SOCY 3375 American Economic Crisis and Social Change
Course is offered every semester. This course offers a new way to think about American and global capitalism, focusing on our values and our intertwined economic, environmental and social crises, including our current problems of corporate monopolies, extreme inequality, and the extinction threats of climate change and wars of mass destruction. We examine economic problems including poverty, debt, insecure jobs, unaffordable prices and the failure of many of our industries and corporations to compete globally. We also examine socio-economic crises including global warming, systemic racism, overweening corporate power and erosion of democracy. We look finally at how to transform our socio-economic system toward a more just, sustainable and democratic economy and society.
Course overview
- Department
- Sociology
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically in the Spring
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Studies: Concentration — Environmental Entrepreneurship: One Sociology Course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Applied Psychology and Human Development: Major electives — any Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOCY) course (no more than two electives from outside LSEHD) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Sociology: Sociology electives (18 credits, generally six courses) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Sociology: Upper-level Sociology electives (at least 9 of the 18 elective credits must be SOCY3000 or higher) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.48 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.46 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 9
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Charles Derber | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 13 of 19 |
| Fall 2025 | Charles Derber | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | — | 17 of 21 |
| Spring 2025 | Charles Derber | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 17 of 18 |
| Fall 2024 | Charles Derber | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 16 |
| Spring 2024 | Charles Derber | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 15 |
| Fall 2023 | Charles Derber | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4–6 hrs/week | 11 of 14 |
| Spring 2023 | Charles Derber | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 18 of 20 |
| Fall 2022 | Charles Derber | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 15 of 19 |
| Fall 2021 | Charles Derber | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 19 |