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Families, Relationships and Society (SOCI20018)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject introduces students to the sociology of family life. The subject will start with a broad focus covering key theoretical perspectives on the family and personal life and examining the political and cultural context of family life. A key theme of the subject will be to identify the ways in which family life is changing and exploring the implications of those changes for individuals, society and social policy. The subject will examine social and demographic trends in marriage, fertility, cohabitation, singlehood and the organisation of paid and unpaid work in families and households. Other issues and topics that will be addressed including: gender and family life, dating and relationship formation, the impact of reproductive technologies, same-sex relationships, 'boomerang' kids and fatherhood.

Intended learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:

  • Evaluate sociological debates about the definition of the family and household
  • Develop a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge of family sociology and family life in historical, cultural and political context
  • Understand relationships between families and other institutions, such as the labour market and the state
  • Demonstrate knowledge of selected substantive topics such as patterns of family formation and change, divorce, paid and unpaid work in families and households, and other issues in contemporary family life.

Generic skills

Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:

  • Develop oral communication and written communication skills
  • Demonstrate collaborative learning, problem solving and team work
  • Demonstrate statistical reasoning and application of theory to practice
  • Demonstrate interpretation and analysis and critical thinking
  • Access data and other information from a range of sources.

Last updated: 19 September 2024