In the last fifty years, there have been significant changes in the structure and social significance of relationships, families, and marriage. This course provides an opportunity to analyze these changes from an international perspective and to relate them to contemporary Australia. Students will interpret demographic shifts and evaluate changing attitudes towards family and marriage, issues associated with balancing work and family, and the effectiveness of family-related government policies. The course will also introduce influential sociological theories related to marriage and family. Students will conduct research projects on one of the course's specialized topics to consolidate their knowledge. They may include gender, love, and sexuality in relationships, cultural variations in the understanding of family and marriage, singlehood, partner selection, relationship breakdown, same-sex relationships, gender roles in parenting, the sociology of everyday family life, the intersection of money and intimacy, and the outsourcing of care. Students will critically assess debates on the diversity of modern family and relationship structures by engaging in group discussions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- analyse the leading themes in the research on intimacy, marriage and the family in Australia and relate them to comparable literature overseas;
- critically assess key concepts informing sociological knowledge of intimacy and the family;
- generate a written argument applying these concepts; and
- integrate the acquired theoretical and methodological knowledge by conducting a small-scale research project related to the course themes.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
Students will undertake independently designed small research projects to apply their methodological skills and practice reviewing ethical considerations in research.
Indicative Assessment
- Research proposal 1500 words (25) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Workshop participation (12) [LO 1,2,4]
- 3 Quizzes x 6% each (18) [LO 1,2]
- Research report 2500 words (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 12 hours of lectures, 24 hours of student-led workshops; and,
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
N/A
Assumed Knowledge
.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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