COUC 601 is Liberty's graduate course in marriage and family therapy. Its written work is a three-generation family genogram made in GenoPro with a 5-page analysis, a family counseling approach research paper (a 6-page literature review with 12 scholarly references plus a 4-page personal integration), and six group forums with long replies.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as COUC 601 Theories of Family Systems, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as COUC601.
What COUC 601 covers
The catalog description: This course considers the dynamics of marriage, couple, and family relationships from a systems perspective. The emphasis is on understanding family and other systems theories, the structure and function of marriage, various aspects of the marital relationship and family systems, and models of family and systemic interventions. Considerations from an historical perspective are presented along with current developments within marriage, couple, and family systemic models. Students will engage in critical thinking regarding the application and integration of spirituality within marriage, couple, and family counseling.
The course introduces family systems thinking and the major approaches to marriage and family therapy, with integration of faith in counseling. The texts are Goldenberg, Stanton and Goldenberg, Family Therapy: An Overview; McGoldrick, Gerson and Petry, Genograms: Assessment and Intervention; and Ripley and Worthington, Couple Therapy: A New Hope-Focused Approach.
Four exams (400 points) have no guide here. Each week runs Monday to Sunday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Goldenberg et al., Family Therapy: An Overview (2016). McGoldrick et al., Genograms: Assessment and Intervention (2008). Ripley & Worthington, Couple Therapy: A New Hope-focused Approach (2014). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
COUC 601 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
| 2 | Group Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
| 3 | Group Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
| 4 | Group Discussion Board Forum 4 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
| 5 | Family Genogram Project | 150 | A genogram of at least 3 generations and a 5-page paper |
| 6 | Group Discussion Board Forum 5 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
| 7 | Family Counseling Approach Research Paper | 150 | Research section of at least 6 pages and a personal integration section of at least 4 pages |
| 8 | Group Discussion Board Forum 6 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words; reply at least 400 words |
Week 1: Group Discussion Board Forum 1
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 1 Group Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Group Discussion Board Forum 2
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 2 Group Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 3: Group Discussion Board Forum 3
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 3 Group Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 4: Group Discussion Board Forum 4
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 4 Group Discussion Board Forum 4.
Week 5: Family Genogram Project
A three-generation genogram of your family made in GenoPro, with a 5-page APA paper analyzing it. How to write COUC 601 Week 5 Family Genogram Project.
Week 6: Group Discussion Board Forum 5
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 6 Group Discussion Board Forum 5.
Week 7: Family Counseling Approach Research Paper
A research paper on one family counseling approach (at least 6 pages with 12 scholarly references) plus a personal integration section of at least 4 pages. How to write COUC 601 Week 7 Family Counseling Approach Research Paper.
Week 8: Group Discussion Board Forum 6
A 500-word thread on marriage and family counseling, then a 400-word reply with a cited source. How to write COUC 601 Week 8 Group Discussion Board Forum 6.
How COUC 601 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The six group forums are 50 each (300), the family genogram project 150, the family counseling approach research paper 150, exams 400 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Group Discussion Board Forums (6) | 300 |
| Family Genogram Project | 150 |
| Family Counseling Approach Research Paper | 150 |
| Exams (4) | 400 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach COUC 601
Install GenoPro and begin gathering three generations of family information early; the genogram and its 5-page analysis are due in Week 5.
Choose one family counseling approach for the research paper by Week 4, since it needs 12 scholarly references.
Questions students ask
What is the COUC 601 family genogram project?
A genogram of at least three generations of your own family system, prepared in GenoPro with McGoldrick's genogram conventions, and a 5-page APA paper analyzing it.
What is the COUC 601 research paper?
A research paper and formal literature review on one approach to family counseling, at least 6 pages with at least 12 scholarly references, plus a personal integration section of at least 4 pages integrating your faith with the approach.
Working through COUC 601 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.