Advanced Issues in Death and Dying

Masters Degree in Pastoral Thanatology

PTH 630

Breyer State University

Instructor:

Juan Kenigstein, PhD.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Advanced Issues in Death and Dying, a Master Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Master in Pastoral Thanatology. I'm pleased to offer you this course. 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 diminish quality of living.

TIME FRAME: This is a ten-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 ten semester hours of credit. Students may accelerate, but may not complete this course in less than four weeks.

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

Book 1: The Last Dance, McGraw-Hill Companies, 7th Edition, DeSpelder & Strickland, 2001. ISBN # 0-07-292096-3.

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EXAMINATIONS: There is a mid-term and final exam for this course; grades are based on completion of mini projects, assignments and exams.

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

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

GRADING COMPOSITION:

1). 6 Mini Projects                           - 30%
2). Self evaluation                           - 10%
3). Discovery & Intention Statement - 10%
4). Mid-Term Exam                         - 25%
5). Final Exam                                - 25%

TOTAL 100%

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.

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). Have seriously contemplated and accepted the reality of one's death.
3). Have an understanding 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). Be knowledgeable of 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). Have planned one's funeral, burial, and estate in sufficient enough detail so as to place minimal burden on the family.
10). Be knowledgeable of the 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). Be 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.

DISCOVERY AND INTENTION STATEMENT: Discovery statements are a declaration of what you want, a description of your attitudes, statement of your feelings, transcripts of your thoughts, and chronicles of your behavior. Intention statements can be used to alter your life, statements of your commitment to do a specific task, or to take a certain action. An intention arises out of your choice to direct your energy toward a particular goal.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODIFICATIONS: Students with disabilities, who need reasonable modifications to complete assignments successfully and otherwise satisfy course criteria, are encouraged to talk with me early in the semester to identify and plan specific accommodations. Students may be asked to provide documentation on their disability, which will assist in planning modifications. Breyer State University offers Disability Services through the Counseling Center . To request services, contact the Counseling Center or talk to me.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT: Unauthorized photocopying of copyrighted works, including musical works, may be unlawful and may infringe the copyright of the copyright owner. Federal law subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as those civil remedies and criminal penalties provides you in possession of unauthorized duplications of copyrighted material.

SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER: While the provisions of this syllabus are as accurate and complete as possible, I reserves the right to change any provision herein, not covered by BSU or BSU Regent Rules, with notice if circumstances so warrant. Every effort will be made to keep you advised of such changes and information about such changes will be available at all times from me. It is your responsibility to know what changes, if any, have been made to the provisions of this syllabus and to successfully complete the requirements of this course. Questions regarding information on the syllabus and course requirements need to be addressed by you when the syllabus is received.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to adm@breyerstate.com. An administrative faculty member will respond to all questions.

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