Sociology 722 - The Family

This graduate seminar focuses on theories of family, kinship, and parenting. Theoretical perspectives will be explored through empirical work on family behaviors and household relationships. The course will be reading- and discussion-centered. It will cover contemporary trends in the U.S., but we will also address global perspectives. The readings include studies with an international focus. Further, students will work on a research proposal relevant to the study of families during the semester. This work will be oriented toward building a publishable paper, a comps paper, or a research grant proposal. Data analysis is not required for this assignment. Topics include household structure, marriage, cohabitation, union dissolution, reproduction, family care work, and the intersection of work and family.