Family Development – EDCO 815

Course Description

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

An exposure to theories, structures, concepts, and frameworks associated with the family is essential to understanding family development. This exposure demonstrates relevancy to real life and brings order to family life in the twenty-first century. This course provides an intersection of theories, concepts, and principles with practical application to everyday life to equip the student in pastoral care and counseling environments for productive ministry.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

The purpose of the Discussions is to promote the student's thinking about the course materials as he/she expands his/her conception of family development. As a basis for the student's reflection/evaluation/application, he/she will be asked to review and interact with course materials assigned in the associated module(s). The student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. The initial threads must be at least 400 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and include at least 2 scholarly references. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to a minimum of 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words and include at least 1 scholarly reference in current APA format.

Reading Report Assignments (4)

This assignment will ensure the student is completing the required readings for the course. In addition, the student will provide a summary of his/her readings in APA format for each report.

Perceived Versus Informed Concepts of Family Development Concept Paper Assignment

This assignment will help the student to conceptualize and identify elements comprising an informed understanding of family development. The assignment concludes with a contrast of the student’s perceived concept of family development to his/her informed understanding of family development based upon the readings from Module 1: Week 1–Module 3: Week 3. The paper must be 5–7 pages in current APA format.

Personal Theory of Family Development: Concept Paragraph and Outline Assignment

The student will write a Concept Paragraph and Outline in preparation for his/her Personal Theory of Family Development: Final Paper Assignment. The paper must include 8–10 sources in current APA format.

Personal Theory of Family Development: Final Paper Assignment

This assignment provides the student with an opportunity to research, formulate, and express his/her understanding of family development. In a well-written 12–15-page paper, the student will present his/her personal theory of family development for use in a marriage and family counseling environment and utilize the resources of the course texts, course materials, and other supporting sources in current APA format.