This course analyzes marriage and family from a sociological perspective. Students will examine how the sociocultural context and historical changes impact how we form and maintain families. Students will use sociological theories to understand past and current trends in marriage and family, focusing on variations in family structures and experiences across race, class, gender, age, and sexuality. The course will answer questions like: does living together before marriage increase the likelihood of divorce, do children benefit from strict parenting, and why are so many people postponing marriage or opting out of it altogether.
Course Effective Dates: 5/21/24 – Present
Outline of Major Content Areas
Dating and Cohabitation
Domestic Violence
Gender Roles
History of Marriage and Family
Parenting
Separation and Divorce
Theories of Marriage and Family
Variations in Family Trends by Race and Class
Learning Outcomes
Identify research methods used by sociologists to study marriage and family.
Apply sociological theories of marriage and family to current trends.
Analyze historical changes in the institutions of marriage and family.
Explain the impact of gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation on family structure and experiences.
Describe how and why parenting differs across demographics.
Recognize various types of domestic violence and their corresponding predictive factors.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal Area(s) and Competencies Goal 05 — Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
