SOC-2020 Marriage and Family

Credits: 3
This course is a survey of sociological issues pertaining to marriage and family. Students discuss sociological trends in America related to marriage and family roles, function, and structures, including divorce, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, technology, power and decision making, and household economics. Students also examine the causes of conflict, domestic violence, child mistreatment, and elder abuse. Additionally, students apply sociological concepts to discuss attraction and dating, mate selection, marriage, and intimate relationships from a historical perspective. Moreover, students examine the impact of sociological trends and contemporary phenomena on marriage, family, as well as family planning and parenthood. Lastly, students apply ethical principles when conducting research, using a variety of electronic resources, to examine data related to the social, economic, and political changes that impact the family.

Prerequisite(s): SOC-1010, PSY-1010, or ANT-1030.

Course Outcomes

Explain historical and contemporary roles and functions of family structures using sociological concepts.
Examine how gender, class, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and other factors affect family roles and structures.
Analyze the impact of social, cultural, economic, and political changes on the family.
Apply the ethical principles in research to conduct research specific to the family and intimate relationships.
Use critical thinking in information literacy to access and interpret data on families and intimate relationships.
Interpret the impact of technology on marriage and family, and other intimate relationships.