DEATH & DYING I

Masters Degree in Grief Counseling & Thanatology

GRF 500

Breyer State University
Instructor: Juan Kenigstein, PH.D, M.ED., GC-C

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Death and Dying, a Master Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Masters in Grief Counseling and Thanatology. I'm pleased to offer you this course, which will be a foundational course for the remainder of your studies in the master program. This is an exciting course. Death, dying and bereavement are fundamental and Pervasive aspects of the human experience. Individuals and societies can only achieve fullness of living by understanding and appreciating these realities. The absence of such understanding and appreciation may result in unnecessary suffering, loss of dignity, alienation, and diminished quality of living. Therefore, education about death, dying, and bereavement is an essential component of the educational process at all levels formal and informal.

APPROVAL: This course is approved by the American Academy of Grief Counseling for 75 hours of continuing education toward Fellowship Status and/or recertification.

CERTIFICATION: If you successfully complete the first three courses in the curriculum, you are eligble to receive Certification by the American Academy of Grief Counseling as a Certified Grief Counselor.

1). GRF 500- Death & Dying I - 5 hrs.
2). GRF 550- Counseling the Dying Patient - 5 hrs.
3). GRF 600- Grief Counseling - 5 hrs.

TIME FRAME: This is a five-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your text book(s) have 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 five semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: There is one (1) required textbook for this course.

Book 1: The Last Dance. 7th Edition. By DeSpelder & Strickland: 2005. ISBN # 0-07-292096-3.

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EXAMINATIONS: There are two examinations for this course, a mid-term exam and a final exam. The mid-term examination must be taken by the end of the 5th week in the course. The final examination must be taken by the end of the 10th week in the course.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70%  = Fail

GRADING COMPOSITION:

SIX MINI PROJECTS      30%
JOURNAL                     10%
SELF EVALUATION         10%
MID-TERM                   25%
FINAL                          25%
TOTAL                        100%

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: A journal is to be kept by you. The function of the journal is for you to keep a written account of your reactions to the readings, and assignments as you go through the class. In this journal you should record insights, self-analysis, responses to self-awareness activities, strengths, weaknesses, feedback, etc. You will submit a self-evaluation report. Professional and personal growth using criteria provided in class and citing evidence from your work through the semester. You are responsible for reading and becoming familiar with all materials included in the textbook, handouts, and assigned outside readings.

REQUIREMENTS: You are to write six mini-projects, each 1-2 pages in length, on the following subjects:

1). Deathbed Fantasy.
2). Funeral Home visit.
3). Cemetery Visit.
4). Fear of Dying and Death survey.
5). 50 Things I want to do before I die.
6). Funeral Plans.

COMMUNICATION: 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 email. 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 the chat room 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 scheduled group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my email address handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. Upon registration, you will receive my email address. If at any time during this course you change your email address, please be sure to notify me right away.

GOALS: The aim of education about death, dying, and bereavement is to contribute to general education as a basis for personal development and responsible social participation. It must also contribute to the specific education of those who, as a result of personal or professional circumstances, are closely associated with death, dying and bereavement.

METHODS: Readings from textbook, professional books and journals. Self-awareness/exploration activities.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Discuss the topic of death, thereby opening up previously avoided lines of communication with family and friends.
2). Seriously contemplate and accepte the reality of one's death.
3). Understand of some of the cross-cultural and cross-theological approaches to death.
4). Argue both sides of controversial issues related to death: Euthanasia, capital punishment, the funeral industry, and findings on life after death.
5). Understand issues related to homicide.
6). Have developed some beginning skills to understand and communicate with terminally ill and bereaved people.
7). Understand facts on suicide as well as suicide intervention techniques.
8). Understand the process of adjustment to a death to the extent that assistance can be offered to a friend or relative in time of need.
9). Plan one's funeral, burial, and estate in sufficient enough detail so as to place minimal burden on the family.
10). Present and future trends in medical and psychological attitudes toward death in order to gain insight into the workings of today's hospitals.
11). Understand the child's reactions to death and ways to offer support.
12). Understand the reactions to death of children, parents, siblings, and widowed persons as well as ways to offer assistance.
13). List community services related to death and dying.
14). Competent enough to challenge systems that continue to make our society one, which is death denying.
15). Explain common reactions to loss and suggestions for coping with it.
16). Know the factors that contribute to the intensity of grief reactions.
17). Become more motivated to live now, take risks, and accomplish life's goals.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1). Introduction.
2). Homicide.
3). The terminally ill person.
4). The funeral and the Cemetery.
5). The law and Death.
6). Suicide.
7). Responses to loss.
8). Grief.
9). Children and Death.
10). Widowhood.
11). Findings on life after life.
12). Living NOW.

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