Fall 2023 Course Syllabus
Course: SOCI-1306 (Section: 2C, CRN: 92962)
Social Problems
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Instructor Information
Instructor Lawanda Brown
Email brownl1@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6185
Office Student Center - Room: 308
Office Hours The time to discuss any concerns about the lessons or class is the end of the class period. 
7:45-8:00pm

Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description Application of sociological principles and theoretical perspectives to major social problems in contemporary society such as inequality, crime and violence, substance abuse, environmental issues, deviance, or family problems.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.


Understanding Social Problems, 10th Edition; by Linda  A. Mooney, Dr. David Knox, Dr. Caroline Schacht, Published 2016 by Cengage Learning
Additional Materials/Resources None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites A desire to learn.
Learning Outcomes
  • Describe how the sociological imagination can be used to explain the emergence and implications of contemporary social problems.
  • Explain the nature of social problems from at least one sociological perspective, e.g., critical, functional, interpretive, etc.
  • Identify multidimensional aspects of social problems including the global, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of social problems.
  • Discuss how solutions to social problems are often contentious due to diverse values in society.
  • Describe how the proposed solutions to a social problem, including social policies, may bring rise to other social problems.
Core Objectives
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.

Lecture Topics Outline Module 1

Chapter 1: Thinking about Social Problems
Chapter 2.: Physical and Mental Health and Health Care
Chapter 3; Alcohol and Other Drugs
Chapter 4: Crime and Social Control
Chapter 5: Family Problems

Module  Assignment
Module 1 Exam: Sept. 19th

Module 2

Chapter 6: Economic Inequality, Wealth, and Poverty
Chapter 7: Work and Unemployment
Chapter 8: Problems with Education
Chapter 9: Race, Ethnicity and Immigration
Chapter 10: Gender Inequality
Chapter 11: Sexual Orientation and the Struggle for Equality

Module Assignments (2 assignments)
Module 2 Exam:  Oct. 23rd

Module 3 

Chapter 12: Population Growth and Aging
Chapter 13: Environmental Problems
Chapter 14: Science and Technology
Chapter 15: Conflict, War, and Terrorism

Module Assignment
Module 3 Exam: Nov 21st
Major Assignments Schedule Module  Assignment
Module 1 Exam: Sept. 19th

Module Assignments (2 assignments)
Module 2 Exam:  Oct. 23rd

Module Assignment
Module 3 Exam: Nov 21st


Final Exam: Dec. 12th


Final Exam Date December 12, 2023 - 5:30 PM   Through  December 12, 2023 - 8:00 PM
Grading Scale
  • 540-600 = A
     
  • 480-539 = B
     
  • 420-479 = C
     
  • 360-419 = D
     
  • 359 - Below= F
Determination of
Final Grade
4 assignments (Total 100pts)
4- exams including the final exam (Total 400pts)
2- Pop Quizzes/Assignments (25pts each)
1- Group Assignment (50pts)

Total 600 points
Test = 67% 
Assignments = 33%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies
  • Respect yourself and your classmates.
  • Most assignments are class assignments and are due at the end of each assigned class period.
  • Any take home assignments are due the following class period. 
  • No late assignments are accepted. 
  • There are no make up exams without prior notification of absence. 
  • All group members must participate in group assignments. Group members are randomly selected.
  • Students should not leave class without permission.
Attendance Policy Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. A student with three or more absence may be dropped from the class.
Additional Information
  • Please follow all location rules. 
  • Late assignments are not accepted
  • No exam make-up with proper notification and excuse 
  • All assignments must be written or typed on clean paper, ex: no crumbled or reused paper. 
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
Academic Advising
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431