PSYCH 227 Introduction to Community Psychology: Examining Barriers to Solving Social Problems
This is an course aimed at first and second year students. We will explore the causes of social problems and the interventions effective in preventing or solving them. We will also focus on various forms of community activism through guest speakers and field trips (e.g., to criminal courts that provide alternative to incarceration programs). We will discuss how to identify obstacles to solving current social problems including the criminalization of the mentally ill, immigration policies and practices, income inequality, education policies and practices, and health care policies and services. We will examine the cultural, gender and historical factors that influence these social problems and the effectiveness of interventions.