Family Studies
How do families impact personal development and social interaction?
Study family systems and their relationship to the development and social participation of their members at Albright College, while gaining skills to evaluate and conduct research about family interaction.
Students combining family studies with another major are prepared for immediate employment in a variety of fields and professions including pre-K-12 education, social services, case management, client advocacy and residential care services. Graduates also pursue a number of advanced degrees. So set your sights high! Become a family lawyer, earn a Ph.D., or consider working in one of the nation’s fastest growing professions with a Master of Social Work degree.
Charles Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
610-921-7865
cbrown@albright.edu
Justin J. Couchman, Ph.D.
Justin J. Couchman, Professor of Psychology
610-929-6738
jcouchman@albright.edu
Keith Feigenson, Ph.D.
Keith Feigenson, Associate Professor of Psychology
610-921-7584
kfeigenson@albright.edu
Bridget A. Hearon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
610-929-6556
bhearon@albright.edu
Julia Heberle, Ph.D.
Julia Heberle, Associate Professor of Psychology
610-921-7581
jheberle@albright.edu
Susan Hughes, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Director of Evolutionary Studies Program, Psychology Department Chair
610-929-6732
shughes@albright.edu
Brenda Ingram-Wallace, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
610-921-7585
bingramwallace@albright.edu
Lisa Hain, Psy.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
484-818-1843
lhain@albright.edu
Maria Escobar, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology
610-921-7591
mescobar@albright.edu
Thomas Blakely, Ph.D.
Adjunct Lecturer in Anthropology
tblakely@albright.edu
Brandon Clinton, M.S.W.
Adjunct Lecturer in Sociology-Family Studies
bclinton@albright.edu
Carla Abodalo, MS
Senior Instructor of Sociology
610-921-7592
cabodalo@albright.edu
Gwendolyn Seidman, Ph.D.
Gwendolyn Seidman, Professor of Psychology
610-929-6742
gseidman@albright.edu
Brian Jennings, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
610-921-7892
bjennings@albright.edu
Kennon Rice, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Urban Affairs program
610-921-7881
krice@albright.edu
Barton Thompson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
610-921-7593
bthompson@albright.edu
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
SOC 203 Human Services for Families and Children
SOC 261 The Family
SOC 270 Parenting & Technology or SOC 271 Work & Family Conflict
SOC 302 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 311 Domestic Violence
ANT 320 Sex, Gender, & Culture
SOC 382/482 Internship, travel abroad course, or a 400-level approved substitution
Two of the following:
SOC 201 Social Problems
SOC 230 Cultural Sociology
SOC 251 Crime & Deviance
SOC 262 Social Stratification
SOC 291 Environmental Sociology
ANT 101 Introduction to Anthropology
ANT 285 The Human Animal
One of the following:
SOC 470 Immigration & Transnational Families
Combined Family Studies Major
Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
SOC 261 The Family
One of the following intermediate courses:
SOC 203 Human Services for Families and Children
SOC 270 Parenting & Technology
SOC 271 Work and Family Conflict
SOC 302 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 311 Domestic Violence
SOC ANT 320 Sex, Gender, & Culture
One of the following advanced application courses:
SOC 470 Immigration & Transnational Families
Students are also encouraged to complete an internship as an elective.
Why Family Studies?
For better or for worse, we are all part of a family! Families are universally important social institutions both historically and contemporarily. Additionally, the majority of families around the world have certain things in common: relating people biologically and socially while organizing reproduction, care, and residence. It is also important to understand the impact on society when the family does not fulfill its role.
Family studies is the study of family systems and their relationship to the development and social participation of their members, as well as the social institutions that both shape and sometimes replace family functions. This major focuses on understanding the family as a social group and the dynamics of family participation in American society as well as in a global context. Students are introduced to the theory of group formation, the external forces that impinge upon family functioning and the methods that can be used to measure and anticipate family dysfunctions.
Family studies also pairs nicely with several other majors on campus, helping students to dig deeper and broaden their horizons. Co-majoring with psychology, political science and elementary education are popular choices.
Visit Sociology & Anthropology for course descriptions.