Spring 2016  |  SOC 3501 Section 001: Sociology of Families (69809)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/19/2016 - 05/06/2016
Tue, Thu 11:15AM - 12:30PM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 150
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
Families in contemporary American society. Historical/cross-cultural comparisons. Interrelationships of families with other social institutions. Race, class, and gender in shaping family experiences. Topics may include marriage, divorce, childbearing, parenthood, family violence, gay/lesbian families. prereq: 1001 or instr consent; soc majors/minors must register A-F
Class Notes:
Click this link for more detailed information http://classinfo.umn.edu/?fisc0326+SOC3501+Spring2016
Class Description:
This course is an adventure into family life from a sociological perspective! The course is centered around four important questions: (1) We will begin with the obvious, "What is family?"; (2) Secondly, we will ask, "What are the myths and realities of family life?"; (3) Thirdly, "What challenges are families currently facing?"; and (4) Finally, "What policies assist and protect family life? What policies undermine families?" Interestingly, these questions are by no means easily addressed; to do so we will examine the family historically, theoretically, sociologically, culturally, politically, and economically. As the semester continues we will consider family life in several contexts: socioeconomic status, work, gender, ethnicity and race, marriage and dating, children, divorce, violence, and formations. We will look to develop an understanding of how "family" affects the individual and social life, and in turn, how it is influenced, reinforced, and changed by social forces. In this endeavor we will employ the "sociological imagination" and distinguish between "personal troubles" and public issues" (Mills, 1959) to understand the family as both an individual experience and a social institution.
Grading:
There will be several grading/learning opportunities in this class. We will have several essay exams as well as a special project. For the special project you will read a biography of your choice and write a paper analyzing the individual's family experiences from a sociological perspective. Secondly, you will create a "family crest" to represent their experiences of family life creatively and symbolically.
Exam Format:
Exams will be essay format.
Class Format:
The course will consist of about 50% lecture and 30% film and video presentations. The remainder of the class will be devoted to class discussions.
Workload:
There will be approximately 50 pages of reading per week; three non-cumulative essay exams and one final special project.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/69809/1163
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
3 November 2015

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2016 Sociology Classes

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