Key concepts relevant to the study and understanding of marriage and family life along with exploration and self-assessment of attitudes and values regarding intimate relationships. Topics include, but are not limited to: attachment, attachment styles, potential mate selection, marriage, family relationships, blended families, parenting, relationship violence, and balancing personal/professional life.

History and development of the MFT field with a basic understanding of the family as a system and structure, family rules, circularity and interconnection, the self of the therapist, theoretical philosophies, therapeutic models, and major theorists.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of various research methods in the behavioral sciences so they can critically evaluate information about human behavior presented in professional journals and in popular media, understand the strengths and limitations of research methods, and develop proficiency in scholarly writing. Mastery of the material covered will help students evaluate the adequacy of research findings reported by others and develop appropriate APA Publication guidelines for writing formal research papers.

A comprehensive view of health and wellness on multiple levels, including the physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual influences and the exploration of the unique barriers and facilitators of wellness that exist in modern society. Specific strategies will be explored for maximizing personal wellness, including stress management techniques, addiction prevention strategies, and nutritional guidelines.

Recognize social, cultural, and familial influences on relationship and marital expectations and perceptions. Identify universal relationship issues and stressors including factors associated with relational adjustment, relational quality, marital satisfaction, and monetary budgeting. PREPARE/ENRICH relationship assessment will also be explored. Cultural awareness and ethical principles within daily interpersonal interactions will be key to effective interpersonal messages and communication skills.

Introduction to the main approaches of ethical and moral analysis. The process of ethical thinking and moral decision-making is applied to contemporary issues including but not limited to cloning and reproductive technologies, war and terrorism, diversity and equality, animal rights, word hunger and poverty, environmental ethics, and cyberethics. The process of ethical thinking is refined and expanded through this application process.

Sexual health with the philosophy that it is an important part of every individual’s general health. The comprehensive view of sexual health includes both sexuality and the sexual self as influenced by psychological, environmental, hormonal, medical, and relational messages and contexts. Through educational initiatives, positive attitudes and meaningful perspectives about attachment, individual growth and development, i intimate relationships, and personal decision-making will be explored.

MFT 530

The internship is required of all senior Human Relations majors. Students will be placed in internships at area agencies/organizations with the opportunity for first-hand experience in the field and demonstration of their ability to network with other professionals and directly serve their clients in the workplace. A minimum of 120 on-site hours
is required within the 8 or 10 week session.

Discovering and applying dynamic, positive principles of constructive behavior. Emphasis is placed on applying course concepts to students' individual life experiences as well as potential therapeutic applications. Involvement with a campus or community service project assists students in applying course knowledge to everyday life.

Analysis and discussion of the major theories of personality. Theorists studied include Freud, Jung, Horney, Cattell, Allport, Adler, Mischel, Bandura, and others. Students will apply their theoretical knowledge through the analysis of biographical materials.

Exploration of communication and influence in groups, including persuasion, leadership styles, and group decision-making. Students will apply knowledge through an evaluation of an actual group and/or a group described in literary works.

Personality disorganization and deviant human behavior; biological, sociological, and psychological causation. Students will apply knowledge through the evaluation of case studies.

Physical, mental, social, and emotional development of children and adolescents with particular emphasis on the influences which affect these areas of development. Students are given the opportunity to directly apply developmental concepts through in-class activities and/or projects conducted outside the classroom.

Physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of adults and of the aging; psychopathology of these groups. Students apply their knowledge through a course project that puts them directly in touch with adults at various stages of development.

Approaches to counseling that can be used by psychologists, teachers, ministers and others engaged in therputic work. Prerequisites: PSYC 221 and PSYC 424

The phenomena of death and dying in the context of western culture are examined. Issues of euthanasia, abortion, and suicide are examined as is the experience of the dying individual in relation to self, significant others, the family, and other care-providing institutions. The plight of widows and other survivors is also discussed in relation to the grieving process and bereavement.

An analysis of social problems from various sociological perspectives including social inequality, poverty, race and ethnic relations, gender issues, crime, health and health care, issues in education, and environmental problems.

Examines family as a social institution. Includes sociological overviews of modern family in its diverse forms and its relationship to economy, government, and stratification systems of gender, race, and class. Other topics include functions of the family as a social unit; trends in family organization; problems of domestic violence, marriage, children, divorce, remarriage, and blended families. Prerequisites: SOCY 301 or junior status and the permission of the instructor.

An examination of the characteristics of racism, prejudice, and discrimination and how the structure of society perpetuates inequalities. The course investigates the origins and causes of inequality as well as the changing patterns of race/ethnic relations in terms of economics, health, education, politics and the legal system. Prerequisite: Junior status or permission of the instructor.

Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group dynamics as they relate to career decisionmaking; the processes of both entering the work world, changing from the role of student and changing careers. Theory related to the perceptual process, impression formation and social influence will be examined throughout. Opportunities for personal assessment will be provided and examined objectively as options available for personal choices.

A survey of concepts, theories, and research related to human interaction. Issues related to how communication affects personal relationships will be explored. Special emphasis on small group processes will include decision-making, problem-solving, power, and leadership.

Serves to connect theories, systems and models commonly covered in communication and media studies to research methodology. Critical study of published reports in the contemporary literature of the field.

Students will investigate theoretical and practical issues in various business, educational, social, and industrial organizations. Students will consider traditional and modern concepts of communication behaviors, efficiency, and effectiveness issues, information flow, and the effect of individual characteristics in the work group as well as the work group's influence on the individual. The concept of change will be integrated throughout the course. This course includes a service learning component.

The bachelor of arts in Human Relations program at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, N.C., provides an excellent path to careers in healthcare, business management, nonprofit environments, child and family advocacy, mental health, social policy and marriage and family therapy.

This adult degree program is specifically designed for those who have earned an associate of arts, associate of science or associate of applied science degree, or those who have earned at least 45 transferable college credit hours.

Pfeiffer University serves working adults

Pfeiffer University in Charlotte accommodates the needs and schedules of working adults by offering online degree completion programs as well as on-site courses at convenient times. Our dedicated faculty understands the personal and professional challenges you face and will work with you to help you achieve your full potential.

For more information on our Human Relations degree program or other degree-completion programs, contact us today.