This class is a straightforward grade booster if you memorize key statistics from lecture slides and pull direct references from the readings for your exams and term paper. The curriculum heavily emphasizes traditional, conservative views on marriage and gender roles, which many students value as practical, real-world advice, while others find the material outdated or frustratingly one-sided. Attendance is strictly tracked with clicker questions, but you can generally coast through the coursework without completing every assigned reading as long as you know how to cite the core concepts on tests. Your experience will heavily depend on your assigned teaching assistant, since grading fairness and discussion engagement vary dramatically across sections. Take this course if you want a manageable workload and a traditional perspective on family life, but be prepared to navigate views that may directly challenge progressive beliefs.
The class was very interesting and offered a perspective on marriage, courtship, and the family that you won't encounter often at a university. Wilcox was a little skewed towards conservative views, but his lecture material was engaging and thought-provoking. I definitely recommend to take it with Wilcox if you're in a serious dating relationship or if you're considering marriage any time soon.
This class was so boring. Professor Wilcox was very monotone in his lectures. It was very easy though. I have heard the other professors make this class very interesting. Grade based on midterm, final, paper, discussion, and debate in discussion.
