Course Syllabus

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FAML 430: Family and Community Relationships

Course Description

Ecological and gospel perspectives on providing family-focused prevention and intervention services and support, with emphasis on understanding and communicating with diverse families, empowering citizens, developing family and professional partnerships, interagency collaboration, and accessing and linking families and community resources and solutions. (3 credit hours)

This course is designed to foster empathy and understanding for diverse families and their challenges. We will explore how citizens and professionals can be change agents that empower individuals and families to solve problems and strengthen families and communities.

Requirements

Prerequisites

While there are no official prerequisites, this course is appropriate for junior and senior students. If you are an underclassman (fewer than five semesters), please consider taking this course at another time.

Required Resources

  • No outside resources are required. In other words, you are not required to purchase a textbook for this class.
  • You must have regular access to a computer and a webcam.

Structure

Course Outcomes (CO)

  1. Communicate historical, pluralistic, and theory-based ideas about families and children in a social context.
  2. Formulate evidence-based decisions using professional strategies and sources.
  3. Identify appropriate resources and connect individuals and families to needed assistance.
  4. Express Christ-like understanding and empathy for the needs of diverse families.
  5. Create a sustainable plan to influence change as an active member of the community.

Major Assignments

The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes (CO).

Major Assignment Decription CO#
Weekly Group Meeting Synchronous group discussions #1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Missions #3
Exams Four exams assess the student's knowledge of the subject  #1, 2

Missions

You will participate in two different projects ("missions") this semester.

Community Service Mission

This community engagement mission has two parts, with two separate reports and submissions. First, you attend the meeting of a community service club or organized service group and learn of their mission, planned activities, and means of operation. Second, you will participate in eight hours of community service directed toward children, youth, or families. Each part is worth 50 points, or 100 points for the entire mission. This assignment is due at the end of Week 11.

Nonprofit Exploration Mission

This community engagement mission has two parts, with two separate reports and submissions. First, you will interview leaders of two nonprofits using questions you have carefully crafted. Second, you’ll create a data-rich infographic summarizing the mission and impact of one of the nonprofits you have interviewed. Each part is worth 50 points, or 100 points for the entire mission. This assignment is due at the end of Week 12.

Weekly Patterns

The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions. 

Due Date Learning Model Activity Title Description
Midweek Prepare Study Study assigned resources
Midweek Prepare Primer Prepare for Zoom meeting by completing the week's "primer" document. Submit to instructor before the group meeting is held.
End of Week Teach One Another Charge Using the provided "charge" document as a guide, fulfill a specified role as you discuss weekly topics in a synchronous Zoom meeting. 
End of Week Ponder/Prove Primer Resubmit the "primer" document updated with information from the group meeting. Additionally, report on role, contribution, and preparation for the meeting.

*Set your time zone so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

BYU-Idaho Learning Model

BYUI is committed to learning by study and also by faith. Passive learning is ineffective. From both a spiritual and scientific perspective, effective learning requires that we are actively engaged in preparation and study, discussion, and reflection. Acting in faith (hard and prayerful work) invites the Holy Ghost and opens the door to true learning. For more information, see the BYUI Learning Model.

In this course, you will work with your classmates throughout 14 weeks. So that you can teach and learn from one another and collaborate on group activities during similar times, your cohort of online learners will progress together. You should not plan on working significantly ahead or getting significantly behind. Like any on-campus class, the online course will require steady and sustained work throughout each week of the semester. The three-process steps of the learning model will be incorporated through the following activities.

  • Prepare: Students will prepare through study pages and completing weekly activities.
  • Teach One Another: Students will teach one another through weekly synchronous group discussions.
  • Ponder & Prove: Students will prove their knowledge and skills by completing assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Expectations

Feedback

You can expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the due date for all assignments.

Workload

Even though this course is an online course, it is not an independent study course. You will be expected to interact with classmates in order to teach one another about what you are learning. Students will be expected to participate in Teach One Another activities where some of the most powerful experiences occur. This course has an expectation that students spend 3–4 hours each week for every credit earned. Students will need to be able to commit 9–12 hours each week. If you are unable to commit to the time demands of this course then you would be advised to take this course some other time when you will be able to commit to the workload.

Also, be aware that with this course, there is no "time off" for holidays that might occur during the week. Plan ahead and arrange your study schedule so that any holiday activities do not keep you from completing learning activities by the posted due dates and times.

Students are encouraged to progress sequentially and steadily through the items associated with each week. Set aside time to work on the course regularly. Students are expected to attend a weekly synchronous meeting at a time scheduled with their group.

As you thoughtfully prepare, teach one another, and ponder/prove what you have learned, and as you humbly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will bless you with a greater knowledge of His mercy and love, and you will receive an increased testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Group Work

Students will participate in a weekly group meeting to discuss the week's topics.

Late Work

Assignments are due on the day indicated. No late work will be accepted without permission from the instructor. Work that is late hampers your ability to fully participate in the course and will be accepted only at your instructor's discretion. Inform your instructor before the assignment is due. Any late work that is accepted is subject to a penalty as determined by your instructor.

Retries

Exams are limited to one attempt.

Extra Credit

Extra credit is not a feature of this course.

Grades

Grades will be based upon percentage of points earned, of points possible using the following scale.

Grade Percentage
A 100–94
A- 93.99–90
B+ 89.99–87
B 86.99–84
B- 83.99–80
C+ 79.99–77
C 76.99–74
C- 73.99–70
D+ 69.99–67
D 66.99–64
D- 63.99–60
F <60

Proctored Exams and Assessments

  • This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.
  • For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to Student Help: Proctorio in Canvas.

Program Statement for Marriage and Family Studies

March 2021

As the world is becoming more diverse in its values and perspectives on marriage and the family, it becomes increasingly important that students and faculty understand our mission as a major in Marriage and Family Studies at BYU-Idaho. Consistent with the University, our mission is to prepare family life professionals to strengthen families throughout the world as true disciples of Jesus Christ, as outlined in the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Regardless of current or future philosophies or practices related to the family unit, the major of Marriage and Family Studies at BYU-Idaho is built upon The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Although this program will explore a variety of views and perspectives on the family, and each student is entitled to his or her own beliefs, it will emphasize research and theory and be guided by eternal truths as taught by the Lord’s prophets. In short, our major strives to follow the admonition from President Dallin H. Oaks that “every generation has its tests and its chance to stand and prove itself. I believe our attitude toward and use of the family proclamation is one of those tests for this generation. I pray for all Latter-day Saints to stand firm in that test.” (from “The Plan and the Proclamation,” October 2017 General Conference)

Department Policy Regarding Intellectual Property and Course Materials

All of the materials in this course are covered by fair use and copyright law and are proprietary (intellectual property). Students are not permitted to sell, post, trade, share, distribute, or send any information contained in this course (including outlines, handouts, syllabi, exams, quizzes, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, audio and video recordings, or images of the same, etc. including your own work for this course) to any parties outside of this course (for instance, Course Hero, Quizlet, Google Docs, etc.) by any means (for example, posting, uploading, attachments, etc.) without the express written permission from the creator of these works and the Department Chair. Any of these actions violate the Academic Honesty policies of Brigham Young University-Idaho (please see Academic Honesty) and will be dealt with as such. The materials in this course are also intellectual property and taking any materials from the course and posting them outside of this course in any manner will be construed as theft and distribution of intellectual property. If you engage in any of these actions, or use any of these materials without authorization, the instructor has the right to impose an appropriate academic sanction (for example, give you a failing grade for the assignment and/or fail you from the course). Additionally, the respective Course Lead, Program Lead, and/or Department Chair also reserve the right to impose appropriate academic sanctions regardless of any imposed by the instructor.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

BYU-Pathway Worldwide is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact Accessibility. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by Student Wellness.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered for accommodations and need a transcription for these meetings, please contact Accessibility.

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please click on the links below to learn more about the following policies:

Go to the Student Resources module for further resources and information.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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