Course Syllabus
Course: HFST 1400
Division: Social and Behavioral Science
Department: Education and Family Studies
Title: Courtship and Marriage
Semester Approved: Spring 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2028
End Semester: Fall 2029
Catalog Description: This course is designed to help students understand and apply the research and literature which attempts to identify the principles, skills, and theories that help lead to successful marriages and families.
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Justification: This course is designed to fill requirements for several major programs within the USHE system. Furthermore, it is designed to fill elective credit for students desiring the information and skills for personal use.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students can identify and explain positive character traits that lead to healthy relationships. Students complete a writing assignment project discussing personal character traits that they feel are important for a healthy relationship to develop. Instructor feedback/assessment is provided by using a rubric.
Students can analyze how past experiences influence future relationship decisions. Students complete a writing assignment project in which they discuss past experiences that they have had in their lives and how those past experiences will most likely influence the decisions that they will make regarding their marriage or future interpersonal relationships. Instructor feedback/assessment is provided by using a rubric.
Students can find and interpret research and other literature and write a report. Students are required to write a research literature review which requires them to find and interpret research that has been conducted by scholars and published in peer-reviewed journals, and to write a review of the information in proper APA format. Instructor feedback/assessment is provided by using a rubric.
Students can identify and explain common social and behavior science theories. Students will be assessed on this knowledge through discussions, activities, quizzes, and assignments.
Students can identify and explain methods of gathering social and behavior science-type data. Students will be assessed on this knowledge through discussions, activities, quizzes, and assignments.
Students can identify and understand contemporary societal and cultural issues that may help or hinder relationship formation. Students will be assessed on this knowledge through discussions, activities, quizzes, and assignments.
Content:
This course will introduce students to the family studies disciple of courtship and marriage. Topics will include human intimacy, relationships, American ways of love, gender convergence, role equity, communications, dating, mate selection, marriage intimacy expectations, human sexuality, family crises, the dissolution of marriage, contraceptive methods, and parenthood.These comprise diverse issues and will be introduced to students of various backgrounds cultures with the intent to help students see the relevance in their unique and individual lives.
Key Performance Indicators:
Exams/Quizzes: 30 to 50%
Projects/Writing Assignments: 30 to 50%
Participation/Class Discussion/Activities: 10 to 25%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Human Intimacy: Marriage, the Family, and its Meaning by Frank D. Cox.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course is taught using a variety of teaching methods, including powerpoint presentations, video presentations, class discussions, class activities, online discussions through Canvas, and other technology that becomes available. This class will encourage inclusivity by encouraging participation and valuing student input through these various methods. Employing a variety of teaching methods will provide students with a realistic, engaging, personally relevant, and academically informative introduction to the study of courtship and marriage regardless of background, culture, or experience.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Online
Maximum Class Size: 40
Optimum Class Size: 40
