MARRIAGE & FAMILY (SOC275)

Prerequisite: None.

A fundamental socializing force in society is that of the family. This course explores the various ways that families exist and function in the U.S. This also means understanding how family structures and roles have changed over time and varied by cultural context. Because the family is intimately related to the concept of marriage, marriage will also be explored as an institution, with parallel comparisons. By the end of this course, students should be able to 1) understand what a family is and how that has changed over time; 2) understand the roses that people play in various types of families; 3) understand nuances associated with different family forms and structures within the U.S.; and 4)understand how the family impacts and reflects broader social structures in U.S. society.