Introductions:

Welcome to Soc 202 : Global Social Problems. My name is Dr. Stephen J. Sills. I'm looking forward to working with you over the semester as you discover the Sociological perspective on important problems facing the world today.

I've been here as faculty at UNCG since 2006, teaching in the Global Social Problems concentration. NC is actually home for me. I graduated from UNCG in 1991 and left for adventure, travel, and work around the world: Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Taiwan, and other parts. I'm enjoying being back here after 15 years away. I work on topics related to the impact of globalization on everyday people: global migration, labor rights, access to resources, and other social justice issues resulting from globalization. If you'd like to know more about me, my courses, or my research please visit my UNCG homepage at: http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/ .

Don't forget to visit the discussion board and complete an "ice breaker" introducing yourself to me and to your classmates.

Please bear with me as there are over fifty students registered now for the course. I will attempt to reply to all of your questions in a timely manner. I am generally online twice a day for several hours (morning and evening). You may contact me directly at sjsills@uncg.edu.

Be sure to read the Syllabus very carefully.

This week (week 1 - Aug 26th) you will complete Module 1:

8/26 Course overview

Charon and Vigilant 2009 Chapter 1 “An Introduction to the Study of Social Problems” in Social Problems Readings with Four Questions

8/28 What are Social problems?

Peterson Wunder and Mueller Chapter 1 “The Sociological Perspective Global Problems and Globalization” Outline # 1 Due

8/29 Current Event Blog #1 Due

All readings for this module are on Blackboard. You will have one homework (outline) due on Thursday and a current events blog entry due this Friday.

NOTE - I recommend completing all of your assignments off-line then copying and pasting them into the blackboard assisgments area. This way you will have a local copy of your work should anything happen during the online process.