Course Description
This course will focus on marriage, family, and alternative life styles at the end of the twenty-first century. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- SOC 101: Sociology
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Different types of intimacy.
- Historical and contemporary perspectives on the family.
- Various family issues such as domestic violence, child abuse and divorce.
- How social, political, and economic forces affect diverse family systems and alternative lifestyles.
- Choice and change in modern human relationships.
- Diverse styles of marriage and families.
- Family, the economy and social problems of the family.
Course Activities and Grading
Assignments | Weight |
---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-15) | 25% |
Quizzes (Weeks 1-15) | 25% |
Written Assignments (Weeks 6 & 12) | 25% |
Final Project (Week 15) | 25% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Seccombe, Karen. Exploring Marriages and Families. 3rd ed. Vitalsource Rentals, 2018. [e-Book version]
Course Schedule
Assignments are due by Sunday 11:59 pm EST each week.
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
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1 | 1,2 | Topic: Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships?
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2 | 1,2 | Topic: Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class
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3 | 1,3 | Topic: Building Relationships
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4 | 3,5 | Topic: Love and Loving Relationships
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5 | 2,5 | Topic: Sexual Identity, Behavior, and Relationships
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6 | 5,6 | Topics: Communication, Conflict, and Power in Our Relationships
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7 | 3,6,7 | Topic: Marriage
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8 | 6,7 | Topic: Thinking about Parenthood
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9 | 3,4 | Topic: Raising Children
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10 | 4,5 | Topic: Families and the Work They Do
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11 | 5,7 | Topic: Family Stress and Crisis: Violence among Intimates
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12 | 7 | Topic: The Process of Divorce
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13 | 6,7 | Topic: Family Life, Partnering and Remarriage after Divorce
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14 | 6,7 | Topics: Families in Middle and Later Life
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15 | 3,4,7 | Topics: Looking Ahead: Helping Families Flourish
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.