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PREMARITAL COUNSELING
CNS 562K; 1 credit hours
Western Seminary – Portland
Norman Thiesen, Ph.D., Professor
503 517-1864;
Syllabus -Summer 2014
COURSE SCHEDULE
June 27, 1PM-9PM; June 28, 8AM-4PM
The basic class pattern from the Department of Education is distributed between direct instructional time and homework time in a 1 to 2 ratio. Another way to say it is for every hour of instruction (seat time), there will be 2 hours of homework or individual learning activity time. This is how it would breakdown:
Credits / Instructional hours / Homework hours / Total time1 / 15 / 30 / 45
2 / 30 / 60 / 90
3 / 45 / 90 / 135
4 / 60 / 120 / 180
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on the rationale, tools, and procedures for premarital education and counseling. The student will be credentialed in the use of Prepare/Enrich materials.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course the student should be able to:
- Use the Prepare/Enrich assessment in premarital counseling.
- Create a premarital education program.
- Plan a premarital counseling program.
- Discuss the value and role of premarital counseling in marital success.
TEXTBOOKS
David Olsen, Olsen-Sigg, Larson, The Couple Checkup (2008) ISBN 978-0-7852-2827-1 $14.85
Prepare/Enrich Training Manual (supplied at beginning of certification training)
"If you are registered for credit, you will pay the materials fee on the first day of class. If you are
registered for non-credit, the materials fee was included when you paid for the course."
Suggested: Wright, Norm. The Premarital Counseling Handbook
You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com associate program; you may use the links provided above, or the search option found on the Western website under “Current Students/Portland”:
ONLINE CLASSROOM
This class has an online classroom. Your first class assignment is to access this website and take a simple quiz confirming your participation in the course. You may also be asked to use the learning center to download handouts and submit assignments.
To access the site, go to Click on ‘login’ (on the right above the calendar), use your student number for your username, and the password you received from the school. For a replacement password, click on ‘forgot your password’ or contact Jon Raibley: . The on-line classroom will go live no later than the first Monday of the semester.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Online Orientation (15 min.)
Before the end of the first Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the web classroom, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the online orientation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
2. Movie (3 hours)
Watch “Fiddler on the Roof” - preferably before attending class. Provide a statement that you have watched the movie for this assignment.
3. Text (15 hours)
Read text and write a 2 page personal reaction paper (not a review) to the book.
4. Library Research (3 hours)
Create a handout to present to premarital couples of a reading list of at least 10 books that you would suggest as helpful in their first years of marriage. Provide a short statement (3-4 sentences) as to the reason this book is on your list.
Create a handout to present to premarital couples of at least 10 internet sites that might be helpful to them. Provide a short statement (same as above) as to the reasons this site is on your list.
5. Couple Assessment (5 hours)
Give a Prepare/Enrich assessment to a couple. Provide 2 sessions of feedback on their results. If possible tape your session and review your presentation. Write a 3 page paper review/analysis of your performance (feedback/coaching) of the couple using the Prepare/Enrich.
If only able to do 1 feedback session: Interview another couple that has been married for at least 3 years on their premarital preparation. Reflecting on it, what was helpful, what wasn’t, what learn, what wish had, etc. Using materials from the lectures and readings write a 2 page critique of their premarital preparation.
6. Handouts (3 hours)
Read articles provided and write a ½ page reaction/interaction to each article.
7. Final Course Evaluation (15 min.)
Before the end of the last Friday of the semester, you will receive an email with a link to the final course evaluation. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the final course evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
GRADING
This is the grading scale that we have decided to use throughout the system. Please enter this in your syllabus as is.
A+ / A / A- / B+ / B / B- / C+ / C / C- / D+ / D / D-99-100% / 95-98% / 93-94% / 91-92% / 88-90% / 86-87% / 84-85% / 81-83% / 79-80% / 77-78% / 74-76% / 70-73%
Required Assignments / Points / Estimated Time to Complete
Online Orientation / 5 / 15 min.
Movie / 10 / 3 hours
Text / 25 / 13 hours
Library Research / 15 / 3 hours
Couple Assessment / 40 / 6 hours
Handouts / 20 / 4 hours
Final Course Evaluation / 5 / 15 min.
Totals / 120 / 30 hours
COURSE SCHEDULE
Dates / Topics / Assignment DatesJune 27 / Course Introduction
Importance of topic
Prepare/Enrich training / Movie
June 28 / Premarital research
Premarital assessments
Premarital delivery
July 3 / Library Research
July 15 / Text
Handouts
Aug 1 / Couple Assessment
Aug. 12-16 / Log onto learning center and complete final course evaluation
Journals
Marriage and Family: A Christian JournalJournal of Sex and Marriage Therapy
Journal of Marriage and FamilyJournal of Family Psychology
American Journal of Family TherapyJournal of Social and Personal Relationships
Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who miss class are responsible for missed work. Absences and tardiness may impact a student’s grade. Students who anticipate an absence should discuss it in advance with the instructor. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course, without a request for and the completion of additional assignments. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student’s letter grade for that assignment.
Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Copyright violation and plagiarism have serious ramifications for Western Seminary students, both legally and ethically. Unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. Plagiarizing another's words or ideas (passing them off as your own) can result in loss of grade of failure. For a fuller explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the Copyright Issues and Cheating" section of the Student Handbook:
Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.)
If students face a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester’s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
Audit/Enrichment Students: Enrichment students are encouraged, but not obligated, to participate in assignments and class discussions. Professors are not obligated to grade participation for these students, but may opt to do so depending on class size.
The Availability of Disability Services at Western Seminary: Western Seminary is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined in both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Western students are assisted individually as their needs dictate. It is the responsibility of students with disabilities to identify themselves and the nature of the disability. Any student who has a disability should contact the seminary’s Disability (Section 504) Coordinator, Ashley Mitchell, at 503-517-1819/1-877-517-1800, ext. 1819. Her office is at the Portland campus. Students at the northern California campuses may contact Student Services Coordinator – San Jose or Director of Student Services – Sacramento, or they may contact Ms Mitchell directly. Appropriate forms will be provided and must be submitted to the Disability Coordinator’s office.