Transfers ToUC and CSUCal-GETC Area 4 · IGETC Area 4J · CSU GE Area D0DescriptionThe course presents a broad introductory overview of contemporary social problems. Using a variety of sociological perspectives, students will analyze, critique, and propose solutions to social problems. Topics to be discussed include: the three core sociological theoretical perspectives; sociological methods; social institutions such as government, the economy, the family, health-care systems, and education; social inequality such as racism, poverty, and sexism; unconventional or deviant behavior in the form of crime and delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse, pornography and the sex trade; and global concerns such as violence, war, and terrorism. This course will also examine the impact of social problems on racial and ethnic groups with roots in Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Europe, Central America, North America, and South America. Additionally, this course will address conceptual issues relevant to understanding ethnicity, culture, and pluralism and their influences upon the ways that people in the United States of America think about themselves and approach issues and problems that confront their society. Comparative analyses of social problems as they relate to various cultural groups, such as African, European, Asian, and Latino, will be emphasized.