NEW 273

Social Science Seminar NEW 273
Summer 2004

Ethics and Social Issues

Inquiry Model
Ethics Analysis Model
Nature of Science Model
Quantitative/Qualitative-Analysis/Synthesis

Issues to be Addressed:

- Determine by Class
- Small task forces
- Thirty Minute Presentation to spell out issues/ethics
- Website-ethical issues

Books

To be Posted

Handouts

To be Posted

1) Social Science I-'Ethics and Issues' "SS"
4 Credit Hours

2) Dr. Jerry Rosenberg
101E Carmichael Hall
348-8414 / E-mail: jrosenbe@bama.ua.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday& Thursday, 11:00-12:00 or by appointment

3) This is the basic introductory Social Science Seminar, part of the New College Core Curriculum as well as part of the University Core Curriculum. The course will look at methods of analysis and then focus on a number of major social issues and the ethical dimensions of those issues. While it is primarily for New College students, a limited number of non-New College students will be admitted, so long as the seminar does not become too large and New College students have had first preference.

4) All New College seminars are part of the New College Core that includes two required seminars in Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and the Humanities. The New College Social Science Seminars have also been granted University Core Curriculum status, because the courses are truly interdisciplinary introductions to core social science issues.

5) There are no prerequisites for this course except as identified in above terms of being New College students and a small number of non-New College students. The course is usually taken in the Freshman or Sophomore years.

6) The primary objectives of this course include:

• A basic introduction to the methods of the Social Sciences, including inquiry, change analysis, and ethical analysis.
• An overview of some of the most enduring social problems that have plagued humanity as well as look at some of the more heuristic issues confronting society and the individual today.
• An understanding of the nature of Ethics and the Ethical issues involved in all social problems.
• The development of skills in working with others to identify and ultimately solve some of these problems.
• The development of Critical Thinking skills and intellectual integrity.

7) There are four required texts and a number of handouts that will be distributed in class.
Texts: Available at the Alabama Bookstore.

8) A detailed description of the assignments, reading, and exams are covered in the class calendar.

9) The exams this semester are likely to be identification, description, short answer, overnight essays and other formats as deemed appropriate and presented in class, either in advance of the due dates or as an unannounced, in class exercise to asses your abilities to think about issues in a spontaneous way. There is no specific make-up policy, each case will be treated individually. If there are problems that are known in advance, let me know as soon as possible. Where there are emergencies, please let me know as soon as possible.

10) Each exam will be graded individually and the weight of the exam will be determined in advance. The final grade will be cumulative grades on all the exams which will be averaged, in terms of their particular weighted values. Progressive improvement across the semester will positively effect the final grade, which will reflect performance at the end of the semester and not just a simple average that ignores steady improvement. Where there has been good improvement, when the grades are borderline, the benefit of the doubt will go to the student.

11) Since this is a seminar, attendance will be taken each class and excessive absences will effect the final grade. Remember, if you miss too many classes, especially during the summer, excused or unexcused absences really don't make a difference. You are entitled to three unexcused absences, but during the summer, that constitutes one whole week of classes.

12) Class Calendar, with assignments and readings, will be handed out during the first class.

13) Academic Misconduct: Any cases of Academic Misconduct will be reported to the Academic Misconduct monitor for the College of Arts and Sciences.

14) Disability Access Statement: "To request disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with that office, contact your professor."