FCS 2400-01Modern Family: A Life Course Perspective (3 cr.)

T,H 10:45am – 12:05pm,JTB 130

Instructor: Aimee Fox

Email: or through Canvas mail

Office Hours: By appointment

Required Text: Lamanna, M.A., Riedmann, A., Stewart, S. (2015) Marriages, Families, and Relationships: Making Choices in a Diverse Society(12th Edition). Cengage Learning

Course Learning Objective:

The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to family studies. This course emphasizes theory and research on family demography, union formation, marriage, parenting, post-parental families, non-traditional families, and family problems. This course will encourage you to critically examine both your personal experiences and the empirical literature on family studies. This course will also allow you to participate in activities that will facilitate a greater understanding of family relationships across the life course.

Requirements: Grade will be assigned on the following basis:

1. Class Participation300 pts

2. Book Report100 pts

3. Midterm Exam100 pts

4. Final Exam100 pts

Attendance is required. Class time is not just a review of the required reading; rather this time has been structured to provide you with additional information to supplement reading. Participation points cannot be made up with the exception of extreme circumstances approved by instructor.

Exams: Two exams will be given. Both of these will cover material from the text, supplementary reading, class discussions, and class activities. Make up exams will only be given with special permission from the instructor for extreme circumstances. You may not take the exam after the scheduled exam is given to the class. If prior arrangements are not made, a “0” will be given.

Grade Scale:

A93% and aboveB-80-82.9%D+67-69.9%

A-90-92.9%C+77-79.9%D63-66.9%

B+87-89.9%C73-76.9%D-60-62.9%

B83-86.9%C-70-72.9%E59.9% or lower

Students with Special Needs: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.

Academic Honesty: All honesty and plagiarism policies established by the University of Utah will be upheld in this class. From the “Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities”:

“Standards of Academic Conduct: In order to ensure that the highest standards of academic conduct are promoted and supported at the University, students must adhere to generally accepted standards of academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating, plagiarizing, research misconduct, misrepresenting one’s work, and/or inappropriately collaborating.”

For further information about the University of Utah’s policies regarding academic misconduct, please refer to the online version of the Student Handbook and look for “Section V: Student Academic Conduct”:

University Drop and Withdrawal Policies: You may drop this class without penalty or permission until September 2, 2016. You may withdraw from the course without permission from September 3, 2016 until October 21, 2016, but a “W” will be recorded on your academic record, and applicable tuition and fees will be assessed. After October 21, 2016, you will not be allowed to withdraw from this course. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Admissions and Registrar at (801) 581-5808.

Scheduling Accommodations: You should register only for those courses for which you have no scheduling conflicts that will interfere with your ability to complete course requirements. If you must miss a deadline due to participation in officially sanctioned University activities (e.g. band, debate, student government, intercollegiate athletics), religious obligations or other obligations meeting with the instructor’s approval, you will be permitted to make up or otherwise receive credit for missed coursework.

Except in cases of sudden illness or emergency, you shall, in advance of the missed deadline, arrange with the instructor to make up materials. If you miss a deadline due to illness, you must provide medical documentation (i.e., a doctor’s note) in order to make up missed work.

Incompletes: In order to qualify for an “incomplete” in any University of Utah course, you must complete no less than 80% of the course work and be in good standing (i.e., have earned at least a C on all completed work) and receive permission from the instructor. The FCS Department Policy is that students who do not complete the work within 1 year will automatically receive a failing grade. No exceptions will be made to this policy.

Technology: It is expected that students will maintain a respectful and civil atmosphere during class meetings. Thus, expectations are that students:

  • Prevent disruptions by silencing and refraining from the use of cell phones and electronic devices, and by putting away extraneous reading materials.
  • Adhere to the University of Utah code of conduct.

This syllabus is meant to serve as an outline and guide for the course. Please note that it may be modified by the instructor at any time so long as reasonable notice is provided to students of the modification. The Course Outline may also be modified by the instructor at any time to accommodate the needs of a particular class. Should you have any questions or concerns about the syllabus, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor for clarification.

COURSE OUTLINE

FCS 2400-001Modern Family

TUESDAY / THURSDAY
August 23
Introduction, Syllabus Review,
Assignment information / August 25
Why study relationships and families?
August 30
Chapter 1: Making Family Choices in a Changing Society / September 1
Chapter 2: Exploring Relationships and Families
September 6
Chapter 3: Our Gendered Identities / September 8
Gender Roles Activity
September 13
Chapter 4: Our Sexual Selves / September 15
LGBT Panel
September 20
Chapter 5: Love and Choosing a Life Partner / September 22
Love Language Activity
September 27
Chapter 6: Living Alone, Cohabiting, Same-Sex Unions, and Other Intimate Relationships / September 29
Chapter 7: Marriage: From Social Institution to Private Relationship
October 4
Chapter 8: Deciding About Parenthood / October 6
Parenthood Activity
October 11
FALL BREAK / October 13
FALL BREAK
October 18
Midterm Exam review / October 20
MIDTERM EXAM (covers ch 1-8)
October 25
Chapter 9: Raising Children in a Diverse Society / October 27
Raising Kids Activity
November 1
Chapter 10: Work and Family / November 3
Working Families Summit and Activity
November 8
Chapter 11: Communication in Relationships, Marriages, and Families / November 10
Private Violence film
November 15
Chapter 12: Power and Violence in Families / November17
Chapter 13: Family Stress, Crisis, and Resilience
November 22
THANKSGIVING BREAK / November 24
THANKSGIVING BREAK
November 29
Chapter 14: Divorce and Relationship Dissolution / December 1
Chapter 15: Remarriages and Stepfamilies
December 6
Chapter 16: Aging and Multigenerational Families / December 8
Final Exam Review
**BOOK REPORT DUE
FRIDAY DECEMBER 16
10:30am – 12:30pm
FINAL EXAM (covers ch 9-16)