PCO 534 Pre-marital Counseling
Fall 20010 ▪ 3 Credit Hours
2/2/2
9/9-10, 10/7-8, 11/11-12
Professor: Douglas A. Spears, Ph.D. PCC/s (Ohio & Kentucky)
Office Location: Counseling & Family Studies Department
Email:
Phone: 244-8193
Class Location: TBA
Description:
Today in the United States, for every hundred weddings, fifty-four are first marriages for both partners and forty-six are marriages in which at least one partner has been married previously. The couples who marry today not only have different relational/marital histories but also come from families with varying marital arrangements. This course provides an introduction to the theory, research, and practice of pre-marital counseling. Students will gain an understanding of healthy marriage/family relationships, models of pre-marital counseling, inventories used in pre-marital counseling and the practice of pre-martial counseling. This course will integrate Biblical wisdom with professional counseling approaches to pre-marital and re-marital counseling. Prerequisite: Graduate Student Status
Rationale
CACREP - The material in this course is designed to meet the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) curriculum standards for masters training. The specific standard (II. G.5. a, b, c, e, f) states that students are required to "have curricular experiences and demonstrated knowledge” in the helping relationships.
This course is designed to meet Ohio Law 4757-13-01 (A) (1) (e) (iv) (c) Methods of intervention and prevention of mental and emotional disorders: includes studies of the: Intervention strategies used in different situations such as marriage and family problems.
Objectives:
As a result of this course, students will be able to:
* demonstrate knowledge concerning major developmental transitions in beginning marriage/families and the types of stressful symptoms that accompany these transitions.
* identify characteristics of healthy marriage and families, healthy family structures, and strengths of each marriage and family.
* demonstrate an understanding of relationship histories and "assessment" in pre-marital and re-marital counseling.
* demonstrate knowledge of trends in marriage and family life and problems idiosyncratic to the family structure; i.e., blended families, divorce, etc.
* develop insight and awareness of their own personal assumptions relative to pre-marital and re-marital counseling.
* write a personal theory and practice of pre-marital and re-marital counseling emanating from the course.
* identify types of marriage and family counseling strategies and techniques.
Requirements/Grading
Pre-Marital Counseling Project (80 Points) – A group project based on your philosophy of pre-marital counseling and how you will conduct pre-marital counseling (25-40 pages due 30 days after the last day of class.) Students turning in late papers will receive a 3 point per day reduction in grade. A grading Rubric will be distributed in class.
Participation, Attendance, and Reading Assignments (20 Points)
Grade Scale
This class will use the seminary grading scale. Please refer to the CBC & S Catalog.
Attendance/Tardiness
Your attendance in class is important. You may not miss any class time without penalty. If you miss more than four hours of class time you will be dropped from the course and will be required to apply for readmission to the class. A decision about your request to return to the class will be decided by the counseling academic committee.
If you are 15 minutes late for a class you will receive a ¼ day absence, if you are 30 minutes late you will be counted as absent for ½ day, and over 45 minutes late will equal a one-day absence. This policy will be enforced to encourage students to make their education a priority.
Guidelines for Course Work
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE THIS COURSE. The course assignments are planned to support your learning and none of them should be dismissed as unimportant.
Reading Assignments and Due Dates
Handed out first day of class.
Policy on Academic Integrity
If you cheat on an exam or turn in work that is not your own you will receive a 0 (zero) for that work, and the counseling academic committee and academic standards committee may take additional action. Please refer to your seminary handbook for complete details on the seminary policy on academic integrity.
Guidelines on Missed Work or Exams
Written assignments will be accepted late, but there will be a 10% per day penalty on all late work. Exams will not be given late unless there is a personal medical emergency or a family emergency. When the student is ill on the day of an exam he or she will have one week to make arrangements with the professor for taking the exam. The professor reserves the right to reduce the grade for the exam.
Required Texts:
Wright, Norman (1998). Pre-marital Counseling Handbook. Chicago: Moody Press.
*Please have this book read before the beginning of class.
Methods and Procedures:
Lecture, Class Participation, Readings, Assessment Activities
Disclaimer:
The professor in agreement with the MAC Academic Committee, reserves the right to change or amend any part of this course plan as deemed necessary to offer the best possible educational experience for students.
CHRISTIAN COMPONENT
Throughout this course we will evaluate the material presented from a Christian perspective. We expect that you will evaluate all readings, lectures, assignments, and class discussions from a Christian perspective and work to integrate biblical truth into your life, thought, and work. We will strive to provide a biblically based approach to ministry.
Topics To Be Discussed
Developments in Pre-Marital Counseling and Re-Marital Counseling
History of Pre-Marital Counseling
Foundations and Goals of Marriage
Exploring the Family of Origin and Previous Relationships
Pre-Marital Counseling as Counseling or Education/ Strategies and Techniques
Pre-Marital Counseling Inventories
Models/ Pre-Marital Counseling
Healthy and Dysfunctional Characteristics of Families
Special Topics
Remarriage and Stepparenting
Group Pre-Marital Counseling
Research in Marriage and Family