WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Fairbanks/Eielson AFB Campus
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused, and
distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to God and
humankind.
JUAD/SOCI/PSYC 3321- Marriage and the Family
Hybrid Class
Term: Fall 2009
Instructor: Beth Durbin
Contact Information: Office: 907-377-4398 Home: 907-372-1551
Email: durbinb@wbu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Class Time and Location: Monday 6:00 – 10:00 pm – August 17, 31, September 7, 28, October 5, 26 - Bldg.
2326 Room 100
Catalog Description: Examination of the family as a social institution; comparative analysis of kinship systems;
and recent changes in American family structure.
There is no prerequisite for this course
Textbook:
1. Choices in Relationships, An Introduction to Marriage and the Family, 9 th edition. Knox/Schacht.
ISBN: 978-0-495-09185-1
2. Choices in Relationships Study Guide, 9th edition. Knox/Schacht. ISBN: 978-0-495-09936-9 suggested
Course outcome competencies:
 Identify and define choices made in dating, marriage and family relationships
 Analyze critical issues that are currently impacting the American family structure
 Discuss the diverse family structures and how they affects American social institutions
 Communicate in writing from sociological, criminal justice or psychological perspectives the aspects of
family life.
Course requirements:
Your grade will be based on your performance on the following:
Attendance/Participation: Regular attendance and participation are important and strongly encouraged to
facilitate the learning process. Assigned reading is to be completed prior to sessions for which the reading
was assigned.
Discussion Board: Regular attendance and participation in online discussions/activities are important and
strongly encouraged to facilitate the learning process. Assigned reading is to be completed prior to online
interactive sessions for which the reading was assigned. At least one discussion question will be assigned for
the five weeks that we do not meet in class and will require students to share their ideas and concepts with
other students. Students need to have a minimum of 100 words for their initial response to the instructor’s
question. Students are encouraged to share constructive information with the instructor and fellow
classmates. The students are required to comment to the teachers’ discussion question by Wednesday at 9:00
pm (CST) and then respond to two other comments by Sunday at 11:59 pm (CST) to receive full credit
weekly.
Study Guide Exercises: See schedule for the assignments to be completed during the term. Answers are to be
submitted by digital dropbox by Sunday of the week they are assigned by midnight.
Genogram: You will complete a genogram on your family extending back to your grandparents on both sides
of your family. More details will be handed out.
Movies: Watch 3 movies related to a topic that is discussed in the text. Write a 2-4 page paper on the movie
and discuss how the film relates to social work and the topic you choose. Be specific. Here are some
examples of films: Pursuit of Happiness, One Flew over the Cookoo’s Nest, Girl Interrupted, The Grapes of
Wrath, Losing Isaiah, Philadelphia, Crash, Glass House, Mommy Dearest, Hotel Rwanda, etc. You can pick
other films that you feel is appropriate, these are just some ideas. See schedule to see when each film is due
during the term.
Presentation: Do a presentation on a subject from the textbook that you researched. The presentation is to be
done in Power Point. Please be creative and use tables, graphs, charts, etc. Students are to present their
findings to the class in a 10-15 minute presentation. Please attach a bibliography and a print out of the slides
to the teacher on the night the presentation is due.
Tests: There will be a midterm and a final exam consisting of matching, multiple choice and essay questions.
Method of determining course grade:
Grade Weight: (based on 800 points possible)
Class Participation: 50 points
Genogram: 50 points
Presentation: 100 points
Discussion Board: 50
Study Guide Exercises: 200
Movies: 150
Mid term: 100
Final: 100
You can figure out your grade by taking your points you have earned and divide it into the number of points
that the assignments total. For example in the middle of the term, if we have done 430 of the points and you
have 370, then you divide 370 by 430 and you would get “86” which would be a “B”. If at the end of the term
you have earned 850 points and the total points for everything is 870, then divide 850 by 870 and you would
get a 97%, which would be an “A”.
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF =
withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or
within the last two days of a microterm to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper,
examination, or other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is
changed if the work required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless
the instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date,
the I is converted to an F.
Attendance Policy: Students will be in class on time. Attendance will be recorded with late arrivals and early
departures noted. Absences of 25% or more of class meetings will result in a grade of F for the course. It is the
student's responsibility to inform the instructor of special extenuating circumstances (i.e., TDYs, family
emergencies, etc.) that dictate a need to be absent from class.
Instructor's policy on Academic Dishonesty: Intellectual, integrity and truthfulness are fundamental to
scholarship. Scholars, whether they are performing as students or as teachers, are engaged in a search for
truth. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and also a form of theft. Plagiarism occurs when a student fails to
give proper credit when information is either quoted or paraphrased. Carelessness is no excuse. As such, it is
a breach of scholarly responsibility. It is also unethical and in some cases, illegal. Looking at or copying
someone else’s test, answer sheet, and/or paper are counted as cheating. Plagiarism may result in an “F” in
the course.
Service for the Disabled: It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or
activity in the University. Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class
meeting.
Tentative Schedule:
August 17
Class Meeting
Intro
Read Chapter 1 & 2
August 24
Read Chapter 3 & 4
Discussion Board 1
Study Guide: Chap 3 – pg. 36 # 1-5, Chap. 4 – Pg. 50 #1 and pg. 51 # 1
Movie 1 due
August 31
Class Meeting
Read Chapter 5 & 6
September 7
Class Meeting
Read Chapter 7 & 8
September 14
Midterm
Discussion Board 2
September 21
Read Chapter 9 & 10
Discussion Board 3
Study Guide: Chap. 9 – pg. 118 #1-3, Chap. 10 – pg. 134 # 1-9
Movie 2 due
September 28
Class Meeting
Read Chapter 11 & 12
October 5
Class Meeting
Read Chapter 13 & 14
Presentation due
October 12
Read Chapter 15 & 16
Discussion Board 4
Study Guide: Chap. 15 – pg. 204 # 1-2, Chap. 16 – pg. 216 # 1-3
Movie 3 due
October 19
Read Chapter 17
Discussion Board 5
Study Guide: Chap 17 – pg. 230 # 1-4
October 26
Class Meeting
Final Exam
Professor reserves right to modify syllabus as needed. Consult catalog for important
deadlines such as add/drop, withdrawal, etc.