Course Code and Title: SOS 733-Social Problems

Type of Course: Elective
Course Credits: 3 0 3
ECTS Credits: 10
Name of Lecturer: Dr. Esra Burcu
Language of Instruction: Turkish
Pre-requisite(s): None
Course Length: One Semester
Course Contents:

• definitions, characteristics and types of social problem,
• theoretical approaches related to social problems (functionalist, interactionist, feminist, postmodern and conflict theories)
• research methods related to the analysis of social problems
• discussion of the social problems within a local and a global context.

Course Objectives:
At the end of the semester the students will be able to explain the definition, the characteristics and the types of social problems from a sociological perspective. They will be able to discuss the sociological approaches to social problems. They will evaluate the research methods of a social problem. They will also be able to discuss local and global social problems and the politics related to them.
Teaching Method: Lectures and discussions
Assessment Method: Written exam (25%), a research project (25%) and final exam (50%)
Recommended Reading:
Jamrozik, A. ve L. Nocella, (1998), Sociology of Social Problems, Cambridge Un. Press.
Ritzer, G. (1990), Social Problems, Random House, New York.
Simon, D., (1995), Social Problems and the Sociological Imagination: A Paradigm      for      Analyses, McGraw Hill, New York.
Zastrow, C. (1991), Social Problems: Issues and Solutions, Nelson Hall Pub., Chicago