Course Title:
| Marital and Couples Counseling | |
Required Texts and Readings:
|
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Long, L.L., Young, M.E. (2006). Counseling and Therapy for Couples (2nd ed.). Wadsworth.
Weeks, G.R., Treat. S.R. (2001). Couples in Treatment: Techniques and Approaches for Effective Practice (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge. | |
Supplementary Readings:
| All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
| A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are available from the UMUC Europe online library at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/library/ | |
Course Description:
| Prerequisite: PSYC 502. This course explores theoretical applications regarding marital and couples counseling with a strong focus on clinical application, including case conceptualization, hypothesis building and therapeutic technique. Formerly GUCO 843. | |
Course Goals:
| Counselors who work in clinical settings and schools, including agencies, hospitals and private practice need skills in the area of couples counseling. This course is built upon prerequisite clinical knowledge and skills and is designed to establish a background for doing marital and couples counseling. | |
Course Objectives:
|
At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of specific theories of marital and couples counseling with a focus on structural and strategic counseling.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of systemic and developmental frameworks applied to marital and couples counseling, including gender, sexuality and multicultural factors.
3. Identify, analyze and utilize appropriate clinical skills consistent with the analysis of appropriate marital and couples treatment and/or diagnostic models.
4. Demonstrate appreciation of the role of research in marital and couples counseling.
5. Demonstrate understanding of current professional/legal issues and ethical standards in working with couples.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of evaluating effective marital and couples counseling. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 - 100% B 80 – 89% C 70 – 79% F 69% and Below
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions --% Write graduate level papers or case studies --% Orally/visually present prepared material --% Complete one or more written examination(s) --% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
|
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most ten-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions:You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Write graduate level papers or case studies:You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of coursework from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. APA style is mandatory for all graduate counseling course work. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level work.
Orally/visually present prepared material:You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In an onsite course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In an online class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete one or more written examination(s):The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary for successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used in this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam. | | |
Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Initial meeting: Introductions Review of syllabus Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements Orientation to subject
Second meeting:
Third meeting:
Fourth meeting:
Fifth meeting:
Sixth meeting:
Seventh meeting:
Eighth meeting:
Ninth meeting:
Tenth meeting:
Eleventh meeting:
Twelfth meeting:
Thirteenth meeting:
Fourteenth meeting: Examination
Fifteenth meeting: Student presentations
Sixteenth meeting: Student presentations Course evaluations | |
Academic Policies:
Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Course Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw from a DE course is Friday before the last full week of the course. The last day to withdraw from an on-site course is the last business day before the last class meeting.
Students with disabilities should contct:
Director of Student Services UMUC Europe, UNIT 29216 APO AE 09102 Or: Im Bosseldorn 30, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany Phone: +49-6221-378-299 Email: edstudent_svc@ed.umuc.edu
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity Course Load Exception to Policy Grade Appeal Process Make-up Examinations Nondiscrimination Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.
| |