Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Marital Problems and Solutions (Online)

FLHD 4250-SW1

Course: FLHD 4250-SW1
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: FLHD
CRN: 31186

Course Description

Discusses common marital problems and issues and techniques and theories used in relationship interventions. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): FLHD 1500 or PSY 1100 Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

Markman, H. J., Stanley, S. M. & Blumberg, S. L. (2024). Fighting for your Marriage (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.d by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the benefits of marriage (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  2. Contrast the principles that influence mate selection (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  3. Analyze interpersonal relationship patterns using various theoretical perspectives (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  4. Develop and implement effective communication, problem solving, and anger and conflict management strategies (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  5. Summarize the influence of unhealthy coping strategies (e.g., avoidance, attacking) on interpersonal relationships (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  6. Demonstrate the influence of problematic behaviors (violence, addiction, affairs) on relationships (Aligns with NCFR #5)
  7. Design and implement relationship enhancement strategies (Aligns with NCFR #5)

Course Requirements


Assignments will be accepted within one week after they are due, however, they will be marked down 10% for every day they are late up to 50% off.   
Extra credit will not be provided in this course.  
As this is an online course, your attendance is measured by your participation and completion of course activities.

Course Outline

Group Discussion: 20% of your grade


Group discussion provides you the opportunity to apply what you've learned and discuss it with your fellow classmates.  However, rather than writing you will be meeting in small groups through zoom to discuss the questions.  Then you'll create a one paragraph write up of what you discussed.  

Reading and Reading Logs: 20% of your grade


To help reader engagement, each chapter has assigned questions you will be expected to thoughtfully respond to in a written log assignment. Though the paper can be double-spaced, a single-spaced heading featuring your name, the chapter title and the chapter number should be included at the top.  Logs are to be turned into Canvas each week. 

Learning Activities: 20% of your grade


Throughout the course you will be provided with activities to help you understand the material better, including applying it to yourself and others.  

Relational Analysis Paper: 20%of your grade


For this paper you will analyze a couple from the movie Force Majeure (available here on Canvas) and explain how various course principles apply to them.  

Exams: 50 points (20% of your grade)


The final will contain a number of multiple choice questions (around 45) and several short essay questions.  This exam will cover content from the reading as well as the lectures.  A study guide will be provided. 


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments will be accepted within one week after they are due, however, they will be marked down 10% for every day they are late up to 50% off.  

Attendance Policy

As this is an online course, your attendance is measured by your participation and completion of course activities.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.