Heartland Community College
Student Course Syllabus – Spring 2011
Division: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Course Prefix and number: SOC 135-02
Course Title: Sociology of Marriage and Family
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Tues and Thurs 8 – 9:15 am Room ICB 2708
Catalog Description:
This course is a sociological investigation of marriage and family, with particular attention given
to the impact of social institutions on marriage and family structure, various marriage and family
arrangements and their consequences, interactions within marriage and family, abuse, divorce
and widowhood. - Prerequisite(s): None.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name:
SBS office phone:
Email:
Office:
Instructor’s office hours:
Bill Lally
(309) 268-8590
Bill.Lally@heartland.edu
SBS Office, ICB 2100
By appointment
Textbooks:
•Schwartz, M.A. & Scott, B.M. (2010). Marriages and Families (6th ed.). New York: Pearson.
•Publication Manual of APA (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or
A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum
described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities
participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for
more information.
Course Structure:
Classes will primarily be devoted to lecture and class discussion. It is the intent of the instructor
to provide a format in which student feel free to share their opinions on the material being
discussed as well as provide feedback to both the instructor and fellow students. Appropriate
films, audio-visual material, and guest speakers may be used to supplement lectures.
General Education Program and Course Learning Outcomes:
SOC 135 is a course within the General Education Program at Heartland, and as such, contains
learning outcomes that help students develop proficiency in Communication, Diversity, Problem
Solving, and Critical Thinking. Specifically, upon completion of this course students will
develop an increased proficiency in the following areas:
Communication:
1. Utilize sociological theories to help understand and explain family relationships.
Diversity:
1. Identify differences within family systems that are due to historical era, diversity (cultural,
racial, sexual) and changing gender roles.
Problem Solving:
1. Identify and analyze family issues using appropriate methods and sources in order to gain an
understanding of the cause, influence, and outcome of said issue.
Critical Thinking:
1. Identify and appraise the various issues that are problematic for marriage and family
situations.
Course Specific Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between family upbringing and influences
outside the family unit, and how these affect one’s sense of self.
2. Describe how marriage and family values are communicated and taught to new members of
society via socialization, social institutions, mass media, and culture.
3. Identify significant processes included in family life cycles.
4. Analyze the multitude of relationships that exist in various family structures or forms.
5. Explain the various ways in which family structures form, and are influenced by personal
experiences and social events.
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
1. Marriage and family over time
2. Ways of studying and explaining marriages and families
3. Understanding gender
4. Love
5. Dating, coupling & mate selection
6. Sexuality and intimate relationships
7. Nonmarital lifestyles
8. The marriage experience
9. Reproduction and parenting
10. Work and the family
11. Power, abuse, and violence
12. Divorce
13. Remarriage and remarried families
14. Trends and the future
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading Systems):
Students should have assigned readings completed before corresponding lectures.
EXAMS - There will be three exams given covering readings, lectures and other related
course materials presented during that corresponding period. In other words, they are not
cumulative.
QUIZZES - Periodic quizzes will be administered covering that weeks assigned readings.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT - There will be one writing assignment (other than your term
paper) due during the semester. It will be approximately 4-5 pages long.
TERM PAPER - A 6-7 page paper covering a sociologically related topic will be due at the
end of the semester. A more detailed handout explaining the assignment requirements will
be passed out.
NOTE: Make-ups will not be given for missed exams or quizzes. However, the lowest quiz
grade will be dropped. In addition, papers are due at the beginning of class. Late
assignments will be penalized and will only be accepted if the student has spoken with the
instructor beforehand. E-mailed papers will not be accepted.
Percentage
90 - 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
59 or less
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
CATEGORY
Quizzes
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Writing Assignment
Term Paper
TOTAL
PERCENT
10%
15%
15%
15%
20%
25%
100%
Classroom Attendance:
Attendance is strongly encouraged. To promote attendance pop quizzes will be given throughout
the semester. NOTE: I do not email PowerPoints. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to
get the notes from a fellow student.
Classroom Behavior:
All cell phones should be either turned off or placed on vibrate during class. Please direct all
discussion towards classroom participation.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principal of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonesty as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning
cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification
of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or
administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in the college
catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1. Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2. Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3. Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4. Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its sources.
5. Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6. Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it
were your own.
Academic Support Services (Academic Support Center) www.hcc.cc.il.us/divisions/asc
* Note: Students are encouraged to take advantage of the writing center in an effort to improve
upon their writing skills and overall written work.
Heartland Library Information
The library, located in the Student Commons Building at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loans. Librarians are available to
assist in locating information. For more information, please call the library at (309) 268-8200 or
(309) 268-8292.
Tutoring Center
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at
the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Tutors
are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups, group tutoring facilitated
by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by request. For more information about services
available at each location, please call the ASC in Normal at (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center
at (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center (217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams,
online exams, and exams for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to
complete exams in the Testing Center if arrangements are made with their instructor. For more
information, contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
Notice of Cancelled Class Sessions:
Cancelled class sessions for all HCC classes will be listed under Cancelled Class Meetings in the
A-Z Index and under Academic Information in the Current Students page on the HCC Website.
Go to http://www.heartland.edu/classCancellations/ to learn what classes have been cancelled for
that day and the upcoming week. Be sure to check the last column, which might contain a
message from the instructor.
Syllabi disclaimer: This document is meant to be a guideline for student and class expectations.
There are certain aspects that will not be amended because they are policies of this institution.
However, the instructor holds the right to amend certain parts of this document at any time this
semester in order to make certain that the class remains focused on its objectives and goals.
Class Schedule
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TOPIC and ASSIGNMENT
CHAPTER
1/17
1/19
1/24
1/26
1/31
2/2
2/7
Course Introduction / Handout Material and Articles
Discuss Article - American Family Decline, 1960-1990 (Popenoe, 1993)
Marriages and Families Over Times
Ch. 1
Marriages and Families Over Times
Ch. 1
Ways of Studying and Explaining Marriages and Families
Ch. 2
Ways of Studying and Explaining Marriages and Families
Ch. 2
Understanding Gender
Ch. 3
2/9
2/14
Understanding Gender
Dating, Coupling, and Mate Selection
2/16
2/21
Dating, Coupling, and Mate Selection
EXAM 1 – Covers Readings and Lectures Ch. 1 thru 3, &5
Ch. 5
2/23
Sexuality and Intimate Relationships
Ch. 6
•Article – When Does Gender Trump Money? (Bittman, et al., 2003)
Ch. 3
Ch. 5
•Movie – The Science of Sex Appeal: Human Behavior Part1
•Movie – The Science of Sex Appeal: Human Behavior Part2
2/28
Sexuality and Intimate Relationships
Ch. 6
•Movie – The Science of Sex Appeal: Human Behavior Part3
3/1
3/6
Living Single, Living with Others: Nonmarital Lifestyles
Living Single, Living with Others: Nonmarital Lifestyles
Ch. 7
Ch. 7
•Writing Assignment Due – Learning Sexuality
3/8
3/12 – 3/16
3/20
3/22
3/27
3/29
The Marriage Experience
SPRING BREAK – No Classes
The Marriage Experience
Reproduction and Parenting
Reproduction and Parenting
EXAM 2 - Covers Readings and Lectures Ch. 6 thru 9
Ch. 8
4/3
4/5
4/10
4/12
Evolving Work and Family Structures
Evolving Work and Family Structures
Power, Abuse, and Violence in Intimate Relationships
Power, Abuse, and Violence in Intimate Relationships
Ch. 10
Ch. 10
Ch. 11.
Ch. 11
4/17
4/19
4/24
4/26
The Process of Uncoupling: Divorce in the United States
The Process of Uncoupling: Divorce in the United States
Remarriage and Remarried Families
Marriages and Families in the Twenty-First Century
5/1
5/3
5/15
Marriages and Families in the Twenty-First Century
Review for Exam
EXAM 3 - Covers Readings and Lectures Ch. 10 thru 13, & 15
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 9
•Article – Gender & Relational Distance (Lally & DeMaris, 2011)
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 15
•Term Paper Due –Current State of Divorce in US
Ch. 15
8-9:50 AM