Families, Intimacy and Social Changes: The Sociology of Relationships
Undergraduate
LTU-SOC2SOR 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Families, Intimacy and Social Changes: The Sociology of Relationships
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the key changes in contemporary families and/or relationships.
- Analyse contemporary social issues relevant to families and relationships.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of individualisation as a social theory for understanding contemporary relationships.
- Intimacy
- Care
- Families
- Parenting
- Friendships
- Pets
- Possessions
Families and relationships continue to be a central part of our everyday lives, yet how we relate and how we 'do' family is changing as a result of rapid social, cultural, technological and other changes. In this subject, you will explore how and why relationships are changing, from our most intimate bonds to our casual acquaintances, from families and friends to pets and treasured possessions. You will consider the role of media representations, government policies and emotions in shaping the relationships we value and seek to protect. From recent shifts in online dating and same-sex marriage, through to expectations of parenting and grandparenting, and norms of pet ownership and friendship, we examine a wide range of current issues related to love and care, distance and loss, loneliness and connection. Examples from Australia and around the world are used to help think critically and analytically about the role of cultural diversity and social change in relationships, both within and beyond the family, and in relation to new technologies.
This is a level 2 subject. Please consider the subject prerequisites before enrolling.
- Online test (1200 word equivalent) (30%)
- Research Essay (2000 word equivalent) (50%)
- Written assignment (800 words) (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Others
Prerequisites: Students must have completed 30 credit points of Level one subjects.
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed SOC2FAC (Families and Change), or SOC3SOR (Sociology of Relationships) are ineligible to enrol in this subject
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
Undergraduate
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LAT-PYS-DEGUndergraduate
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