SOC 120 - Marriage & Family

1. Apply sociological theory and research methods
   1. Identify theoretical perspectives, relevant concepts, and the sociological imagination to specific issues in intimate relationships and families, and over the life course of families
   2. Demonstrate an understanding of sociological methods for researching families and intimate partner relationships
   3. Develop an awareness of how personal choices and decisions have an influence on an individual’s present and future family and intimate partner relationships
2. Analyze the formation and maintenance of adult intimate relationships
   1. Identify communication patterns, possible problems, and solutions in intimate relationships
   2. Explain various aspects of choosing a life partner
   3. Discuss cohabitation and other nonmarital relationships
   4. Compare historical changes in marriage ideals, myths, legal issues, and division of labor
   5. Examine diversity and historical changes in expressions of sex, gender, and sexuality and how this is influenced by social institutions
3. Examine micro/macro inequality within families and intimate partner relationships
   1. Identify the connections between the public and private sphere
   2. Discuss how patriarchy, power, and hierarchy operate across social institutions and within the family
   3. Give examples of the historic and current impact that discrimination and racism have on families and intimate partner relationships
   4. Discuss the importance that migration, immigration status, and immigrant generational status have on families and intimate partner relationships
   5. Analyze the impact of economic changes and governmental policies on families and intimate partner relationships
   6. Distinguish between the effects of class, socioeconomic status, work, and unemployment on families and intimate partner relationships
4. Determine incentives and obstacles to forming families
   1. Explain aging and its effect on multi-generational families
   2. Analyze the diversity and flexibility of contemporary partnerships including: same sex, interreligious, interracial, cross-cultural, and age-discrepant unions
   3. Compare the variety of paths toward achieving parenthood and adjusting to parenting
   4. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of socialization within and outside the family, particularly gender socialization.
5. Characterize family stress, crisis, and resilience.
   1. Identify the variety of transitions or crises that families face including: divorce, remarriage, health, aging, and loss of a loved one
   2. Explain power imbalances within the family including: intimate partner violence, child and elder abuse, and substance use.
6. Develop competence in writing and/or verbal communication skills
   1. Demonstrate ideas in written/verbal format that reflect basic sociological concepts and principles
   2. Use sociological concepts and critical thinking to explain human behavior and experiences
   3. Construct questions about sociological content