Curriculum Proposal System
Course Details

Prerequisites (list each individually, one course per line, with course number and title)
Senior level standing. prerequisites to be checked at time of registration? yes
Corequisites (list each individually, one course per line, with course number and title)
corequisites to be checked at time of registration? no
Bulletin description
Prerequisite: Senior level standing. This course examines the phenomena of illness, loss and bereavement in modern society with a special emphasis on children and families.
Web Components
Textbook selection
Corr, C.A.,Nabe, C.M., & Corr, D.M.(2003). Death and Dying | Life and Living (fifth ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. McCue, K.(1994). How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness. New York, New York: St. Martins Press.
Rationale
This course is currently being offered every year but under the general special topics course number, 7400:485. No additional resources will be needed to have a specific course number. This change will make it easier for the students to recognize this course when registering. This specific course is recommended by the advisory board. Once the course has its own number, it will no longer be offered as a special topics course, so no new resources should be required.
Syllabus
Instructor: Susan Karas, MA,RN,LPCC Office Hours: 15 minutes before class and 30 minutes after class. Additional times available by appointment. Office Voice Mail: (440) 886-9626 e-mail: Susan@Karas.com Required Text: Corr, C.A.,Nabe, C.M., & Corr, D.M.(2003). Death and Dying | Life and Living (fifth ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. McCue, K.(1994). How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness. New York, New York: St. Martins Press. Additional readings will be distributed. Course Description: This course examines the phenomena of illness, loss and bereavement in modern society with a special emphasis on children and families. Course Objectives: 1. To increase student’s understanding of the socio-cultural, psychological and spiritual dimensions of death and dying. 2. To gain a working knowledge of current thanatological theories. 3. To identify the special needs of the child who is dying including the needs of the family. 4. To increase student’s knowledge of the processes of grief, mourning and bereavement from a child/family perspective. 5. To develop sensitivity and clinical skills when working with dying and bereaved children and families. 6. To explore and articulate personal beliefs and feelings regarding death and dying and working with the bereaved. 7. To promote awareness and development of skills in coping with the stress and fatigue that naturally accompanies working with the terminally ill and bereaved. Requirements: 1. Class attendance and Participation: (25 pts.) In order to make optimal use of class time, students should come to class each week with assigned readings completed and prepared to participate in discussion. The success of this class is influenced by the participation of its members. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to secure class notes and presentation materials. If you are absent, please leave me a voice mail at 440-886-9629. More than three absences will compromise your grade. 2. Journals: (4 journal entries @ 25 pts. each = 100 pts) Each student will be required to submit 5 journal entries during the semester. These journal entries are to include your personal thoughts and feeling about the course material. You may relate a personal story regarding an illness or loss, share thoughts and concerns about working with the bereaved as well as any critique of guest speakers. This journal is meant to enhance your learning and growth during this course. The journals are to be turned in at the assigned times. Late entries will not be accepted. 3. Interview and Assessment of a Bereaved Individual: (100 pts.) The bereaved are a group of individuals who often wish to share their story with someone who will genuinely listen. Each student is to seek out an individual who has experienced a death in the past three years. Encourage them to share their story and gain information about their bereavement experience. An assessment guide will be provided. You will be required to type a narrative summary which correlates with the information learned in class. 4. Web based Thanatology assignment: (25 pts.) Each student will be required to complete an internet research assignment pertaining to topics discussed in class. 5. Midterm and Final Exam: (100 pts. each = 200pts.) Illness and Loss Class Outline Subject to Change Week Topic Reading Assignment Assignment Due 1 Introduction to Course Personal Loss Questionnaire 1-17 2 Overview & Historical Review Corr – Chapters 1 & 2 1-24 Death education & related concepts 3 1-31 Exploring Dying Tasks/Coping Corr – Chapters3,4 &6 4 Helping the Dying Karas Handouts Corr – Chapter 7&8 Journal Entry #1 2-7 5 2-14 Children//Adol Helping parents/sibs cope Corr chapter 12 and pgs 349-367 6 Parental Illness & Dying McCue –Chapters 1-3 2-21 Helping children cope 7 Clinical considerations McCue Chapters 7&8 2-28 Guest Speaker 8 Midterm Exam Journal Entry #2 3-7 9 Bereavement Doka Handout Corr 9&10 3-14 Patterns of Grief/Understanding Loss 10 Spring Break!!! 3-21 No Class 11 Counseling Bereaved Children Gryte Handout Corr – Chapter 12 & 13 3-28 Children’s understanding of death 12 Counseling Bereaved Children Journal Entry #3 4-4 Continued 13 Counseling Bereaved Adults/Parents Corr – Chapter 5 & 14 4-11 14 Guest Speaker Grief in the Family Context 4-18 Strategies for Children/Families 15 Suicide Trauma Corr – Chapter 17 Interview Due 4-25 Hot fudge sundae afternoon 16 Healing Ritual / Compassion Fatigue Journal Entry #4 5-2 Interview Discussion 17 Final Exam 5-9
Bibliography
Corr, C.A.,Nabe, C.M., & Corr, D.M.(2003). Death and Dying | Life and Living (fifth ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. Doka, K. (2000). Living With Grief/Children, Adolescents and Loss. Taylor and Francis Group. Hospice Foundation of America. Doka, K. (1997). Living With Grief/When Illness is Prolonged. Taylor and Francis Group. Hospice Foundation of America. Fitzgerald, H. (2000). The Grieving Teen. Simon And Schuster. McCue, K.(1994). How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness. New York, New York: St. Martins Press.