Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
CRIS 303 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
CRIS 303
ACUTE STRESS, GRIEF AND TRAUMA
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course investigates the impact and consequences of acute stress on victims, first responders,
families, and community members resulting from man-made terror and accidents, natural
disasters, and societal violence, taking into account the process of grief and loss and the long
term consequences of unresolved trauma. Particular attention is paid to effective counseling
strategies, methods and techniques for immediate response, fostering resiliency, and cultural
differences.
RATIONALE
With the increase in the numbers of critical incidents and natural disasters in the past few years,
over 80% of individuals will experience acute stress at some point in their lives. Include
incidents that involve deaths such as murder, suicide, accidents, starvation, sudden infant death
syndrome, miscarriages, heart attacks, and natural disasters, the long term effects of grief and
trauma can wreak havoc on its victims. The ability to work through the acute stress can mitigate
the effects of long term trauma in the lives of those impacted. The combined strategies of
effective psychological first aid and grief counseling can relieve the acute stress response, foster
resiliency, speed up the healing process, and mitigate the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder
in the life of a traumatized individual.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASES
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
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CRIS 303 Course Syllabus
V.
A.
Articulate a theoretical understanding of the nature and impact of critical incident
stress.
B.
Define acute stress; and examine and discuss the consequences of and factors
related to acute stress.
C.
Apply relevant Scripture passages to the issues of grief and trauma.
D.
Explain the nature and consequences of stress, as well as factors that might help
determine the intensity, severity, and duration of a grief response.
E.
Define and implement the grief cycle and its stages in counseling.
F.
Differentiate complicated grief from normal grief and loss.
G.
Examine and explain how abuse impacts the lives of its victims.
H.
Describe how trauma, stress, and depression and anxiety relate in sufferers of
PTSD.
I.
Articulate a theoretical understanding of how attachment styles relate to acute
stress, grief, and trauma and implement the components of effective therapies
counselors can utilize.
J.
Describe the characteristics of acute care, and how psychological first aid differs
from psychotherapy.
K.
Articulate the contraindications of acute care, and when a person needs immediate
mental health intervention.
L.
Identify biblical principles for coping with adversity, and discuss ways in which
the church can foster and sustain resiliency and hope.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Reading the assigned textbooks will also serve as resources for the student’s
paper.
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations. The student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (3)
Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student
will make a discussion post in response to the 3 questions posed by the instructor.
Each thread must be at least 300 words. In addition to the thread, the student is
required to reply to 1 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200
words.
D.
Quizzes (3)
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CRIS 303 Course Syllabus
Quizzes will cover the content from the assigned videos. The quizzes will be
open-book/open-notes with a 40-minute time limit. The quizzes will consist of
multiple-choice and true/false questions.
E.
Crisis Personnel Identification
The student will identify a member of the community (“Crisis Personnel”) who is
involved in the regular response to crises in the community. Examples include a
police officer, fire fighter, medical/mental health professional, or pastoral leader.
Identification of this personnel will take place in the form of a discussion board
forum, and the student will be asked to dialogue about his/her choices within the
forum.
F.
Crisis Personnel Project
The student will interview Crisis Personnel (previously approved by the
instructor) using a list of 5 questions provided by the instructor and will prepare a
2–3-page write up on his/her findings in the interview. The student will be
provided with an outline of interview etiquette and may not conduct the interview
until the interviewee has been identified in the appropriate module/week and
approved by the instructor.
G.
Movie Review
The student will view a movie, complete a 3-page critique of the movie designed to
explore the nature of the crisis presented, and then suggest steps for alleviating the
crisis, teaching coping skills, and developing resiliency. A special section must
assess the grieving process of the primary victim and whether they effectively
grieved through the loss.
H.
The Importance of Self-Care
The student will select a minimum of 3 journal articles discussing the importance
of self-care for those in the helping professions. The student will use the materials
to create a PowerPoint presentation that could be used to educate professionals
(and use as a guideline for himself/herself) on self-care importance and practices.
I.
Research Paper
Utilizing information presented in the course, as well as theoretical and practical
elements from academic and Christian sources, in currentAPA style, the student
will compile an original 8– 10-page paper (not including title page, abstract, and
reference page) that summarizes and discusses acute stress response. The student
must discuss the various symptoms of acute stress reactions, acute stress disorder
(as well as the difference between the two), the diagnostic guidelines, and
effective treatment strategies. As the student considers acute stress responses,
symptoms and strategies, he/she must compare and contrast different treatment
strategies, or examine specific responses, the resulting symptoms, and their
impact on a person's life. Also, the student must address the necessary factors for
successfully coping with the effects of trauma as well as the spiritual and
professional approaches to treatment.
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CRIS 303 Course Syllabus
A minimum of 12 scholarly sources is required, in addition to the course
textbooks. The student may utilize information presented in the texts as well as
theoretical and practical elements from academic and Christian sources. Grades
will be assigned based on quality of content, how well current APA guidelines are
adhered to, the richness of citations utilized, quality of expression, and biblical
integration presented.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums
Threads (3 at 25 pts ea)
Replies (3 at 25 pts ea)
Quizzes (3 at 100 pts ea)
Crisis Personnel Identification
Crisis Personnel Project
Movie Review
The Importance of Self-Care
Research Paper
10
150
Total
B.
300
50
100
100
100
200
1010
Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at luoodas@liberty.edu to make
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CRIS 303 Course Syllabus
arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be found
at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
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COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
CRIS 303
Textbooks:
Freeman, Grief and loss: Understanding the journey (2005).
Van der Kolk et al., Traumatic stress (2006).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
ASSIGNMENTS
1
Freeman: ch. 1
Van der Kolk et al.: ch. 1
2 presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
DB Forum 1 Threads
DB Forum 1 Replies
10
25
25
2
Van der Kolk et al.: ch. 2
2 presentations
Crisis Personnel Identification
Quiz #1
50
100
3
Freeman: chs. 2 & 4
2 presentations
DB Forum 2 Threads
DB Forum 2 Replies
25
25
4
Van der Kolk et al.: chs. 4 & 6
2 presentations
Crisis Personnel Project
Quiz #2
100
100
5
Freeman: chs. 5 & 6
Van der Kolk et al.: ch. 7
1 presentation
Movie Review
100
6
Freeman: chs. 7 & 9
Van der Kolk et al.: ch. 8
1 presentation
DB Forum 3 Threads
DB Forum 3 Replies
25
25
7
Van der Kolk et al.: ch. 9
1 presentation
The Importance of Self-Care
Quiz #3
100
100
8
Freeman: chs. 10 & 11
1 presentation
Research Paper
200
TOTAL
1010
POINTS
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at
12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week
ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.