Cultural Issues in Death & Dying

Masters Degree in Pastoral Thanatology

PTH 690

Breyer State University

Instructor:

Juan Kenigstein, PhD.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to Cultural 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. For most the mystery of death and dying continues to defy imagination. What is seen of death is the finality of the physical body. But what is believed about the meaning of death, how it should be faced, and what happens after physical death varies by culture and its associated religion (DeSpelder & Strickland, 1992; Johnson &McGee, 1991).

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. You 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: Cultural Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making : Sage Publications Inc., Kathryn L. Braun, James H. Pietsch, and Patricia L/ Blanchette. 2000. ISBN # 0-7619-1217-7.

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EXAMINATIONS: There are no examinations for this course; grades are based on completion of assignments and activities.

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). 10 Activities                               - 50%
2). Self evaluation                           - 10%
3). Research Report                        - 25%
4). Discovery & Intention Statement - 15%

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 Cultural Issues in Death and Dying is to explain why this death has occurred at this time and this way. We look at our culture for advice on how to act when a death occurs, how to express grief, and how to remember the person who has died. We find comfort in the rituals that the culture prescribes, and culture presents a structure within which death takes on meaning (DeSpelder & Strickland, 1003; Johnson & McGee, 1991).

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

1). Become acquainted with the diversity of death-rituals and beliefs found in various cultures.
2). Assess the correspondences among various cultures relative to death-related rituals and beliefs.
3). Describe the historical changes in death-related beliefs and practices in the Western World.
4). Analyze the impact of various beliefs and practices and to assess their value for survivors.
5). Concentrate on death related experiences from a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist issues and perspectives on End-of-Life.
6). Describe typical and/or distinctive features of death related encounters, attitudes, and practices in four selected cultural groups (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Indian and Alaska Native Americans).
7). Identify and define.
8). Understand End-of-Life issues in institutional cultures.
9). Improve communication across cultures.
10). Understand End-of-Life issues for special populations.
11). Demonstrate heterogeneity, diversity. And richness, as well as similarities and communality, within American experiences with End-of-Life.
12). Become familiar with the medical, legal and ethical context of death and dying.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1). An Introduction to Culture and Its Influence on End-of-Life Decision Making.
2). Physical Aspects of Dying.
3). Cognitive Changes That Affect Capacity and End-of-Life Decisions 4). Autonomy, Advance Directives, and the Patient Self-Determination Act.
5). Ethical Considerations and Court Involvement in End-of-Life Decision Making.
6). Cultural and Religious Issues for African Americans.
7). Advanced Directives and End-of-Life Care: The Hispanic Perspective.
8). Cultural Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making Among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
9). End-of-Life Decision Making in American Indian and Alaska Native Cultures.
10). Christian Perspectives on End-of-Life Decision Making: Faith in a Community.
11). Catholic Perspectives on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: The Human Person and the Quest for Meaning.
12). Jewish Perspectives on End-of-Life Decision Making.
13). Muslim Perspectives Regarding Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Decision Making.
14). Buddhist Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making.
15). Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making and Nursing Home Culture.
16). End-of-Life Issues in the Military Culture.
17). End-of-Life Issues in the HIV/AIDS Community.
18). End-of-Life Issues: A Disabilities Perspective.
19). Talking to Patients About Death and Dying: Improving Communication Across Cultures.

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 students 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 admassistant@breyerstate.com. An administrative faculty member will respond to all questions.

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