This course combines theory-based with applied research to focuses on the family and spirituality. A historical overview provides the circumstances that gave rise to the modern nuclear family, and the different ways social arrangements are made. The course will review on family transitions that occur across the life-span: intimacy, marriage and commitment, child- bearing and child-rearing, adoption, sibling relationships, divorce, re-constituted families, child launching in the middle-years, and aging families. Lastly, the course will focuses on sociological family matters such as class and poverty issues, raising children with disabilities, family violence and sexual abuse, relationships between parents and children and among various social contexts (nursery, school, workplace). Family counselling. The place and role of spirituality within families will be examined.
Prerequisites: IPA1121 and IPA1122.