PSYC 382 - Diverse Family Systems

3 credit hours
The notion of the “traditional American family” is transforming. With new historical circumstances, families in the United States have become increasingly more diverse. This course is intended to provide students with an overview and analysis of a variety of contemporary family systems in the US, such as single-parent families, adoptive and foster family systems, families who have children via reproductive technologies, and families with sexual minority parents. Taught from a developmental psychological perspective, students will also gain understanding in family systems theory and in research methods for studying family systems. Course material will be considered within the context of social issues, questions, and public controversies, e.g., “Is the traditional family disappearing?”, “Is the institution of marriage dying or changing?”, “Do children need both a mother and a father for optimal development?”. The course will address factors that contribute to positive family functioning and healthy outcomes for children and parents. Implications for future research, clinical practice, public policy, and law surrounding parenting and families (e.g., custody and placement decisions) will be covered. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 201, (or 202) and PSYC 306.