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SOC 451

RACE, FAMILY & THE STATE

3 credits.

Examines the politics of state involvement in family life in America, particularly in poor and minoritized families. Investigates the state's role in the regulation of the family through systems of governance such as criminal justice, immigration, and welfare that shape the legal possibilities for family life. Incorporates sociological, historical, and legal scholarship to critically assess the structural influences shaping the experiences, choices, and legal possibilities for families of color.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and describe key social science theories of race, ethnicity, and racism. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Articulate how the concept of family is a social construct. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Enumerate the ways state institutions intervene in family life, and how the role of race and racism these processes. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how cultural assumptions about the meanings and purpose attached to families influence policy making. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply sociological research findings to evaluate family policy positions Audience: Undergraduate 6. Communicate contemporary family policy issues to non-specialists through public speaking and writing. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and describe key social science theories of race, ethnicity, and racism. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Articulate how the concept of family is a social construct. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Enumerate the ways state institutions intervene in family life, and how the role of race and racism these processes. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how cultural assumptions about the meanings and purpose attached to families influence policy making. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply sociological research findings to evaluate family policy positions Audience: Undergraduate 6. Communicate contemporary family policy issues to non-specialists through public speaking and writing. Audience: Undergraduate

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