HSS1210 Modern Love

This course explores relationships in college, focusing on dating, intimacy, and friendships through the lens of systems theory and intersectionality. Students will examine how individual experiences and identity—such as gender, race, and culture— interact with broader social and environmental factors to shape both romantic and platonic relationships. Students will engage in both academic inquiry and personal reflection, critically analyzing their own relationships while grounding insights in theory and research. Topics include dating apps and social media, hookup culture, LGBTQ+ experiences, sexual wellness and empowerment, communication and conflict resolution, and friendships in emerging adulthood. Through a combination of discussions, reflective writing, and small group work, students will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the key dynamics that shape healthy, meaningful relationships, preparing them to navigate these connections in college and beyond.

Credits

4 sh

Course Types

Society

Offered

• Spring

Learning Outcomes

1. • Apply systems theory to understand how friendships, dating, and intimacy are shaped by individual identity and social contexts.
2. • Explore how technology, including social media and dating apps, influences communication and relationship dynamics in college.
3. • Recognize how gender, race, culture, and sexual orientation affect dating, friendships, and hookup culture.
4. • Interpret and analyze research on relationships to challenge myths and build a foundation for informed decision-making.
5. • Develop personal reflection skills to better understand our own relationships, friendships, and communication styles.
6. • Build and practice effective communication skills, including how to express needs, resolve conflicts, and engage in healthy conversations about sex, intimacy, and relationships.