Grim Reminders: Death, Grief, and Loss

3 Units

This course provides students the opportunity to become informed, aware citizens understanding human issues related to end-of-life decision making, dying, and experiencing grief and loss. Topics focus on death and grief across the lifespan; the role of death in American culture; understanding individual and family challenges with decision making at the end of life; and the experience of grieving across life stages, cultures, gender, and spiritual difference. The course provides exposure to the experience of death as it relates to the self of the student; the terminally ill person, and the bereaved. Students will gain insight into their own values and beliefs in this area, as well as understanding the needs of terminally ill people, those who need support in their grief and mourning, and persons dealing with challenging life and death decisions regarding self or loved ones. Creation of a personal learning objective is an additional focus. Course content is implemented via lectures, class discussion, individual and small group work, audio-visuals, and guest speakers.