NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY The City University of New York School of Arts & Sciences Department of Social Science Course Outline Course code: SOC 1103 Course title: The Family Class hours/credits: 3 class hours, 3 credits Prerequisite: CUNY Proficiency in Reading and Writing Pathways: Individual and Society Catalog Description: The family viewed as an institution and social group. Emphasis on family as a social system in changing society. RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK and MATERIALS* Title: Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices and Constraints Author: N. V. Benokraitis Publisher: Prentice Hall * The textbook used in a particular section will be chosen by the instructor. COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES/ ASSESSMENT METHODS LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Explain how sociologists analyze the structure and functions of the family as a social institution viewed cross-culturally. 2. Demonstrate a knowledge of the research methods sociologists use to study family life. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the historical influences contributing to the emergence of modem family forms and styles. 4. Demonstrate a capacity to analyze major social problems that affect family living from a sociological perspective. 5. Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of the material covered in the course for our daily experiences as family members and dating partners. ASSESSMENT METHODS* Combination of quizzes, exams, in-class small group work, essays and oral presentations focusing on the family issues and related to the theories introduced in this class. In-class writing assignments, essays, class discussions, small group workshops introduced in the readings and lectures and covering various methodologies used in the sociology of family. Quizzes, exams, essays, small group workshops, class discussions and oral presentations. Combination of short answer questions in exams, essays, quizzes, class discussions, small group workshops, and oral presentations. Quizzes, exams, essays, small group workshops, class discussions and oral presentations. GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES/ ASSESSMENT METHODS
LEARNING OUTCOMES KNOWLEDGE: Develop an introductory knowledge of the concepts and theories deployed by sociologists in their analysis of family as a social institution. SKILLS: Develop and use the tools needed for communication, inquiry, analysis and productive work. INTEGRATION: Work productively within and across disciplines. VALUES, ETHICS, AND RELATIONSHIPS: Understand and apply values, ethics, and diverse perspectives in personal, civic, and cultural/global domains. * may vary slightly per instructor to suit their own needs SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENTS AND OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS* ASSESSMENT METHODS* Class discussions based on readings, lectures and the issues covered in the media, quizzes, exams, essays, in-class small group work, and oral presentations. Combination of class discussions, oral presentations, in-class small group work, essays, and exams. Quizzes, exams, essays, class discussions, and in-class small group work that draws on various resources in sociology and other disciplines. Combination of class discussions, oral presentations, in-class small group work, and essays that engage directly with the questions about values, ethics, responsibility, and diversity. Quizzes; midterm and final exams including multiple-choice and short answer questions; essay assignments; participation in-class discussions; participation and contribution to small-group projects; oral presentations FINAL GRADE DISTRIBUTION - elements and weight of factors determining the students' grade* Midterm exam: 30% of the grade Final exam: 30% of the grade Quizzes: 20% of the grade Essay: 10% of the grade Attendance/Participation: 10% of the grade * may vary slightly per instructor to suit their own needs GRADING SCALE A 93-100 C 70-76.9 A- 90-92.9 D 60-69.9 B+ 87-89.9 F 59.9 and below B 83-86.9 WU Unofficial Withdrawal B- 80-82.9 WF Withdrew Failing C+ 77-79.9 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is
punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog. COLLEGE POLICY ON ABSENCE/LATENESS A student may be absent without penalty for 10 percent of the number of scheduled class meetings during the semester as follows: Class meets Allowable Absence 1 time/week 2 classes 2 times/week 3 classes 3 times/week 4 classes It is the responsibility of the instructor to keep accurate records of every student's attendance and to inform each class orally and in writing of the applicable attendance policy during the first two weeks of class meetings each semester. Excessive Absence If a student's class absences exceed the limit established for a given course or component, the instructor will alert the student that a grade of "WU" may be assigned. If a student remains officially registered for a course and never attends that course, a final grade of "*WN" will be assigned. If the student withdraws officially from the course, he/she will be assigned a grade in accordance with the existing withdrawal policy of the College. Appeals A student wishing to appeal the excessive absence status and the impending grade should request a meeting with the chairperson of the department in which the course is offered. The chairperson will consult with the instructor to render a decision. A student wishing to appeal a "WU" grade may do so through the Committee on Course and Standards. Lateness It is the responsibility of the instructor to keep a record of lateness and to inform each class orally and in writing of the lateness policy during the first two weeks of class meetings of each semester. SAMPLE SEQUENCE OF TOPICS AND TIME ALLOCATIONS* Weeks 1-2 I. The Family as a Social Institution Definitions of family Major societal functions of the family as a social institution Procreation Socialization Social Integration and cohesion Conformity Transmission of cultures, norms, and values Economic Integration Biological basis of the family Types of Families Nuclear family Advantages of the nuclear family Disadvantages of the nuclear family
Extended family Advantages of the extended family system Disadvantages of the extended family system Discuss what can be learned about the American family from cross- cultural studies of other family systems. World-wide trend towards the conjugal family Reasons for world-wide trend towards the conjugal family Consequences world-wide trend towards the conjugal family Communication and socialization within the family Symbolic interaction theory of communication and socialization and how symbolic interaction theory contributes to understanding socialization Weeks3-4 II. Gender Roles and Gender Typing: Historical Antecedents of the American Family The status of women in society ancient societies (Hebrew, Greek and Roman) Christianity and the family and marriage systems in the United States Courtly love complex Major features of the factors that led to the development of the courtly love complex Consequences of romantic love serving as a basis for mate selection The double standard Causes and consequences of development of the double standard Marriage and mate selection in colonial America Mate selection by individual choice Causal factors Conditions of its acceleration in colonial America Weeks 5-6 III. Families and the Economic System Economic context in the U.S. Falling wages Economic decline and poverty Growing inequality Increased debt Economic decline and U.S. F arnilies Homelessness Blue collar layoffs Downward mobility in the middle class Responding to Economic Crisis Defining unemployment and the theory of symbolic interactionism National unemployment network Families and the Post-Industrialization debate Weeks 7-8 IV. Families and the Organization of Race and Class Systems of stratification Social class, race and family life Upper-class families
Middle-class families Working-class families Renewed interest in poor families The Culture of Poverty thesis The Social Structural model Families as a site of resistance The Mothers of East Los Angeles Weeks 9-10 V. Families, Work and Household The growing participation of American women in the paid labor force Impact of work on families Second shift Time Income Worldview Affect and emotional labor The influence of families on work Bringing the family to work Managing the contradiction The question of parental leave Weeks 11-12 VI. Love, Sex and Abortion Love as a social construct A typology oflove Historical development oflove Human sexuality Sexual standards Sex and the law Problems in sex research Premarital sex Marital sex Current theoretical debates on sexuality Heterosexuality, homosexuality, lesbianism, transsexuality, androgyny Feminist approaches to sexuality A feminist view of abortion Weeks 12-13 VII. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage Characteristics of Marriage Marriage as a legal contract Marriage as an economic arrangement Marriage as a sexual relationship Marriage and commitment Marriage as a political arena
Statistics on marriage Changing ideas about marriage Living solo Challenges to traditional male roles Divorce Historical rates After Divorce Social stigmatization Divorce as an opportunity Remarriage Gender inequalities Gender inequality in marriage Gender inequality in the labor force Pay gap Gendering of tasks and responsibilities Career paths Gender inequality in divorce proceedings Child custody Child support Poverty of women and children Weeks 14-15 VIII. Family Policy and the State The welfare state and family policy Myths about welfare mothers Welfare policies: War on Poverty Temporary Assistance for Needy Families History and trends for the future in welfare The three worlds of welfare capitalism The impact of globalization on welfare States around the world * may vary slightly per instructor to suit their own needs Reviewed/revised by Diana Mincyte, Ph.D. Date: December, 2015