UG Course Descriptions

This course contains an in-depth study of the systematic social inequality in the access of opportunities, resources, and rewards. The focus is on social stratification in the United States with some comparisons to other industrialized nations. A historical structure of how stratification has varied throughout history will be included, as well as the consequences of the future of a stratified world.

A study of the history and values underlying American responses to human needs. Emphasis on the individual’s rights to services and the dilemmas that now confront American social policy.

Addresses social concerns experienced in the work environment with emphasis on using the sociological perspective to find solutions to these concerns. (Also offered in accelerated format)

The epidemic of high technology crime in America will be examined in regard to the criminal’s methods and motives and the social, economic, legal and technological factors that have facilitated the prevalence of these crimes in the U.S. Specific investigative and prosecution hurdles experienced by the criminal justice system will be explored and the solutions offered will be addressed and analyzed.

An overview of sentencing, punishment, and treatment of convicted offenders. Analysis of the history of the correctional system, the prison social system and the theory and contemporary practices and trending issues in the area of corrections.

Adolescence is explained from a biopsychosocial perspective. This theoretical framework serves as a foundation for applying various intervention strategies to facilitate growth. Social institutions that influence American adolescents are examined as are factors of ethnicity, mental health and cultural diversity.

This course is taught in seminar style and will focus on the current Pathways to Careers in Social Work, Juvenile Justice, and Adult & Family Services by introducing the entitlements, mandates, and programs that county & state Human Service agencies provide. Philosophies of care that guide each system will be introduced. Students will learn the importance of being Trauma Informed, Family & Youth Driven as well as an effective Cultural Broker. The use of Evidenced Based Models and Practices commonly used in the child / adolescent and transition aged youth serving systems will also be introduced. This course utilizes lecture, discussion, group exercise, audio/visual, role play, internet resources, and oral presentations along with reading assignments.

This course will examine criminals who obtain money through illegal activities; including intimidation, corruption, extortion and violence. The different types of organized crime, its history and progression both in America and abroad as well as a look inside Philadelphia organized crime and some of its more well-known members will be discussed. Also explored are the structure and activities of organized criminal enterprises, the different models that have been employed to describe organized crime groups, and the theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon. The history and strategies police use to combat organized crime will also be discussed.

In this course, we will study the phenomenon of serial crime and, in particular, the serial killer. We will define serial and related homicides, review the history of serial killing, and discuss theories as to why individuals become serial killers. We will identify the traits and categories of serial killers and the methods by which they carry out their crimes. Finally, we will look at case studies of notorious serial killers and identify and discuss what factors may have been responsible for their becoming serial killers.

Medical Sociology brings sociological perspectives, theories, and methods to the study of health and medical practice. Major areas of investigation include the social facets of health and disease, the social behavior of health care personnel and people who utilize health care, the social functions of health organizations and institutions, the social patterns of health services, and the relationship of health care delivery systems to other systems. This course also provides an overview of social work practice in a variety of medical settings including inpatient, outpatient, clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home care. Students will gain information on the history of medical social work, the diverse settings in which medical social work is conducted, the responsibilities of medical social workers, the issues currently facing medical social workers, and the factors that impact social work practice in a multidisciplinary health care teams.