Course Syllabus

Course Description

This is an introductory and required course for all students desiring to obtain a major in Marriage and Family (MF). This class is inappropriate for those who aren't seeking a certificate or degree in Marriage and Family Studies. The course includes an overview of historical and current scientific, societal, and family issues related to the family sciences. Applications will be made to career and advanced educational opportunities as well as family, church, and community settings.

Course Book & Other Required Materials

  1. Download the free booklet "Career in Family Science."
  2. Reading assignments will be posted in each lesson.
  3. You must have access to a computer and a webcam.

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to this help guide article.

Course Load

This course is a one credit course. Because it is offered in the block format (7 weeks), plan to devote 5-6 hours per week to successfully complete the course requirements.

Goals and Objectives

  1. Analyze the purposes, methodologies, and challenges of scientific study in the marriage and family field.
  2. Discuss prevention and intervention approaches for improving marriages and families.
  3. Research career opportunities for marriage and family studies professionals.
  4. Analyze the relationship between professional conduct, ethics, and career growth.

Requirements

  1. Participation. Participate appropriately in group activities (your instructor will assign the groups), discussions, and other instructional experiences. Participate fully, but do not dominate the class discussion. All students must participate.
  2. Professional Writing. You are training to be a professional. Your papers' formatting, content, grammar, spelling, and referencing are expected to be of professional quality. Edit and proofread your papers for each of this professional writing criteria.
  3. Completion of Two Exams. Exams will include material from videos, assigned reading, discussion boards, and lectures; they will consist of objective and short-answer items; and they may be comprehensive.
  4. Student Introduction Paper. You will complete a personal information paper. This is basically a letter of introduction to help the instructor get to know you. Please include your reasons for choosing to be a Marriage and Family Studies major and how you hope to use this degree in the future.
  5. Character Strengths Assessment. You will go to Via Institute on Character, create an account, and complete the Online VIA Survey of Character Strengths (240 questions). You will then do a brief write-up including:
    • An ordered list of your top 24 strengths- discuss whether you agree with the top and bottom five strengths and how they compare to the other strengths.
    • Identify specific ways you could develop and use your top five strengths to serve married couples and families in your career. In other words, identify a specific career you may be interested in and discuss how you could use your strengths to creatively excel in this career. Spend most of your time on this part.
  6. Career Profiles. Every student will research two specific Marriage and Family Studies careers and complete a career profile sheet for each. Use this as a worksheet to gather information about your chosen career.
  7. Ethics Analysis. Students will work in pairs to respond to an ethics case study. This is to help you internalize the ethical guidelines of the profession. Type a paper (one paper per pair) that addresses ALL of the ethical issues in the scenario. Your paper should address:
    • What ethical guidelines apply to the case? List each one from the CFLE Code of Ethics. List as many as you find.
    • Why is it a potential problem in this case? Provide a reason for each guideline.
    • If you were the professional in this case, how should you proceed with helping this family in a way that maintains that specific ethical guideline?
    • For example: "Principle I.1—The part in the case regarding the family life educator yelling at the family and telling them they will have to change or they'll be charged double for their sessions violates Ethical Principle I.1: 'I will be aware of the impact/power we have on parents and family relations.' This is an issue because the family life educator is misusing the power she/he has over the family. If I were the professional in this case and became frustrated with the family, I would be careful not to give mandates that involve me using my p owe r over the family to manipulate them. These manipulations could be threatening to charge them more, threatening to give a negative report to their superiors, or to tell others they are having problems. Instead, I would let the family know of my disappointment, but then work with them to find a better solution."

Grades

Grades are based on the following points. Assignments are worth 50% of your grade. Exams are worth the other 50% of your grade.

Grade Percentages
Assignments Worth 60%
Ice Breaker Activity 5
Student Introduction Paper 5
Career Presentation: 10 pts x 2 presentations 20
Web Pages Search 10
Career Profiles: 10pts x 2 profiles 20
Input Low/High Salary 5
Annual Salary Discussion: 10 pts x 2 parts 20
Character Strengths 10
APA Citations 10
Ethics Analysis 10
Exams Worth 40%
Syllabus Quiz 5
Mid Term Exam 30
Final Exam 30
TOTAL POINTS 180

Grades will be calculated as follows:

Letter Grade Percentages
Letter Grade Percentage Range
A 100% – 93%
A- 92% – 90%
B+ 89% – 87%
B 86% – 83%
B- 82% – 80%
C+ 79% – 77%
C 76% – 73%
C- 72% – 70%
D+ 69% – 67%
D 66% – 63%
D- 62% – 60%
F 59% – 00%

 

Deadlines

Because I-Learn does not scale times to match your local time zone, please note that times are set at 11:59 PM Mountain Time (USA). You will need to be sure your I-Learn profile is set to your local time zoneLinks to an external site. and check your Calendar to see when assignments are due for you. There are 1-2 deadlines to meet per week.

If you are in the Mountain Time Zone, these dates/times are:

  • Wednesday at 11:59 PM
  • Saturday at 11:59 PM.

If you are not in the Mountain Time Zone, these due dates will be adjusted to your time zone if you have updated your Canvas Profile and set your time zone. Once this is done, you may use the Calendar and your To-Do list to see the exact due dates and times for your location.

All assignments are due at one of these two times. You are encouraged to submit your work and complete the reading well before the time it is due. 

The Week 07 Final Exam is due Wednesay at 11:59 (Mountain Time). See Calendar for exact time in your time zone.

Late Work

The standard late policy for this course is to deduct 10% per day late.

Program Statement for Marriage and Family Studies

March 2021

As the world is becoming more diverse in its values and perspectives on marriage and the family, it becomes increasingly important that students and faculty understand our mission as a major in Marriage and Family Studies at BYU-Idaho. Consistent with the University, our mission is to prepare family life professionals to strengthen families throughout the world as true disciples of Jesus Christ, as outlined in the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Regardless of current or future philosophies or practices related to the family unit, the major of Marriage and Family Studies at BYU-Idaho is built upon The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Although this program will explore a variety of views and perspectives on the family, and each student is entitled to his or her own beliefs, it will emphasize research and theory and be guided by eternal truths as taught by the Lord’s prophets. In short, our major strives to follow the admonition from President Dallin H. Oaks that “every generation has its tests and its chance to stand and prove itself. I believe our attitude toward and use of the family proclamation is one of those tests for this generation. I pray for all Latter-day Saints to stand firm in that test.” (from “The Plan and the Proclamation,” October 2017 General Conference)

Department Policy Regarding Intellectual Property and Course Materials

All of the materials in this course are covered by fair use and copyright law and are proprietary (intellectual property). Students are not permitted to sell, post, trade, share, distribute, or send any information contained in this course (including outlines, handouts, syllabi, exams, quizzes, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, audio and video recordings, or images of the same, etc. including your own work for this course) to any parties outside of this course (ie Course Hero, Quizlet, Google Docs, etc.) by any means (e.g., posting, uploading, attachments, etc.) without the express written permission from the creator of these works and the Department Chair. Any of these actions violate the Academic Honesty policies of Brigham Young University-Idaho (please see Academic Honesty) and will be dealt with as such. The materials in this course are also intellectual property and taking any materials from the course and posting them outside of this course in any manner will be construed as theft and distribution of intellectual property. If you engage in any of these actions, or use any of these materials without authorization, the instructor has the right to impose an appropriate academic sanction (e.g., give you a failing grade for the assignment and/or fail you from the course). Additionally, the respective Course Lead, Program Lead, and/or Department Chair also reserve the right to impose appropriate academic sanctions regardless of any imposed by the instructor.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

  • Student Honor
    • Academic Honesty
    • Student Conduct
      • Sexual Harassment
    • Student with Disabilities
    • Complaints and Grievances
    • Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due