STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Summarize the principal perspectives on social problems.

 II.     Define principal social problems in contemporary American society.

 III.    Analyze the causes of these problems.

 IV.     Explain the conditions of health care, mental illness, substance abuse, sex-related problems, violence, poverty and affluence, racism and prejudice, and environment problems.

 V.      Formulate suggested solutions for the above social problems.

 VI.     Estimate/calculate the costs of various social problems and the cost of suggested solutions.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems.

         A.      The Functionalist Perspective.

         B.      The Conflict Perspective.

         C.      The Interactionist Perspective.

 II.     Survey of Social Problems.

         A.      Problems of physical health.

         B.      Mental illness.

         C.      Sex-related social problems.

         D.      Substance abuse.

         E.      Environmental degradation.

         F.      Violence.

         G.      Racism and prejudice.

         H.      Poverty and affluence.

 III.    Solutions for social problems.

         A.      Political considerations.

         B.      Economic considerations.

         C.      Ethical considerations.

         D.      Who benefits?  Who `loses?`

 IV.     Calculating the costs.

         A.      If the status quo is maintained, what is the cost?

         B.      If social change is initiated, what is the cost?

 V.      Ethnical considerations.

         A.      What do we owe to whom?

         B.      Why?

         C.      Who gets to make the decisions?