(GREEN FORM)

Date:02/15/2010

Current Course & Desig. # : HDF 211

Type of Item:

ACTION

PUBLICATION

ABBREVIATED MCS PROCESS

Mark those that apply:

CR/NC Only

U.P. Course

New Designator

Variable Credit

FULL MCS PROCESS

Nature of Request:

NEW COURSE
NEW COURSE NUMBER CLEARED WITH REGISTRAR
(Complete Parts I, II, III, IV)
Potentially affected departments:
Notified?
COURSE CHANGE (Attach SAP report and indicate on report notification of affected departments)
(Complete Parts I, II, III, and IV respectively)
Change Designator
Change Course Number (number cleared with Registrar? Yes No)
Change Title
Change Number of Credits
Change Distribution of Hours
Change Bulletin Description
Change Prerequisite(s)/Co-requisites/Recommended
MCS Review
Addendum
Other:
COURSE DELETION (Attach SAP report and indicate on report notification of affected departments)
(Complete Part III, Question 1)
PROPOSED SEMESTER FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Fall, 2010
Spring, 2011
Other
, 20
I.

PROPOSED COPY

Marriage and Close Relationships

Desig.

Full Title

Credits**

Cross Ref.

Indicate requested Bulletin copy for new courses and course changes.

Proposed Bulletin Description: (25 words or less)

This course examines the cultural and historical factors

and processes that affect the development of marital, familial, and other close
relationships across the life course.

Proposed
Prerequisites:
Pre/Co-requisites
Co-requisites:
Recommended:

II. TITLE ABBREVIATION (New courses or course title changes only 40 characters and spaces or less.)
Marriage and Close Relationships

III.

RATIONALE [See Appendix H of the Curricular Authority Document for Guidelines

for Rationale Statement on Course Request Forms.]
A rationale statement must address the following:
1.
2.
3.

What led to the development of the proposal? If this is a MCS review, specifically, what was
reviewed and revised?
What is the role of the proposed course addition or course change in the curriculum?
For whom is the course intended?

1. As a result of program review, the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) area of the
Department of Human Environmental Studies (HEV) is making modifications to their
majors/minors and updating each course within the program. Modifications have also been made
to include standards specific to certification as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) within
each family studies course. Specific revisions to the HDF 211 syllabus include title, bulletin
description, rationale for course level, textbooks, methodology, objectives, course outline,
evaluation and bibliography.
2. The title of the course was modified to reflect the diversity of modern family units. The changes
resulting from the MCS review are intended to update the course to reflect current trends in the
field, and to include a set of standards required for CFLE certification for those students majoring
in Family Studies.
3. HDF 211 is a core option for students majoring in Child Development and minoring in Family
Life and Human Sexuality or in Human Development. It is a required course for students
majoring in Family Studies. It is an elective for students minoring in Child Development.
IV.

MASTER COURSE SYLLABUS [MCS] [See Curricular Authority Document,

Appendix H for Master Course Syllabus Guidelines and Master Syllabi/Course Outlines
Requirements Policy.]
The department is to submit the Master Course Syllabus to the college curriculum
committee for any changes; the college curriculum committee is to submit the Master
Course Syllabus to the appropriate senate committees for all new courses and when any
change to an existing MCS is associated with a full process MCS review; changes to
course level or number; course objectives; course outline; evaluation; credit hours or
distribution of hours; or change to or from graduate level.
Once changes have been approved through the curricular process (full or abbreviated),
the college will be responsible for forwarding an electronic version of the MCS to the
senate office for inclusion on the web.

Approved:

DEPT. OR
INTERDISC.
COUNCIL

COLLEGE

2/22/10

4/5/10

GEN. ED.

PECC

UCC

GRADUATE
COUNCIL

SENATE

OTHER

Denied:
Referred:

This form approved by the Academic Senate 11/23/99

Revised 12/12/00; editorially revised by the Ad hoc CAD Committee, 5/8/02; revised 11/4/03, 1/15/03; 2/8/05; 4/27/07; 5/5/09.

As of: 02/16/2010

Module Information

Module

HDF 211

"*" Indicates that future data

exists
Existing Module Information From
Sap:
Module
HDF 211
:
SAP Title
Marriage & Family Perspectives
:
Credit Hours
3.00
:
Grading Option
Norm & CR/NC
:
Cross Ref. Module/s
:
Contact Hours
(3-0)
:
Master Course Syllabi
Y
:
Current Bulletin Name
:
Marriage and Family Perspectives
Current Prerequisites
:
Prerequisite of
:
Current Bulletin Description
:
Cultural-historical perspective of marriage and family. Social and
psychological dynamics of individual and family interaction.
Majors/Minors/Programs affected by change:
Notified:
Child Develop Minor

Dept:
HEV
_____
ProfEd
_x___

Child Development Major

HEV

Child Devlpmnt Maj:Early Childhood Conc

HEV

Child Devlpmnt Maj:General Concentration

HEV

Fam Studies: Life Mgt Educ

HEV

Family Life and Human Sexuality Minor

HEV

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
ProfEd
__x__
Family Studies Major

HEV
_____

Family Studies Major with Concentrations

HEV

Human Development Minor

HEV

_____
_____
Human Environmental Studies
_____

Central Michigan University

College of Education and Human Services
Department of Human Environmental Studies
Master Course Syllabus
HDF
Desig.

211
No.

Marriage and Close Relationships

Title

3(3-0)
Credit (Mode)

I.
Bulletin Description
This course examines the cultural and historical factors and processes that affect the
development of marital, familial, and other close relationships across the life course.
II.
Prerequisites
None
III.
Rationale for Course Level: The course is at 200 level because it serves as an
introduction to the field of marital and close relationship development and functioning.
IV.
Textbooks and Other Materials To Be Furnished by the Student
Knox, D. & Schacht, C. (2008). Choices in Relationships: An Introduction to Marriage
and the Family (9th Edition). CA: Thompson.
V.
Special Requirements of the Course
None
VI.
General Methodology Used in Conducting the Course
Class will be conducted primarily in lecture format, but also will include some discussion and
debate activities.
VII. Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate popular perceptions of marriage and family relationships;
2. Recognize the tremendous diversity in the nature and developmental pathways of
these relationships;
3. Provide a framework for assessing the connections between interpersonal and familial
relationships and the larger social context (e.g., cultural and historical background,
socioeconomic class, parents work conditions, religion);
4. Evaluate information that will facilitate educated life choices;
5. Demonstrate a working knowledge of recent empirical literature related to marriage
and family relationships including their development and maintenance;
6. Examine personal attitudes and practices towards love, marriage, family, and
sexuality;
7. Describe important theoretical and empirical evidence regarding marriage and family;
8. Discuss controversial issues comfortably and with respect for self and others;
9. Demonstrate understanding for the normative and non-normative changes that

individuals and families experience across the lifespan;

10. Demonstrate an understanding of family strengths and weaknesses and how family
members relate to each other.
VIII. Course Outline
Week 1
Introduction To The Course
Family Development in Historical Context
Week 2
Family Theory and Evaluation
Week 3
Gender and Families
Week 4
Singlehood, Hanging Out, and Dating
Week 5
Mate Selection
Week 6
Processes in Diverse Families: Same-Sex Couples and Families
Week 7
Processes in Diverse Families: Black Families
Week 8
Sexuality and Functioning in Close Relationships
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Relationships
Week 9
Interpersonal Communication Processes and Conflict Resolution
Week 10
Interpersonal Communication Processes and Conflict Resolution
Week 11
Family Transitions to Parenthood and Parenting
Week 12
Family and Intimate Partner Violence
Week 13
The Intersection of Work and Family Life
Poverty and Families

Week 14
Divorce and Crisis in Families
Week 15
Remarriage and Stepfamilies
Week 16
Final Exam
IX.
Evaluation
exams
quizzes
*Participation
Total

60%
30%
10%
100%

*Participation determined through small group work, debates and in class activities
X.
Bibliography
Brassard, A., Lussier, Y., & Shaver, P. (2009). Attachment, perceived conflict, and couple
satisfaction: A test of the meditational dyadic model. Family Relations, 58, 634-646.
Cate, R., Levin, L., & Richmond, L. (2002). Premarital relationship stability: A review of
recent research. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 261 284.
Demo, D. (2010). Decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72.
Hassebrauck, M., & Fehr, B. (2002). Dimensions of relationship quality. Personal
Relationships, 9, 253 270.
Jeynes, W. H. (2001). The effects of recent parental divorce on their childrens sexual attitudes
and behavior. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 35, 115-134.
Manusov, V. (2002). Attribution, communication, behavior, and close relationships: Advances in
personal relations. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Priem, J., Solomon, D., & Syeuber, K. (2009). Accuracy and bias in perceptions of emotionally
supportive communication in marriage. Personal Relationships, 16, 531-552.
Pryor, J. (2008). The International handbook of stepfamilies: Policy and practice in legal,
research, and clinical environments. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Ruiz, S. A., & Silverstein, M. (2007). Relationships with grandparents and the emotional wellbeing of late adolescent and young adult grandchildren. The Journal of Social Issues, 63,
793 808.
Scottham, K., & Smalls, C. (2009). Unpacking racial socialization: Considering female African
American primary caregivers racial identity. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 807818.
Stanley, S., Markman, H., & Whitton, S. (2002). Communication, conflict, and
commitment: Insights on the foundations of relationship success from a national survey.
Family Process, 41, 659 675.
Teirler,J., Reichman, N., Nepomnyaschy, L. & Garfinkel, I. (2009). Effects of welfare
participation on marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 87-891.
van Eeden-Moorefield, B., & Pasley, K. (2011). Remarriage and stepfamily life in the 21st

century. In G. Peterson and K. Bush (Eds.) Handbook of Marriage and Family (3 rd Ed.).
New York, NY: Sage.
van Eeden-Moorefield, B., & Pasley, K. (2008). A longitudinal examination of marital processes
leading to instability. In J. Pryor (Ed.), The International handbook of stepfamilies:
Policy and practice in legal, research, and clinical environments (231 - 249). Hoboken,
NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Voydanoff, P. (2002). Linkages between the work-family interface and work, family , and
individual outcomes: An integrative model. Journal of Family Issues, 23,138-150.
Welch, K. (2010). Family life now (2nd Ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Yeh, H.C., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R., & Elder, G. (2006). Relationships among sexual
satisfaction, marital quality, and marital instability at midlife. Journal of Family
Psychology, 20, 339 - 343.

Syllabus Prepared By:

Brad van Eeden-Moorefield, Ph.D.
Name

Signature
2/04/2010
Date