LIFC 302 Marriage Coaching

An examination and analysis of professional coaching applications that serve marital relationship concerns. The course covers marital issues from a Christian worldview with special attention given to a biblical foundation of marriage coaching and differences between coaching and counseling models.

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

As a basis for their work, marriage coaches should have a thorough understanding of coaching models, theory, and application. This understanding serves to heighten the coaches’ effectiveness in formulating effective coaching strategies and in aiding in the delivery of advice in an efficient and timely manner.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Regular readings will be assigned to allow the student to complete the reading of the required texts within each Module: Week allotted for the course. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to post 1 thread of 250–500 words and 2 replies of 150–200 words each for each Discussion. For each thread, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 1 Scripture reference and 1 reference to a course textbook. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 citation. Current APA format must be used. Acceptable sources for the replies include the textbook, the Bible, and scholarly journal articles that have been published within the last 5 years. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Case Study Assignments (2)

In each case study assignment, the student will apply theoretical concepts from the course to a real-world scenario, allowing the student to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice. This assignment is designed to deepen the student’s understanding of key course themes by analyzing a specific case relevant to marriage coaching. Through this process, the student will enhance his/her critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Competencies that are essential in both academic and professional settings. Each review must be 500–700 words, include at least 2 textbook citations, and be in current APA format. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Handwritten Genogram: Mapping Your Family System Assignment

A genogram is a visual representation of family relationships, patterns, and dynamics across generations. This tool can be used in marriage and family coaching to help individuals and couples understand how family history, roles, and relational patterns influence current behaviors and relationships. In this assignment, the student will create a handwritten genogram of his/her own family system, with at least 3 generations represented. The student will utilize the proper genogram symbols to indicate the relationships represented and provide annotations depicting the relational dynamics and highlighting key patterns. The student will upload his/her handwritten genogram as a .JPG, .JPEG, or .PNG image file. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Final Integration Project: Family Systems and Coaching Strategies Assignment

This final integration project is designed to synthesize the key concepts and practical tools the student has explored throughout the course, particularly from the Case Study Assignments and the Handwritten Genogram Assignment. As a future marriage coach, the student’s ability to analyze relational dynamics, identify generational patterns, and apply coaching strategies is essential. This project challenges the student to integrate theory with personal insight and practical application. This project must be 550–700 words, include at least 5 scholarly citations with at least 2 citations being from the course textbooks, and be in current APA format. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Quizzes (4)

The quizzes will cover the assigned reading. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 30–50 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a time limit of 1 hour and 30 minutes. (CLO: A, C, D)