PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
MASTER SYLLABUS

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY: ROLES & RELATIONSHIPS
CFS 2200

Class Hours: 3.0

 

Credit Hours: 3.0

 

Laboratory Hours: 0.0

 

Date Revised: Spring 05

 

 

 

 

 

Catalog Course Description:

 

 

 

Explores marriage and family experiences, personal choices, marital adjustments, conflict management, parenting decisions, communication, and changes resulting from divorce, widowhood and remarriage.

Entry Level Standards:

 

 

 

Students must be able to read and write at the college level.

Prerequisites:

 

 

 

None

Textbook(s) and Other Course Materials:

 

 

Olson, David & DeFrain, John., Marriages and Families: Intimacy, Diversity, and Strengths.  Fifth Edition, McGraw Hill, 2006.

I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:

 

 

 

Week

Topic

 

1

Successful Relationships
Human Intimacy

 

2

American Ways of Love
ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE
EXAM 1,
Ch. 1, 2 and 3

 

3

Role Equity
Communication

 

4

Dating
Review
ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE

 

5

EXAM 2, Ch. 4, 5 and 6
Marriage

 

6

Human Sexuality
Family Planning

 

7

Review 
ASSIGNMENT 3 DUE
EXAM 3,
Ch. 7, 8 and 9

 

8

Parenthood
Economic Decisions

 

9

Dual Worker Family
Review
ASSIGNMENT 4 DUE

 

10

EXAM 4, Ch.  10, 11, and 12
Family Life Stages

 

11

Family Crisis
Family Violence

 

12

Review
EXAM 5,
Ch. 13, 14 and 15

 

13

Dissolution of Marriage
Remarriage
ASSIGNMENT 5 DUE
Marital Growth and Fulfillment

 

14

Review
EXAM 6,
Ch. 16,17 and 18

 

15

FINAL EXAM PERIOD

II. Course Objectives*:

 

 

 

A.

Understand the psychosocial aspects of human sexuality.  II, III

 

B.

Understand the financial implications of marriage. III

 

C.

Understand family life stages.  III, IV

 

D.

Understand dysfunction in families (violence, divorce, etc.).  III

 

E.

Develop attitudes and practices that promote positive relationships with families. III

*Roman numerals after course objectives reference TBR’s general education goals.

III. Instructional Processes*: 

 

 

Students will:

 

 

 

 

1.

Research a specific aspect of the family, and then write a paper and present information to the class.  Social/Behavioral Sciences Outcome, Active Learning Strategy, Communication Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome

 

2.

Express personal thoughts and feelings about specific topics of the family in journal form. Communication Outcome, Social/Behavioral Sciences Outcome

 

3.

Working within a group, develop a research tool for researching a specific aspect of marriage, perform research, document findings, and present the information to class. Active Learning Strategy, Communication Outcome, Social/Behavioral Sciences Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome

 

4.

Participate in role playing activities.  Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy

 

5.

Internalize work ethic by demonstrating regular attendance, punctuality, dependability, cooperation with teacher and peers, and professionalism.  Transitional Strategy

*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference TBR’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.

IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: 

 

 

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

1.

Exhibit knowledge of the personal and intellectual foundations of marriage. C, E

 

2.

Be aware of how powerful culture is in shaping attitudes, beliefs, and ideas about marriage and family. B, C, E

 

3.

Understand the biological, psychosocial, behavioral, clinical, and cultural aspects of human sexuality. A

 

4.

Be aware of the critical ways being male or female affect communication in a family.  B, C, E

 

5.

Understand dysfunction in families (violence, divorce, etc.). D

 

6.

Be aware of the characteristics of communication and how different contexts affect it. C, E

 

7.

Understand select family theories (including family systems theory, the family ecosystem, and the ecological systems theory).  C, E

 

8.

Understand and respect the impact of heritage, culture, diversity, and special needs on family functioning in the context of the family and other social contexts. C, E

*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.

V. Evaluation:

 

 

 

A. Testing Procedures: 100% of grade

 

There will be six (6) examinations and five (5) class assignments (which will count as one examination) this semester.  The instructor will drop your lowest test score, The six grades will be averaged to determine your final course grade.  The exam questions will consist of multiple choice, matching and short essay. No make-up examinations will be given. If an exam is missed, this will count as the dropped grade.

 

B. Laboratory Expectations:

 

N/A

 

C. Field Work:

 

N/A

 

D. Other Evaluation Methods:

 

ONE-THIRD (113) POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM LATE PAPERS.  PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THREE DAYS OF THE DUE DATE.

 

E. Grading Scale:

 

92 - 100   =   A
89 - 91     =   B+
82- 88      =   B
79 - 81     =   C+
72 - 78     =   C
65 - 71     =   D
Below 65 =   F

VI. Policies:

 

 

 

A. Attendance Policy:

 

Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities.  As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75% of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course.

 

B. Academic Dishonesty:

 

Academic misconduct committed either directly or indirectly by an individual or group is subject to disciplinary action. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to the following practices: Cheating, including but not limited to unauthorized assistance from material, people, or devices when taking a test, quiz, or examination; writing papers or reports; solving problems; or completing academic assignments. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign either (1) an F or zero for the assignment or (2) an F for the course.

 

 

C. Accommodations for disabilities:

 

If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform the instructor immediately. Please see the instructor privately after class or in his/her office. Students must present a current accommodation plan from a staff member in Services for Students with Disabilities (SSWD) in order to receive accommodations in this course. Services for Students with Disabilities may be contacted by going to Goins 127 or 131 or by phone: 694-6751(Voice/TTY) or 539-7153.