Fall 2023 Course Syllabus
Course: SOCI-1306 (Section: 71, CRN: 91566)
Social Problems 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Kristi Clark
Email clarkkb@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6102
Office Madison Monroe Education - Room: 119 A
Office Hours I do not have an office on campus.  Students may contact me at clarkkb@lamarpa.edu or at 409-698-0826 text or call
Additional Contact Information By Appointment 409-698-0826 text or call
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.

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.

Text: Social Problems and the Quality of Life, 14th Edition, 2019, McGraw Hill. ISBN-13# 9781259914300 or ISBN# 1259914305 by Robert Lauer and Jeannette Lauer
Additional Materials/Resources

Students must have a reliable computer and reliable internet connection. Mobile devices (cell phones and tablets devices) do not adequately support or run course content.

Computer Skills and Digital Information: All students are required to use a computer for this course. The required Browser is Google Chrome for Blackboard navigation.  Do not attempt to use Explorer or Safari for as they will not allow access to all Blackboard course content.  It is your responsibility to make sure that your computer is set up properly to navigate through all aspects of the class. 

All students should be able to use a word processor and its options such as spelling and grammar check and computer tutorials.

Blackboard Collaborate 

Blackboard Collaborate is a webinar platform for use in online virtual teaching. In order to use Bb Collaborate you will need: a built-in or external microphone, a built-in or external webcam, and a secure internet connection.
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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.
Core Objectives

PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material.

PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills - Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.

PSLO 2: Communication Skills - Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication.

PSLO 3: Empirical and Quantitative Skills - Applies the manipulation and/or analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.

PSLO 5: Social Responsibility Skills - Expresses intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
Lecture Topics Outline

Week 1 and Week 2: Course Introduction, syllabus review, post test, orientation items assigned
Week 3 and Week 4: Social Problems defined
Week 4 and Week 5: Alcohol and other Drugs
Week 6 and Week 7: Crime and Delinquency
Week 8: Violence and Sexual Deviance
Week 9 and Week 10: Poverty and Gender and Sexual Orientation
Week 11 and Week 12: Race, Ethnic Groups, and Racism; Government and Politics
Week 13: Work, Economy, Education;
Week 14: Family Problems, Health Care and Mental Illness
Week 15: War, Terrorism, and the Environment
Week 16: Research paper
Major Assignments Schedule
  1. COURSE CONTENT INFORMATION
  2.  
  3. WELCOME START HERE: You will find your instructions on your Syllabus, Orientation Notes, Introduction Paragraph, Plagiarism Post, Syllabus and Orientation Exam
  4. FIRST WEEK MANDATORY ASSIGNMENTS: 1) Syllabus/Orientation Test. 2) Two Discussion Posts. These mandatory assignments must be completed and submitted the first week of the semester. See Calendar for Due Dates.
  5. MODULE I, II, III, and IV.  Content in Modules include:  1) Instructional Material and Activity Folder with textbook chapter reading, powerpoint, and videos. 2) Assignment Folders with Chapter Lecture Assignments, Journal Writing Assignments, and Exams. Below are descriptions of each of these mentioned above: CHAPTER LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS are equivalent to lectures if you were taking this course as a “face to face” class. CHAPTER LECTURE ASSIGNMENTS are chapter postings that give particular topics of interest. You will be given “posting instructions” which instruct you on what you need to discuss. These lecture assignments will only benefit you. You will see the information again on your exams. Please use the required textbook when completing the Discussions. Please do NOT use “Google” or “Wikipedia” to complete these discussions. You may use any format when completing these assignments, such as paragraph form, bullets, highlighting terms, whatever helps you to remember the information.  You will post these discussions by replying or submitting your results. Each CHAPTER DISCUSSION is worth 10 points. You will have 15 DISCUSSIONS which totals 150pts. You will be able to access these through the MODULES. The due dates can be found on the CALENDAR. JOURNALS WRITING ASSIGNMENTS can also be found through the MODULES. I will post a topic such as teenage pregnancy and you will find an article online and discuss the findings of this article. I will post an example of a journal under the MODULES. Each journal will be worth 10 points and there will be a total of 10 journals which totals 100 points. The journals should be at least 300 words in length in order to receive credit. You also must identify the website you retrieved your article from. Journals should be submitted on the given due date found on the CALENDAR. There will be an example of a journal assignment along with specific JOURNAL INSTRUCTIONS posted under the MODULES. MAJOR EXAM REVIEW: You will find the “Major Exam Review” listed on your Course Content in each Module. The purpose of the Major Exam Review is to help guide you through each unit and prepare you for your exam. You will find these to be VERY helpful. ASSESSMENTS/EXAM: Exams consist of multiple choice questions. You will find the exams under each Module. 

RESEARCH PAPER: The research paper will require each student to choose a topic related to a social problem discussed in the class. This topic must be approved by the instructor and a required outline will be provided. This paper is worth 200 points and will be due at the end of the semester. The specific due date will be placed on the CALENDAR. Further instructions, including a detailed outline will be provided in the Blackboard course. 
Final Exam Date December 11, 2023 - 8:0 AM   Through  December 11, 2023 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale


A =

900 - 1000  

90 -100 %

B =

800 -  899

80 - 89  %

C =

700 - 799

70 - 79  %

D =

600 - 699

60 - 69  %

F =

500 - 599

50 - 59  %

 
Determination of
Final Grade		 1. Journals are worth 10 points each totaling 110 points
2. Plagiarism post worth 40.
2. Chapter Lecture Assignments are worth a total of 150 points.
3. Academic Research Paper is worth 200 points.
4. Assessments/Exams: Five exams worth 100 points each equally 500 total
Course Policies
Instructor Policies Student must log into Blackboard weekly.

All assignments and exam's due dates are posted on the Calendar.  Once the due date has passed, the assignment is no longer posted on the CALENDAR.  Assignments and exam cannot be reopened or extended.  Late work is not accepted. 
Attendance Policy

Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. 
Additional Information
  1.  
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
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431