Academic Dean's Office determines when SIRs are to be given. The facilitating instructor for this course will notify the students as soon as possible regarding the date of REQUIRED attendance. There will be 20 extra credit points given for those in attendance.

Outline and Schedule

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