NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

Course title: Contemporary Social Problems

Course prefix, number, and section number: SOCI1306 0385

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025 (2^nd 8 week session)

Semester start and end dates: October 20-December 13

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous online

Class meeting location, days, and times: n/a

Lab meeting location, days, and times: n/a

Semester credit hours: 3

Course 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.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials: Macionis, John J.  Social Problems. 7th edition. Pearson. ISBN 978-0134206325

 

Name of instructor:  Melissa Kenfield

Office location:  remote

Telephone number:  n/a

E-mail address:  mkenfield@nctc.edu – only before/after semesters

Enrolled Students: Use Canvas Inbox for all class communication – I’ll see that quicker than emails.

Office hours for students: See Canvas for availability

 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

 

 

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced via Canvas Announcements.

  

  

 

COURSE CALENDAR

 

 

Dates	Topic	Textbook Reading	The Eightfold Path
Oct 20- Oct 24	What are social problems?	Macionis, Ch. 1	Define the Problem
Oct 25- Oct 31	How do we study social problems?	Macionis, Ch. 2-6	Assemble the evidence
Nov 1 – Nov 7	Social Inequality	Macionis, Ch. 2-6	Construct the alternatives
Nov 8 – Nov 14	Deviance, Conformity, and Well-Being	Macionis, Ch. 7-9	Select the criteria
Nov 15 – Nov 21	Social Institutions, Part 1	Macionis, Ch. 10-12	Project the outcomes
Nov 22 – Nov 25	Social Institutions, Part 2	Macionis, Ch. 13-15	Confront the trade-offs
Dec 1 – Dec 5	Global Problems	Macionis, Ch. 16-18	Decide
Dec 6 – Dec 13	Walking the Eightfold Path	n/a	Tell your story

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 

 

List of graded assignments: 

Administrative Activities: 5%

• Syllabus quiz, Respondus practice activity, and other minor activities necessary for the smooth operation of class

Formative Activities (Textbook Quizzes): 15%

• 17 chapter quizzes – open note, multiple attempts, two lowest dropped

Exams: 40%

• Four unit exams and one comprehensive exam; 100 points each, lowest grade dropped

The Eightfold Path: 40%

• Over the course of the semester you’ll engage in the eightfold path of policy analysis – a systematic way of analyzing social problems and proposing policy solutions
• Throughout the class you’ll engage in a mix of activities – discussions, proctored short answer activities, assignments for gathering evidence, and other activities work a varying level of points.
• At the end of the class, you’ll post a video (Canvas Studio) discussing your journey down the path (Final project: 100 points)

 

Final grade scale: 

 

90%+ (900 points or higher): A
80%-89% (800 points – 899 points): B

70%-89% (700 points – 799 points): C

60%-89% (600 points – 699 points): D

59.9% -  (599 points or lower): F

Due dates / Late work policy:

Weeks in this class typically run from Saturday until the following Friday, with activities remaining open for late work until Sunday night. Activities will lock that Sunday night.   

 

Assignments are typically due on Wednesday nights and Friday nights. Some activities may be due at other points, especially in relation to the Thanksgiving holiday break. You will be able to see the due dates on the Canvas calendar as well as be notified by announcements.

 

The semester project builds on previous steps, so timely completion is essential to remain on track. If I deem a step necessary for progress in the course, I will communicate any extended late work period by the individual assignment. Extended late work may incur a grade penalty.

 

 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

 

 

COURSE POLICIES

 

Academic Integrity Policy:  Students are expected to do their own work without use of outside tools, including but not limited to use of artificial intelligence / large language models outside of the specific parameters in assignments. Please see the current student handbook for full details.   

Attendance Policy:  Attendance is based in participation in activities. I will mark attendance the following Monday for a given week. Any late work permitted after that point will not retroactively mark you as present.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: November 21, 2025

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

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 on 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.

Discuss how “solutions” to social problems are often contentious due to diverse values in society.

Describe how the proposed “solutions” to a social problem, including social policies, may bring rise to other social problems.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Empirical and Quantitative

Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES