This course is an introduction to the sociological study of contemporary social problems in the United States. The primary goal throughout this course is to develop your "sociological imagination" a term coined by sociologist C. Wright Mills to describe a way in which we can better understand ourselves and the world around us. It is through this understanding that we can begin to unravel how our individual lives are rooted in larger social realities, demonstrating how our individual circumstances are inextricably linked to social structures. In this course, we will examine issues of crime and deviance, social class and stratification, racial, ethnic, and gender inequality, work and family life, media, consumerism, urban decay, corporate crime, poverty, health care, drug wars, and others through sociological perspectives. Students should gain a better understanding of the structure of society, how we have perceived "social problems" and we have responded accordingly.Social Science and History (SSHIS) courses develop students' critical thinking skills through the study of history and the social sciences (e.g. sociology, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology, geography), as well as through contemporary interdisciplines that draw heavily on these fields (e.g. feminist and queer studies, media studies, urban studies, ethnic studies). Subject matter in these courses contributes to students' cultural literacy while instructional materials and classroom assignments introduce basic research problems and techniques.

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