Sociology 240

 

Global Social Problems Spring 2023

Section 300 CRN: 47080

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

We live in a world beset by problems that in many ways and to varying degrees undermine the well-being of our societies. These social problems constitute a wide range of topics that feature prominently and unceasingly in the news and in political debates. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the sociological analysis of global social problems, which are those that cannot be confined within national boundaries and often need some combination of personal, local, regional, national, and international action to be ameliorated. Global social problems include but are not limited to: poverty, hunger, disease and illness, lack of quality educational opportunities, gender inequality, lack of clean water and sanitation, and lack of affordable, clean energy. In an increasingly connected world, many of these social problems that have traditionally been seen as personal, local, cultural, regional, or national in character, can be clearly recognized as global in character. Sociology affords us an exciting and engaging means to understand, analyze, and, hopefully, solve these problems. 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you should be able to: 

1. Remember how global social problems differ from personal issues.
2. Understand how social problems have been defined over time.
3. Analyze the nature and causes of global social problems from sociological perspectives, theories and methods.
4. Evaluate arguments concerning the impact of social problems and solutions to social problems.

5. Critically evaluate current interventions and proposed solutions to specific global social problems and assess the consequences for various actors.

Chirico, Joann. 2019. Global Problems, Global Solutions: Prospects for a Better World. Los Angeles: Sage Press. ISBN: 978-1-5063-4778-3.  

COURSE ORGANIZATION:

This 3-credit hour course will require approximately three hours of direct faculty instruction each week. In addition, you may expect to spend approximately six hours on out-of-class student work for this course each week for approximately 15 weeks. Out-of-class work may include but is not limited to: required reading, library research, written assignments, and studying for and taking exams. 

EVALUATION AND GRADING:

To assess understanding of the material, there will be five quizzes. To analyze problems, evaluate arguments and interventions, and propose solutions we will engage in what I am calling the Country Project. 

Attendance.  I expect you to be in class. To encourage class attendance I will distribute sign-in sheets on randomly selected days. I will also pass out a sign-in sheet if it is requested by any class member.  Attendance points will be levied based on your attendance on the days the sign in sheets are passed out. This will account for 11% of your grade.

Quizzes: There will be five quizzes throughout the semester. Material for these quizzes will be taken from the readings and lectures.  Each quiz is worth 10 percent of the final grade. 

The Country Project: To enhance our global viewpoint, you will choose a country from a list of three that I will provide to you. Congratulations! You are now an aide to a political candidate that is running for the top leadership position that country. Your job is to help brief the candidate on policies to solve the social problems facing that country. This will take place in two ways:

• Solutions Wiki:  For each social problem we discuss, you will find a person or group that is working to address the problems that we are focusing on in that chapter. (Preferably this would be a person or group addressing the problem as it occurs in your country, but it could be any person or group working anywhere in the world.) You will then write up an entry in the Solutions page (on Blackboard) describing the policies and/or practices that they are engaging in to alleviate the problem and why you think this is a good solution. This should mean that for each problem there will be many potential solutions from around the globe in the discussion boards to give you ideas for your candidates. Solutions writeups will be due on the wiki two (2) days after we end each social problem chapter by 10pm.
• Policy Briefs:  At three different points you will write a brief for your candidate outlining the social problems covered thus far. You will lay out in a Discussion board post, to the best of your abilities, your assessment of the status of those issues within your country. You will rank order the social problems in terms of their seriousness for your country, and you will end by laying out the three highest priorities for solving social problems in their country using what is working in other places, informed by sociological theory. The briefs will be cumulative (You will be able to edit your posts). The first brief will cover the social problems we have examined up to the end of Week 5.  The second brief will cover all the social problems we have examined up to the end of Week 10. And the final brief, covering all the social problems we have examined in the course, will be due during finals week.
• Brief Zero: To kick off the Country Project and choose the topics that we will cover in class, you will complete Brief Zero.  After you select your country from the three on your card, you will examine the CIA World Factbook website (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/) for your country as well as the chapter list from the Chirico text. You will then write a paragraph that will let me know which country you have chosen, the three most interesting things you have noticed about the country from the CIA factbook, and the top three social problems out of the Chirico text that, based on what you have gleaned thus far, you believe will be most germane to your country. I will take these into consideration as I choose the chapters from the text that we will cover in this class. 

GRADING SCALE:

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:

This is a general schedule of quiz dates  and readings to be done in preparation for class.

• I expect you to respect one another. We are all Hilltoppers. We take care of one another, our hill, our community, and beyond. Everybody is trying to understand this material and how it fits with their values and experiences. Give folks time to process. Each of us may have strongly differing opinions on the various topics of class discussions. Diverse ideas and views are important to the class, and the orderly questioning of others' ideas, including mine, is encouraged and welcomed. Everyone's arguments can use polish. The only way we improve is by continuously re-examining our evidence and our argument. However, it is imperative that everyone be respectful of the each other. Couch your feedback to try to help the others understand. Focus on the evidence and argument presented, not the speaker's personal characteristics. You should expect that if your conduct during discussions seriously disrupts the atmosphere of mutual respect I expect in this class, you will not be permitted to participate further.

• Please do not wait until the end of the semester to seek assistance when you are having difficulties with the course. Please use my office hours or contact me to arrange a time to meet. I am more than willing to arrange a time that works for both of us. I will only be on campus on MWF mornings; I'll be working out of my home office the rest of the time. The best way to reach me will be email. Please put your name and the course number in the subject line of the email. I'll try to respond within 24 hours. 

• If you prefer to be called a different name than what is indicated on the class roster, please let me know. Also feel free to correct me on your preferred gender pronoun. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  

• The United States Department of Education requires WKU's Office of Financial Aid to determine if a student who receives financial aid and fails to earn a passing grade in a course actually attended and/or completed the course. Because we will not be taking regular attendance for this course this term, the date I will report as your last date of attendance will be the latest of the following:

  • The date you last participated in a discussion or activity; 

  • The date you last submitted an assignment/project/quiz; or 

  • The date you last initiated contact with me to ask a question about the course or course content.

  If you earn an F, I will have to report your last date of attendance. If this date is at or before the 60% point of the term (in this semester, March 26), this may require you to pay back any financial aid funds received for this course.

• All students are strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine.  In accordance with WKU policy, all students must call the WKU COVID-19 Assistance Line at 270-745-2019 within 4 hours of testing positive for COVID-19 or being identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive. The COVID Assistance Line is available to answer questions regarding any COVID-19 related issue. This guidance is subject to change based on requirements set forth by federal, state, and local public health entities. Please refer to the Healthy on the Hill website for the most current information. www.wku.edu/healthyonthehill

   

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RESOURCE INFORMATION:

• WKU Writing Center

The Writing Center on the Bowling Green campus will have writing tutors available to offer advice to current WKU students on any stage of their writing projects. In-person tutoring is available in Cherry Hall 123 from 9-4 Monday through Friday and in the Cravens Commons (at the horseshoe-shaped reference desk) from 5-9 on Sunday through Thursday evenings. Students may also request feedback on their writing via email or arrange a real-time Zoom conference to discuss a paper. See instructions and how-to videos on the website (www.wku.edu/writingcenter) for making appointments. Walk-in feedback is available unless we are booked up. Students may also get short writing questions answered via email; just put “Quick question” in the subject line to (writingcenter@wku.edu).  

The WKU Glasgow START Center/Writing Center will be offering writing tutoring sessions as well as in person. More information on how to make appointments and what to expect from your appointment will continue to be posted at https://www.wku.edu/startcenter/. 

• ADA Accommodation

In compliance with University policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center located in Downing Student Union, Room 1074.  The SARC can be reached by phone number at 270-745-5004 [270-745-3030 TTY] or via email at sarc.connect@wku.edu. Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a faculty notification letter (FNL) from The Student Accessibility Resource Center.

• Title IX/Discrimination and Harassment

  Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to supporting faculty, staff and students by upholding WKU’s Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (#0.070) and Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040). Under these policies, discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct based on sex/gender are prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex/gender-based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you are encouraged to report it to the Executive Director, Office of Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator, Ena Demir, 270-745-6867 or Title IX Investigators, Michael Crowe, 270-745-5429 or Joshua Hayes, 270-745-5121. Please note that while you may report an incident of sex/gender based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct to a faculty member, WKU faculty are “Responsible Employees” of the University and MUST report what you share to WKU’s Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Investigator. If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you confidentiality, you may contact WKU’s Counseling and Testing Center at 270-745-3159.

   

• Help

  College students often experience challenges that may interfere with academic success such as stress, sleep problems, juggling responsibilities, life events, relationship concerns, or feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, or depression. The pandemic has only exacerbated these issues. If you, or a friend, is struggling, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Helpful, effective resources are available on campus at no additional cost.

  • If you are struggling academically with this class, please visit me during office hours or contact me by email at douglas.smith@wku.edu
  • Meet with your academic advisor if you are struggling academically in multiple classes, unsure whether you are making the most of your time at WKU, or unsure what academic resources are available at WKU.
  • Visit the Counseling Center website at https://www.wku.edu/heretohelp/ for information about the broad range of confidential on-campus mental health services, online health assessments, hours, and additional information.
  • Call the Counseling Center at (270) 745-3159 if interested in scheduling an appointment with a counselor. After-hours crisis support is also available through this phone number.

   

• WKU Food Pantry

  The WKU Office of Sustainability offers non-perishable food and toiletries to all WKU students, faculty, and staff. No proof of need is necessary. The only requirement to use the pantry is completion of a digital form.  All information is kept confidential and is used solely to track pantry usage statistics. The Food Pantry is located at the WKU Office of Sustainability, 503 Regents Avenue--diagonally behind Gary Ransdell Hall in a small brick house). For schedule and details, please see https://www.wku.edu/sustainability/food_pantry.php.

   

• Other Important Information

  WKU maintains a web page with other important information here: https://www.wku.edu/syllabusinfo/.  This page details the student complaint procedure, lists the student ombudsperson, provides info on active shooter preparedness, and many other important topics.  Please go take a look. 

SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY:

The syllabus for any class is a road map. The readings in the course calendar are places we are scheduled to visit.  Anyone who has taken a preplanned road trip or vacation knows that the trip is not fun unless you stop at the interesting roadside attractions even though they might divert from your original route or time table.  It's the process of getting there that is fun and relaxing and intriguing.  In that light, I reserve the right to alter the standards and requirements set forth in this syllabus at any time. Notice of such changes will be by announcement on Blackboard and/or by email notice.

ADD/DROP DATES:

Last day to add a full semester class: Tuesday, January 24

Last day to drop a full semester class without receiving a grade: Tuesday, January 24.

Last day to receive any refund for the Fall semester: Monday, February 6.

The 60% point of the Fall semester: Wednesday, March 26.  

Last day to drop a class with a W: Thursday, March 30

Last day to remove an incomplete from Spring or Summer terms: Friday, April 14

Roster freeze date (No late adds or withdrawals for extenuating circumstances will be processed after this date): Friday, April 28

Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. Persons violating the Student Code of Conduct (in particular but not limited to the section on academic conduct) in any assignment or exam in this class will receive a minimum penalty of a grade of zero (0) for the assignment, and may receive an "F" for the course at the instructor’s option.  In particular, no form of academic misconduct will be tolerated (see https://www.wku.edu/studentconduct/process-for-academic-dishonesty.php.) Know your Regulations!