Course Outline for Sociology 4
Marriage and Family Relations

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 12/21/2016
Catalog Description:

SOCI 4 - Marriage and Family Relations

3.00 Units

This course introduces students to the sociological analysis of family as an institution, including historical and recent changes, present nature(s), and the socio-cultural and economic forces shaping these changes. Areas of focus in this course include the sociological perspective of the family including mate selection, marital roles, marital adjustment, sexual adjustment, reproduction, child rearing, marital dissolution, and problems associated with the family in modern industrial society.
Strongly Recommended: SOCI 1.
2208.00 - Sociology
Optional
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. identify the varied definitions of family and explain the relevancy of each definition;
  2. demonstrate an understanding of major sociological theories to the social institution of the family;
  3. identify and discuss the family from cross-cultural, historical, and political perspectives;
  4. identify the intersection among race, ethnicity, class, immigration status, age, class, gender, and sexuality within the family;
  5. identify and understand the various kinship and family arrangements;
  6. identify and define the primary concepts for understanding families;
  7. explain how and why the family is changing;
  8. describe the changing roles of women and men in society and family in particular;
  9. discuss the role power plays in intimate relationships;
  10. summarize the major social theories about mate selection, including the importance of age, ethnicity and physical attraction;
  11. explain the different types of marital relations;
  12. describe the components involved in marital quality in the United States;
  13. explain socialization of children and describe the role that parents and other significant others play in this process;
  14. discuss the change in women's employment patterns and its effects on family in the United States;
  15. identify and explain the major types and characteristics of family abuse and mistreatment in the United States;
  16. identify the current trends in adult children/parent relations in the U.S.;
  17. identify the measurement of divorce and explain major U.S. divorce trends;
  18. explain the factors associated with divorce in the United States;
  19. identify the major external and internal stresses for family relations
  20. describe how public policy assists, controls and changes family patterns.
Course Content:
  1. The study of marriage and family
    1. methodology
      1. major sociological theories
        1. mate selection
          1. importance of age, ethnicity and physical attraction
    2. cross cultural comparisons
    3. historical perspective
    4. contemporary marriage and family
      1. different types of marital relations
      2. components involved in marital quality in the United States
      3. public policy assists, controls and changes family patterns 
      4. identify the intersection among race, ethnicity, class, immigration status, age, class, gender, and sexuality within the family
    5. Definitions
      1.  primary concepts for understanding families
  2. Mate selection
    1. differences in gender roles
      1. changing roles of women and men
    2. dating patterns
    3. premarital sex behavior
    4. engagement and wedding
  3. Basic components of marital adjustment
    1. role, personality, and communication, sexual, economic
      1. power dynamics
      2. sexual and economic roles
    2. parent-child relationships 
      1. socialization of children
      2. current trends in adult children/parent relations in the U.S.
    3. aging and family life
      1. empty nest
      2. retirement phases
  4. Conflict, crisis, dissolution
    1. marital conflict and family crisis
      1. major external and internal stresses
    2. bereavement, separation, and divorce
      1. measurement of divorce
      2. major U.S. divorce trends
      3. factors associated with divorce in the United States
    3. family violence, crises, and change
      1. major types and characteristics of family abuse and mistreatment in the United States
  5. The future of marriage and family
    1. changing family forms
      1. causes of change
      2. women's emplyment patterns
      3. singlehood 
      4. cohabitation
      5. other non-marital options
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Audio-visual aids
  2. Guest speakers
  3. Lecture/Discussion
  4. Distance Education
  5. Student reports
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Construct a family genogram focusing on family interaction patterns
  2. Write a two-page essay explaining the emotional, psychological and effects of divorce
  3. Select a current newspaper article that discusses family and public policy, explain the intended and possible latent functions of the policy in a two- page paper
  4. Prepare for in-class discussion groups-describe the U.S. family of 2050. Support your predictions with data, theory, trends, etc. Present to the class.
  5. Draw a cost analysis of having a child from conception through college based on your projected profession/life style
  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Quizzes
  3. Projects
  4. Group Projects
  5. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Analyze family patterns using the three theoretical perspectives- functionalism, conflict and symbolic interaction.
  2. Use culture as a tool to analyze the variety of marriages and families.
  3. Explain demographic trends that are impacting families in the United States.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Lauer, Jeanette; Robert Lauer (2019). Marriage and Family: The Quest for Intimacy (9th). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
  2. Lamanna, M., Reidmann, A. (2018). Marriages and Families: Making Choices in a Diverse Society (13th). Cengage.
  3. Benokraitis, Nijole (2015). Marriages and Family: The Quest for Intimacy (8th). Pearson Publishers.
  4. Hammond, R. & Cheney, P. Intimate Relationships and Families (SOCI 103 v2. ). https://ccconlineed.instructure.com/courses/4543/files/400562/download?verifier=BY7N9UO5ciYT095120QB.
  5. Hammond, R., Cheney, P., & Pearsey, R. (2021). Sociology of the Family. https https://ccconlineed.instructure.com/courses/4543/files/400562/download?verifier=BY7N9UO5ciYT095120QB.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Students in this course will explore the family institution, including different family forms, historical and recent changes in the family, the cultural and economic forces shaping changes in the family, and challenges faced by today’s families.
Strongly Recommended: SOCI 1.
Discipline:
Sociology*