A description is presented of a nursing course entitled "The Family: Nursing Perspectives in Birth and Parenting." Introductory sections provide a brief course description, and information on curricular placement, class assignments, and the targeted student population. Next, the course content section emphasizes the interrelationship between health and the family examined in the course; presents long-range course goals and objectives, and end-of-course objectives; and lists course units and classes. Then, instruction materials, including texts, manuals, and audio-visual materials, and a bibliography of library materials, are listed. Next, the units of instruction are presented. Unit I, The Family in Society, includes classes in socio-cultural and health perspectives; family structure and identities; psychological perspectives; and normative and pathological adaptations. Unit II, The Family: Member Autonomy, focuses on growth to personal health, the effect of pregnancy on the family, parent-newborn interaction, and transition to parenthood. Unit III deals with Families under Stress: Propensity to Illness. Each section includes student goals and objectives, and reading lists and assignments. The final sections provide evaluation procedures for student achievement and instructor performance, and information on course revision and student completion methods. (HB)