Marriage and Family

Catalog description

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.