Family Dynamics – PEP 142N

Instructor Information:
Instructor: Candyce Bollinger
Location: Building 20, Room 100
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 12:00-1:00 pm
Phone Number: 596-5434
Email: cbollinger@spscc.ctc.edu
Or the Education Program Office:
Phone #: (360) 596-5293 Email: sschein@spscc.ctc.edu

Course Information:
Family Dynamics: PEP 142N – Summer 2009, 2 credits
Thursday 6:30 – 9:00 pm, Room 100

Texts/Lab Materials/Library Sources: (if any):

none

Student Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
a. Identify different types of family dynamics.
b. Recognize the family system dynamics present in all family structures
c. Demonstrate skills for developing emotional rapport with other family members.
d. Demonstrate four approaches to building healthy family dynamics.

Course Description:
This course consists of lectures, discussion, in class activities, and assignments on the
topics of:
a. Expectations about family from one’s family-of-origin
b. Power and boundaries
c. Birth order/gender
d. Temperament
e. Problem solving
f. Confrontation
g. Communication/I Messages
h. Sibling Interaction

Course Policies:
Grade is based on a point system: 50% - participation in classroom activities
50% - homework assignments

100 point maximum: 93-100 A 77-79 C+

87-89 A- 73-76 C
98-89 B+ 70-72 C-
83-86 B 63-66 D
90-82 B- 60-62 D-
 Expectations of Students:
-Listen well and help each other problem solve.
-Avoid judging or giving unsolicited advice.
-Be persistent in getting what you need from class.

Attendance Policy:
-Class starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:00 pm. There will be a 10 minute break from
7:30 - 7:40 p.m. Attendance is important. There will be information from lectures and
exercises which are not in the written materials.
-Students are responsible for finding out about missed sessions from another student or
from the instructor at a time which does not disrupt class.
-Students who fail to attend the first class session and do not contact the instructor in
advance will be withdrawn from the class.

Students receiving financial aid should ALWAYS check with financial aid prior to withdrawing,
signing an incomplete contract, changing to an audit, or receiving an F or V grade in a class.