SOC 205 - Marriage and the Family

Number of Credits: 3
Explore U.S. courtship, marriage, and family institutions through a sociological lens. Examine topics such as love, sex, marital adjustment, parenting, gender roles, lifestyles, and family variations by culture, social class, and race/ethnicity. Prerequisite: ENGL-101. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits. Three billable hours. (Fall & Spring Only) Three hours lecture each week. Three Credits. Three billable hours.

Pre-requisite(s): ENGL 101.

Course Topics:
Love, sex, marital adjustment, parenting, LGBTQ+ relationships, gender and diversity, gender roles, singlehood and cohabitation, violence and abuse, money, work, and stress in relationships, divorce, remarriage, and stepfamilies, and family variations by culture, social class, and race/ethnicity.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Analyze the functions families have traditionally performed cross-culturally, and why they are important for societies and individuals. (GE 1,2; PG 1,2,4)
Explore the differences between the concepts of sex and gender and how children learn gender roles. (GE 1,2,6; PG 1)
Analyze how age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and social class influence family patterns and kinship roles in the U.S. and in other cultures. (GE 1,2,4; PG 1,2,3)
Examine current family issues such as domestic violence, family instability, and the changing nature of marriage, along with historical changes in the American family. (GE 1,2,4; 1,2,4)