Dec 27, 2024  
2024 - 2025 Cowley College Academic Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 Cowley College Academic Catalog

SOC6823 MARRIAGE & FAMILY RELATIONS COURSE PROCEDURE


SOC6823 MARRIAGE &  FAMILY RELATIONS

3 Credit Hours

Student Level:

This course is open to students on the college level in either Freshman or Sophomore year.

Catalog Description:

SOC6823 - Marriage and Family Relations (3 hrs.)

[KRSN SOC2020]

A study of social and personal factors of pre-marital behavior and parent-child interaction.  Relationships in courtship, engagement, human sexuality, and the adjustments to these, as well as family relationships, are explored with a functional approach.

Course classification:

Lecture

Prerequisites:

None

Controlling Purpose:

This course is designed to help the student understand marriage and family relations for people who are remaining single and for people who are marrying and having families in a time when marriage disaster is frequent in the U.S. Today is a time when there can be an emotional fulfillment and happiness in marriage instead of the rigidly structured man-woman relationships of yesteryear. People are searching for ways to attain this fulfillment and happiness in the lifestyle they have chosen. This course is a guide to help with this search. 

Core Outcomes:

The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this course meet, or exceed the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Unit Outcomes for  Criterion Based Evaluation:

The following outline defines the minimum core content, not including the final examination period.  Instructors may add other material as time allows.

UNIT 1: Personal Management Skills

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Understand the sociological perspective
  • Be familiar with the origins and history of sociology
  • Be able to identify the distinctive characteristics of functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism
  • Distinguish how the scientific method is applied to the study of human society
  • In general, be familiar with the four major methods by which sociologists conduct research and with the primary strengths and weaknesses of each method

UNIT 2: The Meaning of Marriage

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • List values which both husbands and wives consider important in contributing to happiness in marriage
  • Describe the family functions
  • Explain why divorce is a hazard to a successful marriage
  • Trace individual family tree

UNIT 3: Getting Together

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Discuss physiological reasons why men and women are different
  • Discover individual temperament
  • Analyze the role of parents, teacher, peers, and the media in the process of gender role socialization
  • Define “romantic love” and rate the beliefs that characterize it
  • Categorize the differences between traditional and modern American families
  • Discuss advantages and disadvantages of finding a partner

UNIT 4: Sexuality

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Describe family options available to modern Americans
  • List modern contraception methods and which are most and least effective
  • Give examples of sexual dysfunctions
  • Identify STD’s and their effects
  • Compare and contrast infertility alternatives
  • List the stages of pregnancy and childbirth

UNIT 5: Development

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Compare/contrast marriage and family
  • Assess the stages of the family life cycle
  • Compare cohabitants vs. non-cohabitants on attitudes towards marriage/satisfaction/labor
  • Propose ways to deal with in-laws and marriage adjustments
  • Suggest ways in which women are discriminated against in the world of work

UNIT 6: Interiors

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Identify stress symptoms/causes/cures
  • Complete the test for signs of alcoholism
  • Compare productive and nonproductive ways of communicating
  • Discuss factors associated with abuse
  • Point out families at risk for violence or abuse
  • Itemize characteristics of remarriage

UNIT 7: Changes

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • State factors affecting the likelihood of divorce
  • Recall two types of custody
  • Inspect conflicts in stepfamilies

UNIT 8: Strengths of Marriage and Family

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…

  • Evaluate marital strengths vs. family strengths
  • Discuss family traditions
  • Discuss predictions for the future of marriage

Textbook:

Contact Bookstore for current textbook.

Materials/Equipment Required:

None

Attendance Policy: 

Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Grading Policy:

The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Maximum class size:

Based on classroom occupancy

Course Time Frame:

The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission, and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching, and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.

Refer to the following policies:

402.00 Academic Code of Conduct

263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades

403.00 Student Code of Conduct

Disability Services Program: 

Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability which may impact work in this class, which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.