SOC 311

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SOC 311

Ethics, Policy and the Triage Society SOC 311 FA

Section	Class Size	*Available	Times	POI	Prereq
1	35	0	Times: ..W.... 7:30PM-9:00PM; ...T... 1:10PM-2:30PM;	No	No
2	35	2	Times: ...T... 1:10PM-2:30PM; ..W.... 7:30PM-9:00PM;	No	No

*The number of spaces listed as available is based on class seats open for the Blue Add phase of registration. Some seats may be taken in previous phases while others may be held out for subsequent phases of registration. (Last Updated on Tue Aug 10 05:00:30 EDT 1999 )

A basic sociological fact of life is that social policies today offer fewer real supports for the shelterless, hungry, poor, ill, and traditionally discriminated. Though this is largely a result of political process through which habitual prejudices express themselves, it is also partly a result of declining resources. Even the most wealthy societies, like the U.S., seem to lack the wealth to fund basic social justice and welfare programs. A triage society is one in which scarcity is so great and politics so harsh that social benefits are arbitrarily assigned to those in favor with those in power, while others are systematically excluded to the point of mortal danger. The course will deal specifically with problems of the environment, children, AIDS, and housing and homelessness. Wednesday evening lectures will be provided by visitors who are experts in the formation and/or implementation of public policy and are involved in understanding and solving today's most pressing social problems. Thursday class sessions will follow up with further discussion and analysis of the issues raised in the Wednesday evening lecture and by related readings. The goal of the course is to develop basic skills in social, ethical and policy analysis as applied to urgent, practical issues in the society.

MAJOR READINGS

Alex Kotlowitz, THERE ARE NO CHILDREN HERE
Gary Snyder, THE PRACTICE OF THE WILD
Shelley Geballe, FORGOTTEN CHILDREN OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC
Rob Rosenthal, HOMELESS IN PARADISE
Garth Kasimu Baker-Fletcher, XODUS: AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE
JOURNEY
Thich Nhat Hanh, CULTIVATING THE MIND OF LOVE
Wendell Berry, SEX, ECONOMY, FREEDOM AND COMMUNITY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly readings, attendance at all lectures and class sessions, four two-page papers, oral presentation, small-group discussion leading, one social research project involving fieldwork with area activists, community workers, and social agency administrators.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office. The course is designed as an introduction to the critical study of social ethics including the public values that shape social policies. It is intended to serve as an open forum for discussion of important issues in a triage society. As a result, attendance and willingness to discuss these issues are mandatory. They are in fact foundational requirements. Both sections will meet together for Wednesday evening lecture. Each section will meet with a different professor (Lemert 311-1; Comstock, 311-2) for Thursday class session.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture Practicum

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS SOC

Prerequisites: None

Section 01: Lemert, C; Times: ..W.... 7:30PM- 9:00PM; ...T... 1:10PM- 2:30PM;; Grading Mode: A/F; Registration Preference (1 high to 6 low, 0=Excluded) Sr: 0, Jr: 1, So: 2, Fr: 0; Major Preference Given
Section 02: Comstock, G; Times: ...T... 1:10PM- 2:30PM; ..W.... 7:30PM- 9:00PM;; Grading Mode: A/F; Registration Preference (1 high to 6 low, 0=Excluded) Sr: 0, Jr: 2, So: 1, Fr: 0; No Major Preference Given

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999

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