Social problems syllabus


Boston College Mission Statement

Strengthened by more than a century and a half of dedication to academic excellence, Boston College commits itself to the highest standards of teaching and research in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and to the pursuit of a just society through its own accomplishments, the work of its faculty and staff, and the achievements of its graduates. It seeks both to advance its place among the nation's finest universities and to bring to the company of its distinguished peers and to contemporary society the richness of the Catholic intellectual ideal of a mutually illuminating relationship between religious faith and free intellectual inquiry.

Boston College draws inspiration for its academic societal mission from its distinctive religious tradition. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, it is rooted in a worldview that encounters God in all creation and through all human activity, especially in the search for truth in every discipline, in the desire to learn, and in the call to live justly together. In this spirit, the University regards the contribution of different religious traditions and value systems as essential to the fullness of its intellectual life and to the continuous development of its distinctive intellectual heritage.

 Course Description

This course is an exploration of different sociological approaches to the study of social problems and social trends in contemporary society. It examines the linkages between social structures/institutions, culture and human experience. The course emphasizes theoretical research issues, especially how, and to what degree, the understanding of social problems are a direct result of the processes used to define social problems as well as the research methods and procedures used to investigate them. Students will learn to critique popular discourses from a critical sociological perspective and will be encouraged to form their own opinions and critiques. 

Textbooks & Readings (Required)

All required readings for this course will be made available on Canvas.

Canvas

Canvas is the Learning Management System (LMS) at Boston College, designed to help faculty and students share ideas, collaborate on assignments, discuss course readings and materials, submit assignments, and much more - all online. As a Boston College student, you should familiarize yourself with this important tool. For more information and training resources for using Canvas, click here (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Course Objectives 

  1. Students will develop a working knowledge of the sociological perspectives on contemporary social problems and the institutions that enable them.

  2. Students will learn to critique popular discourses and articulate the relationships between societal problems and the human experience.

  3. Students will acquire skills working with others as a member of a team.

  4. Students will learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.

  5. Students will demonstrate competency across cultural settings and will learn the impact of culture, gender, race, age and sexuality in the construction of social problems. They will demonstrate this competency in analytical essays and case-study group projects.

  6. Students will demonstrate ethical skills pertaining to their ability to critically examine news media and current events in their facilitation of class discussions and activities.

Grading

In course assignments, students will be scored based on their command of the course material as well as the critical thinking and writing skills they display. This course involves three forms of assessment:

 Weekly Reflections, Pop Quizzes & Discussion Questions (25%):

  • Before each class period, students will post a short summary of the readings and 1-2 discussion questions for the class onto the canvas website. These are due by noon on each seminar day. Students may miss one day’s summaries without penalty.

Attendance & Participation (10%):

  • Because this is an accelerated course, attendance is imperative! Absences must be excused, or they will affect a student’s final grade in the course. Missing more than 2 unexcused classes will result in an automatic failing grade.

Class Presentation (Group Teach-In) (25%):

  • Each student will be assigned to a group at the beginning of the semester, and this group will give a short (30 minute) presentation to contribute to class discussion in one of the course units. These presentations should be engaging and dynamic, while displaying a command of that unit’s content.

Final Exam (40%):

  • A comprehensive short answer and essay-based final exam will be administered at the end of the course in order to gauge each student’s mastery of the course readings and lectures.

The undergraduate grading system for Summer Session is as follows:

A (4.00), A- (3.67)

B+ (3.33), B (3.00), B- (2.67)

C+ (2.33), C (2.00), C- (l.67)

D+ (l.33), D (l.00), D- (.67)

F (.00)

All students can access final grades through Agora after the grading deadline each semester. Transcripts are available through the Office of Student Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Deadlines and Late Work

Late work will be accepted within a week of the deadline but will lose one letter grade for lateness, and one additional letter grade if the assignment is turned in more than a class late. Exceptions are made very infrequently and under special circumstances.

Course Assignments 

It’s expected that you’ll spend about 8 hours a week on coursework for this class. Readings should be completed before that day’s lecture, and discussion questions should be posted by noon on the day of class.

Written Work

Summer Session students are expected to prepare professional, polished written work. Written materials must be typed and submitted in the format required by your instructor. Strive for a thorough yet concise style. Cite literature appropriately, using APA, MLA or CLA style per your instructor’s requirements. Develop your thoughts fully, clearly, logically and specifically. Proofread all materials to ensure the use of proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. For writing support, please contact the Connors Family Learning Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Attendance

Attending class is an important component of learning. Students are expected to attend all class sessions. When circumstances prevent a student from attending class, the student is responsible for contacting the instructor before the class meets. Students who miss class are still expected to complete all assignments and meet all deadlines. Attendance in this course is graded and students with more than 2 unexcused absences will receive a failing grade in the course.

Consistent with BC’s commitment to creating a learning environment that is respectful of persons of differing backgrounds, we believe that every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing their academic status. Students are responsible for reviewing course syllabi as soon as possible, and for communicating with the instructor promptly regarding any possible conflicts with observed religious holidays. Students are responsible for completing all class requirements for days missed due to conflicts with religious holidays.

Accommodation and Accessibility

Boston College is committed to providing accommodations to students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities. Specific documentation from the appropriate office is required for students seeking accommodation in Summer Session courses. Advanced notice and formal registration with the appropriate office is required to facilitate this process. There are two separate offices at BC that coordinate services for students with disabilities:

 Find out more about BC’s commitment to accessibility at www.bc.edu/sites/accessibility (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Scholarship and Academic Integrity

Students in Summer Session courses must produce original work and cite references appropriately. Failure to cite references is plagiarism. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not necessarily limited to, plagiarism, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, cheating on exams or assignments, or submitting the same material or substantially similar material to meet the requirements of more than one course without seeking permission of all instructors concerned. Scholastic misconduct may also involve, but is not necessarily limited to, acts that violate the rights of other students, such as depriving another student of course materials or interfering with another student’s work. Please see the Boston College policy on academic integrity (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for more information.