COUN 5351:
Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy
Fall 2006
Instructor: Colleen M. Connolly, Ph.D. Office: Ed 4045
Phone: (512) 245-8677 Office hours: By Appointment
E-mail: cconnolly@txstate.edu OR M: 2:30-3:45 at San Marcos
cc32@txstate.edu (goes to the same mailbox) T: 2:15-3:15 at RRHEC
W: 1:00-3:45 at San Marcos
Course Description:
This course provides students with information regarding special issues in marriage and family therapy, including: grief and loss, domestic violence, substance abuse in the family, GLBT issues, divorce, and re-parenting.
Corequisite: COUN 5689 or COUN 5389.
Through participation in this class, the student is expected to achieve the following goals and objectives:
Required Text:
Carter, B., & McGoldrick, M. (2005). The expanded family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives (3 rd ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon.
ISBN: 0-205-40981-4
Additional reading will be required. Readings will be provided in class, downloaded to blackboard, or placed on reserve.
Please Note: The Professional Counseling Program is both academic and experiential. Therefore, the student must demonstrate more than cognitive abilities. Evaluation using the Professional Counseling Performance Evaluation (PCPE) may be implemented when students demonstrate skills and/or characteristics that are not consistent with the counseling program’s standards. (A copy of this form is included on the university website.) This PCPE evaluation will supersede all other requirements for this class, and no credit for the class may be earned in the event that an “O,” showing inconsistency for the program standards, is indicated. In addition, a Faculty Review may be suggested to help the student understand and/or achieve program standards. (Please see the Texas State Graduate Catalog and the Professional Counseling Program: Student Handbook for a more complete description of this process).
Course Requirements and Grading:
This course involves a variety of instructional methods including lecture, seminar discussion, small group discussion, and student presentations.
Student Performance Evaluation Criteria and Procedures:
A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 F = 69 and below |
Please note that to pass this graduate level class, a grade of “B” or higher must be earned. In other words, a grade of “C” means that the class must be taken over in order to receive credit. |
25% Midterm exam
25% Final exam
30% Special issues research paper
10% Presentation of information gleaned from research paper and co-facilitation of discussion
10% Demonstration of readings and research through class discussion and/or blackboard discussion
1. Midterm Examination (25 percent):
The midterm examination will cover the first half of the semester. We will have a brief review/consolidation of pertinent areas the week before the exam.
2. Final Examination (25 percent):
The final exam will not be comprehensive but will cover the second half of the semester. We will have a brief review/consolidation of pertinent areas the week before the exam.
3. Special issues research paper (30%):
You will research a special issue (topics will be discussed in class). You will focus your research paper on the current issues of your selected topic as it pertains to relationship and family therapy. You will gain pre‑approval of this topic from the professor. You will research the topic thoroughly and include a minimum of ten (10) scholarly sources you consider the most pertinent to your topic and the family therapy field that have been written in the last five years. These ten articles or professional book chapters must be 1) within the last five years, 2) scholarly in nature (i.e., no “pop psychology” – examples provided on blackboard), and 3) the most relevant in the professional literature to your topic as it pertains to couple, relational, and family therapy. Include all standard APA components including a cover page, abstract, body of paper, and references. You may include as many other, older articles/book chapters as you wish to make your research paper comprehensive in its scope.
Please note: Each research paper must be consistent with graduate level writing in the use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and follow the rules standardized in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5 th ed). It must be computer-generated, courier 12, and double-spaced. The recommended length for the body of the paper is 10 pages. You may seek assistance from the Texas State Writing Center.
You will be evaluated on the following:
4. Presentation of information gleaned from research paper and co‑facilitation of discussion (10%)
Create a handout for each colleague within the class and two for the professor. This one- to two-page handout will be in outline form, with the APA reference citations for each pertinent point. You will be asked to provide a brief summary of the information gleaned from your research to the class and you will co‑facilitate with the professor the discussion around that topic. This presentation will demonstrate your ability to critically analyze scholarly writings, and the handout will provide a useful resource for those within the class. The co‑facilitation of discussion will demonstrate your understanding and integration of the material. Bring copies of the articles used in your research paper/presentation to class and provide to the professor prior to your presentation. The articles will be returned to you.
5. Demonstration of readings and research through class discussion and/or blackboard discussion (10%)
6. Class attendance, punctuality, and participation:
Attendance, punctuality, and participation are important components of the evaluative process and will be considered when assigning grades. Attend class fully prepared, readings completed, and ready to participate.
It is expected that students will attend all classes. Only absences due to emergency or illness are considered excused. If an emergency or illness arises, contact me immediately via email. Be prepared to provide verification. You will be responsible for contacting me about additional work necessary to compensate for an excused or unexcused class absence.
One unexcused absence, or failure to make arrangements for additional work, results in 5 points taken off your final grade. Two unexcused absences, or failure to make arrangements for additional work, results in 10 points taken off your final grade. If you miss more than two classes, excused or unexcused, the highest grade possible is a “C,” which means you do not received graduate level credit for the course and you will have to reregister for the class.
Please arrive to class on time. Each late arrival or early departure will count as one-third of a class absence and will be considered excused or unexcused based on the above criterion.
Timely submission of work:
All projects will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date. Late submissions are not acceptable and grades will be reduced dramatically based on the degree of lateness and applicable circumstances.
Blackboard:
I will post handouts on blackboard for you to download. I also may post announcements on blackboard, although if the message is time sensitive, I typically also send an email. Go to blackboard and confirm that the listed email address is the one you use most frequently. If you need any help with blackboard, you can contact 245-help.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Texas State University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001, 5 th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
http://writingcenter.english.txstate.edu/
http://www.counseling.org/PDFs/ACA_2005_Ethical_Code.pdf
http://www.iamfc.com/ethical_codes.html