Module HUSS3461: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON FAMILY AND KINSHIP FOR RETURNING ERASMUS STUDENTS

Department: Anthropology (Human Sciences) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

HUSS3461: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON FAMILY AND KINSHIP FOR RETURNING ERASMUS STUDENTS

Prerequisites

• Completion of Level 2 Human Sciences programme, Political & Economic Organization (ANTH2051) OR Kinship & Belief Systems (ANTH2041), OR Phase 1 MBBS.

Corequisites

• Erasmus Exchange Programme.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide an overview of significant changes in kinship and family life in contemporary societies.
• to understand the causes and consequences of these changes.
• to develop analytical skills which can be used to interpret and make sense of changing patterns of Euro-American kinship and family.

Content

• The module will draw closely on the research interests of the tutor and will provide students with an opportunity to explore the contribution that anthropologies have made to understanding recent changes in kinship and family life.
• (1) The making of the modern family.
• (2) The unmaking of the modern family.
• (3) The changing nature of familial obligation.
• (4) Friendship and kinship.
• (5) Changing families I - Divorce and separation.
• (6) Changing families II - Parenting and children.
• (7) Changing families III - Adoption and fostering [seminar].
• (8) New reproductive technologies I - AI[seminar].
• (9) New reproductive technologies II - IVF [seminar].
• (10) New reproductive technologies III - surrogacy [seminar].
• (11) Kinship: temporality and commodotisation [seminar].
• (12) The changing significance of blood ties in contemporary kinship [seminar].
• (13) Genetics and kinship [seminar].
• (14) The future of kinship? [seminar].
• In the Michaelmas term students will follow a course of self-directed learning [session 1-6].
• They will be provided with lecture handouts via Blackboard and be expected to produce four write-ups [1000 words each].
• The write-ups will cover issues they would expect to have been addressed in the seminars and will enable the student to demonstrate coverage of lectures and reading.
• On their return students will also be given two one hour seminars to induct them into the remainder of the course.

Learning Outcomes

• Acquaintance with the way that patterns of family life in the western world have changed.
• Familiarity with the anthropological and sociological research literature which documents and analyses these changes.
• Understanding of some of the consequences of these changes for social and cultural life in more general terms.
• Ability to apply the knowledge acquired on the course to specific instances of change in kinship and family life.

• Evaluate critically the social issues arising from the changing place of kinship and family in contemporary society.
• Carry out an in-depth analysis of a particular issue or theme relating to contemporary family and kinship arrangements.
• Review literature relevant to a particular issue.

• Communicate through written work.
• Show initiative.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is a specialist module based upon the Tutor's research interests.
• Lectures provide the context for the issues covered.
• Regular seminars allow students to explore these issues through discussion and self-directed study.
• Assessment in the form of an extended essay allows the student to explore through their own research and evaluation of secondary sources particular issues in considerable depth.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One practice essay at 1500 words.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University