Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    SOC

 Course #:    206

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    451101

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2024

 Course Description  

This course will study the nature of the family as a social, cultural, political, and economic institution. It will include perspectives on the changing structure of the family, socialization, sexual expressions, marital communication patterns, divorce patterns, employment, and family relationships, violence in the family, and family health related issues.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: ENGL& 101 with a "C" or higher.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Social Sciences  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. The primary objective of this course is to trace and understand the historical roots of the American family and its present condition today. In order to achieve this goal, we will examine the origin of family and the basic elements of the human family. To understand the American family as an institution, we will use a comparitive and critical perspective and examine the politics of kinship and the patriarchal household, the economic foundation of modern families, and the impact of violence, the changing nature of work roles, feminism, ethnic and racial composition, and novel biomedical technology on family structure
2. SOCIAL SCIENCES: Explain the variables that influence the structure of cultures and societies.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2018 and affects outlines for 2019 and later.

Engage

Definition: Interact with humans and the environment informed by an understanding of equity.

Course Contents

1. Describe basic approaches of sociology to marriage and family studies
2. Describe various methods and outcomes of family research
3. Study the impact of family ethnic diversity of family structure
4. Describe and define effects of cooperation, competition, and individualism as motives in family behavior and how they contribute to social problems
5. Apply critical thinking to the analysis of change undergone by the family institution, both historically as well as currently
6. Explore the future of patriarchal authoritarianism in our society and some possible alternatives
7. Review what hs been learned about the process and effects of interpersonal attraction, mate selection, and its impact on marriage and divorce
8. List personal and social facts influencing perception and definitions of what is considered to be a problem in a family and what isn't considered a problem
9. Describe and define roots of marital power, conflicts, divorce and remarriage
10. Elaborate on interpersonal dynamics of step and blended families