• The student should be able to explain the importance of the concept of the life course, from the functionalist and conflict perspectives, and describe the shape of and changes in the age structure of preindustrial and industrial societies.

• The student should be able to describe the various problems that confront children and youth in modern societies and explain why these problems occur.

• The student should be able to describe the various problems that confront the elderly in modern societies and explain why they occur.

• The student should be able to describe and assess the various theories of sexual orientation, describe attitudes toward homosexuality and how they have changed, show the different ways in which homosexuals are discriminated against, and explain the sources of homophobia.

• The student should be able to describe and assess the various policies that have been implemented to alleviate the problems confronting the young, the elderly, and gays and lesbians.

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