SOC G110: Introduction To Marriage And The Family

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Top Code	220800 - Sociology
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S), Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	GWC Soc, Pol, Econ (GD)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)	Cal-GETC 4 Social & Behavioral Sciences (4) Cal-GETC 4J Sociology (4J)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)	IGETC 4 Social&Behavioral Sci (4) IGETC 4J Sociology (4J)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU D0 Sociology & Criminology (D0)

Course Description

This course examines the process of forming intimate relationships, partnerships, and marriages within diverse societies and cultures. Specifically, this course will examine love, communication patterns, relationship dynamics, parenting, and childhood experiences. This class will also explore diverse family systems, lineage in comparison to social familial roles, gendered labor and gender norms, reproductive choice, familial violence, social institutions, and issues impacting families at each life stage. ADVISORY: SOC G100. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: SOCI 130. C-ID: SOCI 130.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

Course Outcomes
Describe major sociological theories as they relate to families, marriages, and social unions.
Identify the intersection of race, ethnicity, class, immigration status, age, sex, gender, sexuality, and additional identity traits within the family.
Examine roles and identities within the family as part of the socialization of human development and in the creation and transmission of culture.
Analyze families and their formation from cross-cultural, historical, and political perspectives.

Course Objectives

1. Define and recall the relevant sociological concepts used in understanding marriage and family.
2. Identify and describe the major theoretical approaches to family study.
3. Describe the various methods of sociological research in marriage and family studies.
4. Analyze how family structure and functions have changed over time.
5. Compare and contrast the differences and similarities between a traditional agrarian family with the modern urban family.
6. Explain homogamy, endogamy, and exogamy.
7. Analyze assumptions about romantic love.
8. Compare and contrast romantic with companionate love.
9. Compare and contrast the traditional role expectations with the emerging modern ones.
10. Describe and explain five major interpersonal communication barriers and solutions.
11. Explain the issues of sexuality in dating and marriage.
12. Compare and evaluate different methods of birth control.
13. Describe the various sexually transmitted infections.
14. Compare and contrast different theoretical explanations of mate selection.
15. Describe different childbirth strategies.
16. Analyze domestic violence.
17. Analyze the effects of different parenting styles.
18. Identify the social issues that impact the rate of divorce in the United States.

Lecture Content

Introduction to the study of the Family Definition of the relevant marriage and family concepts. A functional and descriptive analysis of the traditional as compared to the contemporary family. Studying the family The major theoretical approaches. The various methods of research. The American ways of love The role of romantic loved as a basis for dating and marriage. The different types of love in marriage and family life. Dating and mate selection The role of homogamy, endogamy and exogamy in mate selection. Theories of mate selection. Cohabitation. Communication in intimate relationships The major communication difficulties arising in marriages and families. Verbal and nonverbal communication issues. Communication and conflict resolution skills. Gender convergence and role equity Gender role and status in dating, marriage and the division of labor. The development of gender role expectations from traditional to contemporary times. Marriage , intimacy and expectations Defining marital success. Marital expectations. The dual worker family and its impact on marriage and family life. Human sexuality Issues of sexuality in dating and marriage. Issues of sexually transmitted infections. Birth control. Family violence and other family problems Violence between partners. Prevalence of violence. Child sexual abuse. Substance abuse. Parenthood issues The decision to become a Parent. Childbirth Issues. Effects of children on a marriage. Child rearing practices and Issues. Blended families.< / The dissolution of marriage The rate of divorce. Conditions that influence the rate of divorce. The effects of divorce on children. Remarriage.

Method(s) of Instruction

Lecture (02)
DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
DE Online Lecture (02X)

Reading Assignments

1. Textbook 2. Websites.

Writing Assignments

The student will engage in three essay exams, three multiple-choice exams and a classroom verbal presentation. The student will answer and score certain communication worksheets, surveys and personality tests.

Out-of-class Assignments

Assignments outside of class will include research on a selected topic for classroom presentation, reading in the textbook and supplemental reading syllabus, and completing surveys, tests and questionnaires.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

The student will be able to: 1. Compare and contrast the traditional with the modern family 2. Identify certain marital problems and causes of divorce 3. Apply certain principals of effective interpersonal communication such as paraphrasing and active listening. 4. Identify their personality type as determined by the Kiersey Temperament scale and anticipate problems in relating to other types. 5. Compare and contrast the traditional sex role expectations with those of the present.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Eligible Disciplines

Psychology: Masters degree in psychology OR bachelors degree in psychology AND masters degree in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience, or social work OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Sociology: Masters degree in sociology OR bachelors degree in sociology AND masters degree in anthropology, any ethnic studies, social work, or psychology OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Womens studies: Masters degree in womens studies OR the equivalent OR see interdisciplinary studies. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required LaManna, M., Riedmann, A., & Stewart, S.. Marriage, Families, and Relationships: Making Choices in a Diverse Society, 12 ed. Cengage Learning, 2015

Other Resources

1. Supplemental Readings for Marriage and Family, prepared by the instructor

Academic Catalogs