Course Description
Families as social groups that develop their own patterns, meanings, and processes across family life cycle in both conventional and alternative family forms.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will complete additional readings from the
professional and academic literature and develop a paper or
project based on current research in the field. In addition,
students will present the information on their selected topic to
undergraduates in the class. Graduate students will also meet with
the instructor outside of class throughout the semester regarding
this paper and/or project.
Athena Title
Family Development
Undergraduate Prerequisite
HDFS 2100 or HDFS 2100H or HDFS 2100E
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is an examination of the family consisting of the following components: history of the family from a sociological perspective; families and diversity including race, ethnicity, and class; the role of the state (government, culture, social change) in the study of the family; family relationships (sexuality, partnership and marriage); developmental changes and transition across the generations of the family; and conflict and disruption in families. Class sessions will be interactive and will combine readings, discussions, roleplays, and videotapes. Course objectives are as follows: 1. Learn concepts that pertain to the examination of the family from multiple perspectives. 2. View the family as an entity that has individual, group, and societal goals. 3. Develop a knowledge of the family perspective as a professional discipline of study.
Topical Outline
1. Public and private families 2. The history of the family 3. Gender and families 4. Social class and families 5. Race, ethnicity, and families 6. The family, the state, and social policy 7. Sexuality 8. Cohabitation and marriage 9. Work and families 10. Children and families 11. The elderly and their families 12. Domestic violence 13. Divorce 14. Remarriage and step-families 15. Social change and families