Contra Costa College
Course Outline
Course Number
Course Title
Prerequisite
Challenge Policy
Co-requisite
Challenge Policy
Advisory
Social Science 296
Contemporary Issues
*HOURS BY ARRANGEMENT:
Number of Weeks
Lecture Hours By Term
Lab Hours By Term
*Hours By Arrangement
Units
18
18-54
1-3
Hours per term.
ACTIVITIES: (Please provide a list of the activities students will perform in order to satisfy the HBA requirement):
COURSE/CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course presents a multi-disciplinary approach to a contemporary issue or social condition by showing
the applicability of relevant social science concepts (e.g. culture, power, wealth, social stratification,
ethnicity, and location) and factual information to an increased understanding of the issue identified by
faculty, students, or the community. Issues will be restricted to problems of social conditions rather than
subject matter areas that provide a definite focus for the application of appreciate concepts. Emphasis will be
placed on student initiative and inquiry.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Identify the nature of current issues and social conditions.
2. Analyze such issues and conditions by greater awareness of:
a. The relevance of basic social science concepts (e.g., culture, power, wealth, social stratification,
ethnicity, and location) to such location.
b. The interrelatedness of all social behavior and of all social science fields studying such behavior.
c. The informational resources available for analysis.
INTENDED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concept of power.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concept of culture.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concept of social class.
COURSE CONTENT (Lecture):
As a guide to ensure adherence to the course goals, it will be required that when a proposal for a course offering in
the series is accepted by the Instruction Office, a certificated staff member will develop a course outline for that
particular course offering, to be approved by a committee of the Social Science Department and by the Instruction
Office. This course outline will include:
1. A brief statement of objectives to show the study of the problem or social condition would be consistent with
the goals of the course series (see above);
2. The major social science concepts to be incorporated in the study;
3. A general indication of subject matter topics and related instructional participation in planning by persons
enrolled in the course;
4. A general indication of the major social science informational resources to be used;
5. Unit credit recommended (on the basis of ½ unit for each 9 hours of formal classroom activity.
6. Requirements to be met by students taking the course for credit.
COURSE CONTENT (Lab):
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Lecture and Discussion (e.g., large groups and small groups)
Audio-visual presentations
Supplementary Materials (e.g., midterm examination study guide, final examination study guide, and
PowerPoint slides posted on the CMS)
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
NOTE: To be UC/CSU transferable, the text must be dated within the last 7 years OR a statement of justification for a text beyond the
last 7 years must be included.
Textbook Title:
Author:
Publisher:
Edition/Date:
Justification Statement:
Textbook Reading Level:
Introduction to Social Problems
Thomas J. Sullivan
Pearson
9th/ 2012
(For textbook beyond 7 years)
College
Lab Manual Title (if applicable):
Author:
Publisher:
Edition/Date:
OUTSIDE OF CLASS WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:
Title 5, section 55002.5 establishes that a range of 48 -54hours of lecture, study, or lab work is required for one unit of credit.
For each hour of lecture, students should be required to spend an additional two hours of study outside of class to earn one
unit of credit.
 State mandates that sample assignments must be included on the Course Outline of Record.
Outside of Class Weekly Assignments
Hours per week
Weekly Reading Assignments (Include detailed assignment below, if applicable)
1-3
Example #1 – Read: Chapter 10 in the textbook.
Example #2 – Read: Chapter 12 the textbook.
Weekly Writing Assignments (Include detailed assignment below, if applicable)
.5-2
Write a 5-10 page paper that describes 5-10 programs in your community that are intended to help ex-prisoners
transition into society after being released from prison. The paper must be written in the APA format.
Weekly Math Problems (Include detailed assignment below, if applicable)
Lab or Software Application Assignments (Include detailed assignment below, if applicable)
Other Performance Assignments (Include detailed assignment below, if applicable)
Watch films at home or in the media center.
.5- 1
STUDENT EVALUATION: (Show percentage breakdown for evaluation instruments)
 Course must require use of critical thinking, college-level concepts & college-level learning skills.
 For degree credit, course requires essay writing unless that requirement would be inappropriate to the course objectives. If writing
is inappropriate, there must be a requirement of problem-solving or skills demonstration.
34
%
Essay (If essay is not included in assessment, explain below.)
66
%
%
%
Computation or Non-computational Problem Solving Skills
Skills Demonstration
Objective Examinations
Other (describe)
%
%
%
GRADING POLICY: (Choose LG, P/NP, or SC)
Pass / No Pass
X Letter Grade
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass
Prepared by: J. Vern Cromartie
Date: April 9, 2014
Revised form 01/14
Student Choice
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
Or
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass