Course Descriptions

703: Research Methods in Child Development & Family Science: Introduction to research methods in child development and marital and family relationships. Includes instrument selection/construction, data collection, interpretation of results, and proposal writing. Emphasis on the unique methodological features associated with the field.

773: Foundations of Marital & Family Therapy I: Introduction to theoretical foundations of marital and family therapy and the historical and contemporary development of the field.

774:Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy I: Critical introduction to CFT theories and field. This course introduces students to the foundational theories in the field of couple and family therapy. The course also offers a critique of the foundational principles of the field from a critical social justice perspective.

774: Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy II: Couples therapy. Study of theories and interventions that apply to work with couples in therapy. Other topics include sex therapy, domestic violence, issues related to gender, race, and class, and therapy with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples.

775: Clinical Applications in Marital & Family Therapy I: Narrative therapy, Feminist, and LGBT theories and approaches. This course offers an introduction to socially just approaches to couple and family therapy including narrative and feminist therapies. The course also focuses on working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community.

776: Clinical Applications of Couple and Family Therapy I: Child and family play therapy. This course explores ethical issues related to working with children; assessment of children; child play therapy; family play therapy; child abuse; and grief and loss within the context of sexism, racism, classism, and heterosexism.

777: Diagnosis &Assessment in Couple & Family Therapy: This course explores issues related to assessment and diagnosis in the treatment of individuals, couples, and families within the context of sexism, racism, classism, and heterosexism; and practical application of the DSM.

780: Ethics and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy: Study of legal responsibilities, ethical issues, and professional matters as they pertain to the practice of couple and family therapy. Focus on AAMFT code of ethics, feminist ethics, personal ethics, relational-based ethics, and ethical issues in the context of racism, classism, and heterosexism.

782: Advanced Human Development: Birth through Childhood: Critical examination of current research and theories on child development. Emphasis on applying theoretical understanding and knowledge of the current empirical research base to current issues facing children and families.

783: Dynamics of Parent-Child Relations: Study of selected theories and research in parent-child relations. Emphasis on interaction between adults and children from infancy to youth. Prereq. CDFS 784 or 785, or permission of instructor.

784: Advanced Human Development: Adolescence through Adulthood: Critical examination of current research and theories on adolescent and adult development. Emphasis on applying theoretical understanding and knowledge of the current empirical research base to current issues facing adolescents, adults, and families.

785: Family Theory: Identification and analysis of theoretical approaches to research on the family. Study of the frameworks currently used.

Child Development and Family Science Dept
283 E.M.L. Hall
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
Phone: 701-231-8268