Family Communication

Catalog description

Examines theories and research focused on understanding communication in family contexts. CAS 558CAS 558 Family Communication (3) This course is intended for students who want an in-depth understanding of communication in family relationships. It is a graduate-level course, so the expectations for the level of discussion are high and the instructor will assume that students have a serious interest in studying research and theory focused on understanding communication processes in family contexts. The focus will be on communication theories of family relationships, including parent-child relationships across the life span, sibling relationships, and marital relationships. Students are encouraged to apply this knowledge to their own lives. Students should leave the course with a much more thorough understanding of factors that affect communication within family interaction. Structurally, the course begins with a review of different philosophical issues underlying research and theory in the field of family communication. Then, students will shift their attention to the foundational issues/principles underlying communication in family contexts. Once the course successfully increases student awareness of these foundational principles, the course moves to a focus on interactions within family settings. As part of this move, the course will address communication in parent-child, intergenerational, marital, and sibling relationships, and will include general topics such as affection and intimacy, conflict, power and control, and strengthening and repairing relationships. Throughout, the course will discuss communication processes within the larger cultural, interpersonal, and communication contexts in which family relationships are situated. Evaluation methods will primarily include exams, paper(s), research projects, and critical thinking reaction papers.