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BSHS/406

Family and Social Systems: Contemporary Trends and Issues

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Upper Division

Theories of public and private families, as differentiated by societal interaction, are explored with a focus on family systems as they exist within social systems. Micro and macro family environments are investigated. Students will examine theories involving the interconnected and interdependent features of contemporary families in a range of social systems. Topics include the family, the state, and social policy with historical perspectives from federal and state legislation. Students will debate current trends in social policy, the efficacy of social welfare systems on a global scale, and demonstrate an understanding of the concept of practical compromise. Roles of the human service worker as advocate and service provider in the family systems context will be addressed.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Identify different types of families.
  • Describe the evolution of family composition.
  • Analyze the changing functions of families in society.

  • Analyze gender roles within family dynamics.
  • Describe how socioeconomics affects families.
  • Identify familial characteristics related to race-ethnicity and cultural history.

  • Examine issues related to sexuality and the family.
  • Describe the evolution of marriage.
  • Analyze how work and employment impact families.

  • Summarize challenges associated with parenting and becoming a family.
  • Describe the different roles of parents in different types of families.
  • Explain issues that impact intergenerational families.

  • Analyze special issues associated with modern families.
  • Illustrate how legislation impacts modern families.
  • Create a genogram for a family.
  • Apply concepts from family history to human services.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.