Premarital and Marital Counseling – HSMF 603

Course Description

This course introduces students to a variety of approaches that have been developed for thorough premarital counseling. The course also teaches students a conceptual model for understanding the variety of ways marriages can become dysfunctional, and introduces them to short-term methods that can be used when those kinds of problems develop.

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

Rationale

Christian and secular experts agree that marriages are failing at a 50% or higher rate in the United States of America. This course provides the student with the requisite skills and knowledge to assist couples through crises and to develop healthy, vibrant marriages.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussion Assignments (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be at least 400 words and must demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to respond to the threads as outlined in the course. Where appropriate, each reply must be at least 200 words.

Quizzes: PREPARE/ENRICH Sessions (12)

Each quiz will cover the PREPARE/ENRICH material for the modules in which it is assigned. Each quiz allows multiple attempts, and must be passed to obtain PREPARE/ENRICH certification. The student must submit a screenshot of the screen showing that each quiz has been successfully completed.

PREPARE/ENRICH Certification

The student will complete sessions utilizing the online PREPARE/ENRICH Training Kit to obtain certification. Evidence of certification must be submitted to the instructor in Canvas.

Book Critique Assignment

The student will write a 5–7-page book critique of Deal's book, Dating and the Single Parent, in current APA format that focuses on dating and single parenting as presented in the textbook. The paper must include citations and scholarly references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.

Case Study: Final Assignment

The student will write a 9–12-page paper in current APA format that details a clinical analysis to support a conflicted couple. The paper must include at least 8 references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.

The student will submit an outline of the Assessment Case Study in order to receive instructor feedback prior to the final submission. The Case Study outline will provide the framework for the final paper, incorporate 8 references, and overview a plan to support a conflicted couple.