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SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION SCIENCES MFTS 533: Family Studies Spring 2009 INSTRUCTOR: Todd M. Edwards, Ph.D. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate Professor Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, Rm. 225F Phone: (619) 260-5963 E-mail: tedwards@sandiego.edu OFFICE HOURS: Mondays, 9:00 - 12:00; Thursdays, 10:00 - 12:00 pm Please schedule appointments by writing your name on the sheet provided on my office door. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course uses a biopsychosocial, systemic framework to examine various topics central to families and their development across the life span. The course examines a wide range of developmental issues important to understanding family functioning (mate selection, marriage, parenting, divorce), with special attention on diversity in family types (stepfamilies, single-parent families, immigrant families). In April, we will travel to Hong Kong, where we will explore cross-cultural perspectives on family loss and grief. An emphasis will be placed on the clinical application of concepts. COURSE GOALS: Through lecture, class discussion and small group activities, the goals of the course are to:
Recognize the theoretical underpinnings of family development.
Comprehend how systemic issues affect family development.
Understand how families cope with normative and non-normative changes across the life span.
Identify ethnic, cultural, gender, sexual orientation, and class differences in family development.
Conceptualize clinical cases with an understanding of family development and learn key interventions to be used in therapy that address development issues.
Contrast the interplay of the therapist’s development with that of the clients’.
2 REQUIRED TEXTS: 1.
Walsh, F. (2003). Normal family processes: Growing diversity and complexity, third edition. New York: Guilford Press.
2.
Newendorp, N. D. (2008). Uneasy reunions: Immigration, citizenship, and family life in post-1997 Hong Kong.. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
3.
Nazario, S. (2007). Enrique’s journey. New York: Random House.
3.
Additional reading on the web (may be downloaded or read online) http://copleylib.sandiego.edu/eres (password: family)
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS: 1.
Read the required readings so that you are prepared to actively participate in class discussions.
2.
5 Questions from Uneasy Reunions After reading the book, please write 5 questions that you would like to ask the author during our conference call.
3.
Family Timeline Paper The Family Timeline Paper is an opportunity for you to reflect on your own family. Please construct a timeline noting significant events in the life of your family of origin (e.g., births, marriages, moves, divorces, illnesses, deaths). In addition to the timeline, I’d like you to choose one of the events on your timeline and write a 8-10 page paper. First, describe the family event. You may want to interview family members to get multiple perspectives on the event. Next, write a brief review of literature that summarizes the clinical and research literature on the event experienced in your family. Finally, compare and contrast your family’s experiences with what you found in the literature. For example, you may decide to write about a significant loss, such as the death of a parent or grandparent. Please follow APA writing guidelines.
4.
Hong Kong Journal. Please keep a journal of your experiences in Hong Kong. Please record your thoughts, emotions, and interactions, with a specific focus on your cross cultural learning experience. Submit your journal to me on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the week we’re in Hong Kong.
5.
There are two exams (mid-term and final).
3 COURSE EVALUATION: The following evaluation procedure is being used for activities conducted during the course: Activity 1. 5 Questions 2. Mid-term Exam 3. Family Timeline Paper 4. Hong Kong Journal 5. Reaction Paper 6. Final Exam Total Grade A (93%) A- (90%) B+ (87%) B (83%) B- (80%) C+ (77%) C (73%) C- (70%) D (60%) F
Possible Points 50 100 100 50 50 100 450 points
Criteria 418-450 405-417 391-404 373-390 360-372 346-359 328-345 315-327 270-314 269 and below
NOTES: 1.
Assignments must be turned in during the class period of the due date. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEYOND ONE WEEK AFTER THE DUE DATE. A 10% penalty will be assessed for each day an assignment is turned in late.
2.
Each student is expected to support academic honesty standards by neither giving nor accepting assistance on tests, and by submitting only his or her own work for credit. Violations of the standards of academic honesty will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
3.
Grade of Incomplete: The grade of Incomplete (“I”) may be recorded to indicate (1) that the requirements of a course have been substantially completed but, for a legitimate reason, a small fraction of the work remains to be completed, and, (2) that the record of the student in the course justifies the expectation that he or she will complete the work and obtain the passing grade by the deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to explain to the instructor the reasons for non-completion of work and to request an incomplete grade prior to the posting of final grades. Students who receive a grade of incomplete must submit all missing work no later than the end of the tenth week of the next regular semester, otherwise the “I” grade will become a permanent “F.”
4.
Requests for Accommodation: Reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be made for course participants with disabilities who require specific instructional and testing modifications. Students with such requirements must identify themselves to the University of San Diego Disability Services Office (619.260.4655) before the beginning of the course. Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ needs, however, performance standards for the course will not be modified in considering specific accommodations.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF DISCUSSION TOPICS:
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I.
CONCEPTUALIZING FAMILIES
JANUARY 26 Introduction to course READING: Begin reading Uneasy reunions FEBRUARY 3 Assessing the Family as a Developmental, Trangenerational System READINGS: Walsh, Chapters 14 & 15 Combrinck-Graham, L. (1985). A developmental model for family systems. Family Process. II.
DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN FAMILIES
FEBRUARY 10 Mate Selection, Commitment, and Marriage READING:
Walsh, Chapter 18 Napier, Chapters 10-12
FEBRUARY 17 A.
Infertility and Adoption READINGS: Walsh, Chapter 8 Myers, M. (1997). Infertility: A couple and therapist consider the meaning of children. InThe shared experience of illness. GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Lee Williams
B.
The Transition to Parenthood and Effective Parenting READING:
Walsh, Chapter 16 Napier, Chapter 13
5 FEBRUARY 24 A.
Effective Parenting cont.
B.
The Transition to Young Adulthood READING:
MARCH 3
TBA
MID-TERM EXAM
MARCH 10 NO CLASS, SPRING BREAK MARCH 17 Divorce READINGS: Walsh, Chapter 4 Coontz, S. (2007) The origins of modern divorce. Family Process. Ahrons, C. R. (2007). Family ties after divorce: Long-term implications for children. Family Process. MARCH 24 Single Parent Families and Stepfamilies READINGS: Walsh, Chapters 5 & 6 Becker, D. & Liddle, H. A. (2001). Family therapy with unmarried African American mothers and their adolescents. Family Process. DUE: Family Timeline Paper MARCH 31 Families and Older Adulthood READINGS: Qualls, S. H. (2000). Therapy with aging families: Rationale, opportunities and challenges. Aging and Mental Health.
APRIL 7
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Families and Illness READING:
Walsh, Chapter 17
DUE: 5 Questions APRIL 14 A.
Video Conference with Dr. Nicole Newendorp
B.
Preparation for Hong Kong
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APRIL 16 – 25, HONG KONG The Family and Cultural Contexts of Grief: A Guide for Family Therapists SCHEDULE: April 16 – April 17 – April 18 – April 19 – April 20 – April 21 – April 22 – April 23 – April 24 – April 25 –
Depart for Hong Kong Arrive in Hong Kong 2:00-5:00 pm, Case conference at HKUFI Open Open 6:30-9:30 pm, Class at HKUFI Tentative: Visit to Anti-Cancer Center (Hospice) 10:00-11:30, Class at Behavior Center for Health with Guest Speakers 2:00-5:00, Case conference at HKUFI (optional) 4:00-7:00, Class at Robert Black; Goodbye dinner after class Depart Hong Kong, arrive in San Diego
READINGS: Bowen, M. (1976). Family reaction to death. In Family therapy: Theory and practice. Guttman, H. (1991). Parental death as a precipitant of marital conflict in middle age. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. White, M. (1988). Saying hullo again: The Incorporation of the lost relationship in the resolution of grief. Dulwich Centre Newsletter. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APRIL 28 – NO CLASS
MAY 5
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A.
Hong Kong Discussion
B.
Ambiguous Loss READINGS: Enrique’s Journey Walsh, Chapter 11 Falicov, C. J. (2007). Working with transnational immigrants: Expanding meanings of family, community, and culture. Family Process. DUE: Enrique’s Journey Reaction Paper
MAY 12
FINAL EXAM