Welcome to Family 400!

Course Description

This course will take an in-depth look at various family theories, including systems theory, exchange theory, family development theory, symbolic interactionism, and others, and will explore some of the assumptions associated with each one. It will examine family processes, such as those related to power, communication, dysfunctions and addictions, rules and patterns of interaction, distance regulation, and family rituals through the lens of each theory's unique perspective. Understanding the perspective and strengths of each theory will bring insight into how to develop intervention and prevention programs to help families in crisis.

Purpose of the Class

The things learned in FAML 400 will help you gain a clearer understanding of the purpose and power of theories as they provide insight into marriage and family life. As you learn to evaluate both the strengths and challenges of these theoretical perspectives, you will also learn how to actually use those theories to improve various aspects of marriage and family dynamics.

Pre-requisites

If you do not have a junior or senior status, you will need permission from the instructor to take this course.

Course Outcomes

1) Differentiate between the following three philosophies of science: 2) Discuss the nature and development of theory, including: 3) Understand the relationship between theory and research. 


4) Understand the main content and concepts of the following theories:

5) Identify the strengths and/or deficiencies of each theory's ability to explain family dynamics.

6) Describe key elements of family dynamics across a range of family issues such as:

7) Be able to use appropriate theoretical perspectives to address those family dynamics.

Course Architecture

In an online course, regular and sustained attention to the course is critical. You will need to be attentive to the reading assignments, course activities, supplemental resources, and deadlines. This course is organized into modules, each addressing a different theory. Some modules contain one lesson, while others contain two lessons. You will finish one lesson each week. The first lesson (Introductory Lesson) will help orient you to the course and give you time to practice using the online tools. You will wrap up the course in the Conclusion Lesson by submitting your final assignments and assessments.

Each lesson:

Note on Course Architecture: Course activities have been labeled with the following designations: Preparation Materials (PM), Application Exercises (AE), and Ponder and Prove (PP). These descriptions help indicate the flow and order of each lesson's assignments as you work to complete the activities. Understanding the role each activity plays in your mastery of the course content will help ensure you complete all of the assignments on time.

Even though this course is online, it is not an independent study course. You will be expected to interact with classmates and others in order to teach them about what you are learning by participation, especially in the Teach One Another activities. Teach One Another activities can provide some of the most powerful experiences in the course if you will put your best effort into them.

This online course is designed to give you significant exposure to the course content. In order to do well, you should expect to spend 3-4 hours weekly for every credit earned. Therefore, you will need to be able to commit 9-12 hours each week to this course. If you are unable to commit to the time demands this semester, please consider taking the class during another semester when you will be able to commit the necessary time to completing the workload.

This course will expose you to several theories of family dynamics and interaction that will help you begin to know how to address family problems. Not all of these ideas and skills will come easily; it takes a lot of work and practice to master them. So you should not be surprised to find that it may take you a little time to comprehend these ideas. Just be patient. As you approach the end of the course, the ideas will start to come together, and you will see how much progress you have really made. You will understand the power to help others that comes with understanding these theories, and you will see the payoff in your persistence in learning them.

Remember, when you are prepared, the Holy Spirit can provide guidance and direction that will make a difference in your life. As you interact with others, please remember to be kind, considerate, and respectful. Any violation of basic common courtesy—including interaction with the instructor or other classmates—will negatively impact your grade.

Read the following article as a reminder of the promises and warnings Elder Bednar addressed concerning entitlement.

Course Activities

Due Monday of the Current Lesson Week, 8:00 AM

Study Groups: Research shows that students perform more effectively when they have the opportunity to work in Study Groups. You will be divided into 3 separate Study Groups throughout this course. Your participation in this Study Group will be due on Thursdays for the initial post and Monday for subsequent posts.

Student Video Presentations: You will be working with a partner to prepare a video-based learning experience for the class sometime during the semester. Find good video clips that exemplify some of the principles and processes of the theory/topic you are teaching. Your video presentation should not exceed 10 minutes. You will sign up for a topic the first week of the class. You and your partner should discuss how to best explain the principles and processes of your chosen theory. Take time to look at and explain several parts of the theory, not just one or two.

Your presentation will be graded on the following criteria:

Your presentation must be posted for the class to view on the Monday after the topic has been studied. Your classmates will need the video to complete their own assignments, so you must post your presentation on time.

Due Thursday of the Current Lesson Week, 11:59 PM

Preparation Materials: The nature of this course's subject matter can sometimes be intellectually challenging. Although the concepts of each theory are not inherently difficult, in order to apply the theory, you will need to spend time in thought and reflection. You can do this by reviewing the lesson preparation materials, reflecting on the assigned readings, viewing any supplemental materials, and preparing for the reading quizzes.

Reading Quiz: These quizzes will help you focus on the most important information from the preparation materials. The quizzes consist of multiple choice and a few essay/short answer questions.

Student Video Response: Each week beginning in Lesson 04, you will respond to two student presentations that will be posted each Monday. Discuss the presentations with others and give feedback by pointing out the strengths of the presentation, asking follow-up questions, or suggesting how the presentation might be improved.

Supplemental videos and PowerPoints: Many lessons have supplemental videos and/or PowerPoint presentations. They are in the course to help you grasp key concepts. Although some of these resources do not require you to take a quiz or turn in an assignment, you will not do well on the unit exams without understanding this material, so be sure you study and understand the additional resources. Use your study groups to discuss them.

Due Monday of the Following Week, 8:00 AM

Discuss with a Friend: Each week, you will need to spend some time discussing what you are learning with others, both inside and outside of class. Teaching someone else what you are learning will help you understand the course content better and retain the information. It is also an opportunity to help others by improving their understanding of family and marriage dynamics. Begin now to think of friends with whom you might share what you are learning.

Application Exercises: These exercises vary from lesson to lesson. Some examples of Application Exercises include case studies, discussion boards, and/or theory application papers. Each exercise is designed to help you understand the material and give you the opportunity to apply what you are learning to explain the behaviors of individuals and families. If there are concepts that you need help with, get clarification by discussing the material with others, rather than continuing in confusion. You may do this through your study groups or in the Questions & Conversations Discussion Boards each week.

Weekly Report: This short report will allow you to give important feedback about what you are doing each week and how you are completing the assignments. Because the reports are a summary of what you have done throughout the week, they will not open until Thursday of the week that they are due.

Exams: There are three exams in this class. Exam 1 will include only the material in Lesson 01–Lesson 06. Exam 2 will include the material from Lesson 07–Lesson 11. The Final Exam in Lesson 14 is comprehensive and will include material from the entire course.

Course Materials

Course Text

GRADING POLICIES
Your final grade will be based on participation, as well as mastery of all the assignments and assessments throughout the semester.

Final Grade Breakdown

A 93-100% C 73-76%
A- 90-92% C- 70-72%
B+ 89-87% D+ 67-69%
B 83-86% D 63-66%
B- 80-82% D- 60-62%
C+ 77-79% F 59% and below

GRADING SUMMARY

CLASS POLICIES

Course Questions/Problems/Concerns

This course has a Questions & Conversations Discussion Board in each lesson where you can post general questions, problems, concerns, etc. Please use this board in each lesson. If you know the answer to a problem, please post solutions. Helping to solve your classmates' problems is another way to teach one another. Additionally, your instructor will use this board to communicate with you. So check back often to learn of any changes to the course.

This course also has a News Feeds for Announcements page from your instructor. The announcements will contain important information, reminders, tips, and changes about which you need to be aware.

Note: You should only email your instructor directly if the problem is of a personal nature or your instructor informs you that is the way he/she would like to be made aware of questions, problems, or concerns.

Late Work Policy

Assignments are due on the day indicated. Work that is late hampers your ability to fully participate in the course and will be accepted only at your instructor's discretion. No late work will be accepted without first obtaining permission from the instructor. Inform your instructor before the assignment is due. Any late work that is accepted is subject to a penalty as determined by your instructor.

The University has established and posted policies concerning Sexual Harassment, Plagiarism, and Disabilities Services. Please review the following, so you are familiar with them:

Disclaimers

The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place, so pay attention to communication from your instructor.