Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introduction to social scientific approaches to study of social problems and their solutions. Using selected contemporary social problems as cases, and drawing on variety of sources (such as scholarly readings, video clips, and guest speakers), exploration of how social problems and their solutions come to be defined, roles that economic, political, educational, and cultural institutions play in perpetuating or solving social problems, and how individuals, social advocates, and communities can lead or impede social change. Letter grading.