Multidisciplinary perspectives of ethics, social norms, family law, family policy, family economics, and family decision-making. Focuses on differing perspectives of individuals representing various ethnicities, socio-economic levels, religions, and sexual orientations.

1. Identify the conceptual and policy distinctions between societal ethical issues and interpersonal moral dilemmas.
2. Examine societal ethical issues and moral dilemmas integral to family functioning.
3. Appreciate how ethical and moral issues continuously arise across the family life course in diverse family systems.
4. Apply alternative ethical perspectives to family moral dilemmas, including absolutist-principle, relativist-relational, environmental, and virtue ethics.
5. Explore the perspective-taking processes of moral problem solving in the family context using family decision-making, and justice theories.
6. Analyze the interface of societal ethical issues and moral dilemmas in families from the viewpoints of systems theories.
7. Understand that ethical issues and moral dilemmas have multiple policy dimensions and implications.
8. Complete an in-depth study of a chosen controversy that involves family functioning at one or more of the life stages, and write a paper demonstrating understanding of the ethical perspectives, policy dimensions, and practice implications.

Bredehoft, David J. & Walcheski, M.J. (2003). Family life education: Integrating theory and practice. Minneapolis, Minnesota: National Council on Family Relations. Houlgate,

Houlgate, Laurence, E. (1998). Morals, marriage, and parenthood: An introduction to family ethics. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.