Online Certificate in Marriage Education

Insights and Skills for Lasting Partnerships

Download PDF brochure of the program

The online Certificate in Marriage Education (CME) program is designed to meet the growing demand for marriage education implementation in communities.  Classes are offered entirely online, allowing students to attend classes anytime from any place.

Community leaders, educators, clergy and professionals from diverse backgrounds interested in strengthening marriages and preventing problems will learn how to design, implement and promote marriage and relationship education in a variety of contexts. Courses integrate insights from the social sciences, literature, psychology and current practice. The online Certificate in Marriage Education program offers a professional distinction that will demonstrate to potential employers, directors, funding sources, community and government agencies that applicants have achieved comprehensive preparation as a skilled marriage educator.

Program Overview
The online Certificate in Marriage Education program consists of four courses, which can be taken in any sequence. The four courses integrate practical knowledge and current research about marriage and intimate relationships, social and emotional learning, conflict resolution, relationship and marriage education courses, mentoring, courtship, dating, cohabitation, the social impact of marriage, philosophical and psychological perspectives on love and relationships, sex, alternatives to divorce and strategies for nurturing resilient family dynamics.

Requirements for the certificate of completion are the successful completion of three courses and Case Studies Seminar. The case study approach is tailored to the student's particular interests in the application of marriage education. The successful completion of four courses is required to receive a Certificate of Completion in Marriage Education and the minimum quality point ratio (QPR) is 2.5. Students are expected to complete course work for the Certificate within two years of initial enrollment in the program.

Instructional Format
Each course is offered online and follows an accelerated 8-week format. The courses are designed to be learner-centered in terms of scheduling, duration, learning materials, assignments, and interaction between faculty and students and among students. The online interaction is designed to encourage thoughtful and well-prepared discussions based on both the student's command of the coursework and their personal experience.

Courses are conducted entirely online and can be accessed at anytime from anywhere. Interaction with professors and other students is done through email and an online discussion board. See more information in How Online Learning Works.

Online Orientation
All students are required to participate in an Online Orientation prior to beginning the program. During the Orientation students are given instructions on how to navigate the Blackboard course management system, strategies for being a successful online student, and access to other University resources, including the Wahlstrom Library's electronic databases. Successful completion of the Orientation is required of all new students in the online program.

Getting Started
The following steps will assist you to enroll in the online Certificate in Marriage Education: