Course Description
Key topics that affect the lives of college students. The topics reflect dynamics of the modern university in interaction with broader society. The topics range from alcohol and drug use, mental health, gender and race relations, to college costs, student debt, and the transition from college to work.
Athena Title
Challenges Facing College Stu
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the study of current challenges facing students in the modern U.S. university from a sociological perspective. The problems that arise in contemporary higher education are understood sociologically as outcomes of growth in enrollments and accretion of functions that institutions perform. These problems are expressed in day-to-day organizational life of institutions, and are experienced by students as central (and at times overwhelming) challenges in college-going. Students will be expected to acquire an understanding of what specific challenges to college- going exist, as well as how and why they have arisen. Students will also be expected to develop an understanding of how universities succeed and fail at managing organizationally the challenges that are experienced by individuals and groups. In addition, the course incorporates a research assignment in which students will meet with officials of representative campus offices in order to learn how structures of a university operate to address challenges faced by students. This assignment places an emphasis on teaching students “how universities work” and particularly on how structures within universities seek to facilitate student success and welfare. Students will be asked to demonstrate their mastery of the course content in written work that is appropriate for an academic context. Students will be asked to demonstrate their mastery of the course content in speech that is appropriate for an academic context.
Topical Outline
I. Students’ Knowledge of College/Expectations for College II. Alcohol Use and Abuse III. Drug Abuse IV. Sexual Assault V. Guns/Safety VI. Independence and Personal Identity VII. Mental Health VIII. Gender Relations IX. Race Relations X. Class Relations XI. Campus Climates: Intolerance and Bullying XII. Academic Freedom/Censorship/Trigger Warnings XIII. Academic Engagement—I: Reading, Writing, Speaking XIV. Academic Engagement—II: Professor-Student Ties XV. Learning Environments—I: Vocationalism XVI. Learning Environments—II: Sports, Greek Life, Social Culture XVII. Academic Work and Grades XVIII. Plagiarism XIX. Student Debt and Necessity to Work while enrolled in College XX. College to Work Transition