Premarital and Marital Counseling – PACO 603

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course introduces students to the factors contributing to successful marital relationships. The course also teaches students a conceptual model for assessing relationship functionality and introduces them to short-term methods that can be used when those kinds of problems develop. Students will be challenged to articulate a clinically informed biblical counseling approach to pre-marital counseling. 

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

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 create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be at least 300 words and must demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 1 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Quiz: Prepare/Enrich Sessions (3)

Each quiz will cover the online 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. For each quiz, the student must submit a pdf or a Word document with a screenshot showing that the quizzes has been successfully completed. (CLOs: A, B, D, E)

Quiz: Prepare/Enrich Certification (quizzes 10-12)

The student will complete sessions utilizing the online PREPARE/ENRICH Training Kit (using the on-demand promo code) to obtain certification. Evidence of certification must be submitted to the instructor in the course. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Paper

Each student will select a premarital couple that will serve as subjects for the student-facilitator. The facilitator will register the couple for the computer administration of Prepare/Enrich. Afterwards an analysis will be written based upon the PrePare/Enrich facilitator report. (CLOs: B, C, E)

Quiz: SYMBIS Certification

The student will complete the online SYMBIS Training Kit to obtain certification. Evidence of certification must be submitted via screenshot to show the instructor that the certification was successfully completed. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Premarital Counseling Curriculum Draft Assignment

For this assignment, each student will begin develop a working premarital curriculum leading to a Final Draft submitted later in the course. (CLOs: A, B, C, E)

Premarital Curriculum Project Final Draft Assignment

For this assignment, each student will develop a working premarital curriculum. It must be designed and presented as a PowerPoint presentation. This is an opportunity for the student to create a curriculum that will help couples accurately assess their compatibility for marriage as well as help them navigate their first three years of marriage successfully. The curriculum must cover 8–12 weeks and have a minimum of 35 slides. In addition, the student must use current statistics, Scripture, and at least 5 resources to support the curriculum. A Reference or Bibliography slide at the end of the PowerPoint must be included. Specific guidelines are provided in the Assignment Instructions folder in the course. (CLOs: A, B, C, E)