Welcome to Marriage & Family Counseling: A Christian Perspective,
a Bachelors/ Masters Level course in the curriculum for the Degree,
Christian Counseling. I am pleased to instruct you in this course,
which will be a fundamental course for the remainder of your studies
in the bachelor/masters program.
This is an exciting course, which first presents
a broad overview of marriage and family counseling and then focuses
on the Christian perspective.
This
is an eight-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks
of time. You must complete all the requirements for the course
successfully by the end of the ten-Week period. The first day
of the week will begin the day that you register for the course,
or the day you should notify me that your textbook has arrived
and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of
the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted,
unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion
of this course, you will be awarded eight semester hours or credit.
There
are two (2) textbooks required for this course.
Book 1: Essential Skills in Family Counseling. JoEllen Paterson, et al. New York, New York. Guilford Press. 1998. ISBN # 1572303077.
Book 2: Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide of Brief Therapy. Everett L. Worthington. Downers Grove Il. Intervarsity Press. 1999. ISBN # 0830815481.
There are two examinations for this course. The tests are made up of between 61 and 92 multiple choice and true/false questions. To keep you on target we recommend you hold to this schedule.
The first exam is based on the Paterson book giving you a broad perspective of the application of marriage and family counseling. The link taking you to this test is the same test for the course Marriage & Family Counseling—PSY 640. That first exam ought to be taken by the end of the 5th week.
The final exam is based on the Worthington book which expresses a more Christian perspective of marriage and family counseling. This last exam ought to be taken by the end of the 10th week.
Both exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course. I will setup the program so you will have access to the test when you are ready. Please contact me prior to the time you take the first test so I can give you specific instructions and ensure that the test is ready for you.
The grading
scale for this course is as follows:
91-100% = A
81-90% = B
71-80% = C
Below 70% = Failed
You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a
teacher, coach and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals
for this course. Primarily, communication is through e-mail. However
I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would
like. Our classroom for this course has a "chat" room.
I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in that chat
realm at your request. From time to time, depending on how many
students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we
will have some schedule group chats. You'll receive more detailed
information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please
keep my e-mail address handy so that you can contact me whenever
necessary. If at any time during this course you change your e-mail
address or other contact information please be sure to notify
me right away.
There are no written assignments for this course. There is a considerable
amount of reading involved in this course, and I would prefer
you spend your time with the book learning the material.
My name is Tom Schear. I have a BA, MA and Ph.D. in social work,
MA in counseling, and have taken some additional graduate level
courses in business and human services administration. Finally,
I am an E-Myth trained business coach and a graduate of Coach
University. I have worked at all levels of counseling agencies
in Iowa and Montana, including front-line counselor, clinical
director and executive director. I now live in the town where
I grew up, working out of my home providing continuing education
courses for helping professionals, teaching online courses for
virtual universities including Breyer State University, Canyon
College and EarthNet Institute, and provide both online and telephone-based
counseling and personal and business coaching services. In my
spare time I enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and spending
time with my wife, Kathy and adult children, Brian and Steven
and dog, Solo.
The objectives for this course are:
1). Understand the basic theories, concepts and
application of marriage and family counseling.
2). Gain a greater understanding of a marriage and family counseling
model emphasizing a Christian perspective.
For
specific assignments, please click on the link “Assignments”
If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor at tschear@ccmsinc.net.