COURSE INDEX - LaGuardia Community College

Social Science Department
SSN183 History of Minorities
3 credits; 3 hours
This course focuses on the experiences of and challenges to
minorities in the United States. It examines changing patterns of
the immigration, settlement, and employment of various minority
groups including Afro-Americans, Irish-Americans, Hispanic-
Americans and Asian-Americans. In addition, the situation of the
Native Americans, women, gays and the aged will be discussed in
an historical context.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, MAT095,
and one Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
SSN199 Neighborhood History
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will study the social, economic, and political changes
of New York City neighborhoods. The focus will be on the people
who migrated into, lived, and then moved out of these neighborhoods.
Through field research, students will look closely at such
things as immigration, housing, businesses, government legislation,
and mass transit lines that have significantly affected neighborhood
changes. The course will include field trips such as walking
tours and a visit to Ellis Island.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, MAT095,
and one Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
SSN240 History of New York City
3 credits; 3 hours
This course is about the development of New York City from
colonial times to the present. It deals with changes in housing,
transportation, immigration, politics and social classes. The rise of
New York City as a financial and cultural center will be discussed.
New York City’s current problems and future prospects will be
assessed. The course includes a walking tour of old New York and
a museum trip.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, and one
Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
Political Science
SSP101 U.S. Power and Politics
3 credits; 3 hours
This course analyzes the relationship between the theory, form,
and practice of American government. The course studies the
strengths and weaknesses of the American political system. A
major concern of the course is the nature of power in America and
the options for reforming the American political system.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101
SSP200 Global Politics
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will investigate the dynamics of global politics among
nation states and other actors in global affairs. After an introduction
to the international system and globalization, the class will
study major international relations theories and use them to analyze
current and past events in global politics. The course will
explore various global issues including war, terrorism, genocide,
security, peacebuilding, development, human rights, free trade etc.
Students will focus on case studies of their choice.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101
SSP220 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will examine the major groups which seek power in
Latin America and the Caribbean, and analyze the various strategies
they use including revolution, populism, democratic reform,
socialism and military authority. The prospects for modernization
will be drawn from a variety of Latin American and Caribbean
countries. The course includes discussion of the role of foreign
nations in the politics of this area.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, MAT095
SSP240 Crime and Punishment
3 credits; 3 hours
This course deals with the purposes and problems of penal systems,
old and new, national and international. The course will
investigate the relationship between the criminal, punishment,
society and politics. Selected famous cases will be studied in detail
as will the American criminal justice system and the issue of the
death penalty.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101
SSP245 Law and Human Rights in America
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will focus on the legal aspects of human rights issues
in America. Starting with the origins of democracy and the Bill of
Rights, students will explore major Supreme Court cases and Constitutional
amendments dealing with such topics as freedom of
speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to
vote, equality before the law, and the rights of the accused. Controversial
contemporary issues such as abortion, privacy, and gun
control will also be discussed in a legal context.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101
SSP250 Political Ideas and Ideologies
3 credits; 3 hours
This course explores the relationship between political ideas and
practice. Political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism,
socialism, and liberation ideologies (feminist, black and gay/lesbian)
are examined in their historical development. The relationship
between their goals and the methods used to achieve them is
analyzed and criticized. The relevance of these ideologies for understanding
current political issues is discussed. Readings include
original theories of politics as well as commentaries upon them.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101
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