SOCI 103 The Sociology of the Family

Sociology of the Family will introduce the student to the sociological study of the family. The course will examine what the family does for its members and for society through a historical and cross-cultural perspective, and it will examine how the institution of the family has changed over time. We will pay particular attention to the various paths to family formation and the responsibilities and expectations we have as family members, as well as how larger social forces shape families and the implications this has for a social policy. Finally, we will turn to the stresses the contemporary family endures and the possibilities this holds for the future of the family.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize information and ideas about the sociology of the family.
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities, and consider alternative theories about families across cultures.
3. Analyze and evaluate ideas or outcomes of different theories of family structure and social relations.
4. Apply information and ideas to family relations in other social contexts.
5. Apply specific sociological concepts, theories, and research methods to the study of the family.
6. Identify the ways in which gender, race, ethnicity, and social class have shaped diverse experiences of family life in American society.
7. Analyze how social and cultural changes over the course of American history have impacted family formation, intimacy, and/or the fulfillment of the private and public functions of family life.
8. Identify and analyze selected problems facing contemporary families.
9. Examine the public debates about how the state should intervene in family life.
10. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of the sociology of minority groups.

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize information and ideas about the sociology of the family.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Paper/Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric
   • Course specific rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT1
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities, and consider alternative theories about families across cultures.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Paper/Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric
   • Course specific rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT2
3. Analyze and evaluate ideas or outcomes of different theories of family structure and social relations.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Paper/Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric
   • Course specific rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT3
4. Apply information and ideas to family relations in other social contexts.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Paper/Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric
   • Course specific rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT4
5. Apply specific sociological concepts, theories, and research methods to the study of the family.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams.

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams rubric.
6. Identify the ways in which gender, race, ethnicity, and social class have shaped diverse experiences of family life in American society.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams.

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams rubric.
7. Analyze how social and cultural changes over the course of American history have impacted family formation, intimacy, and/or the fulfillment of the private and public functions of family life.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams rubric.
8. Identify and analyze selected problems facing contemporary families.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignments/exams.

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment/exam rubric.
9. Examine the public debates about how the state should intervene in family life.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Courses assignments/exams

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment/exam rubric
10. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of the sociology of minority groups.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Writing Assignments
    • Paper/Quiz

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Course writing Rubric