Academic Catalog

ALTW 229: HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 3
Hours: 3 lecture per week (36 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Non-Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate through role play and journaling, an understanding of respect for self, supporting self esteem
  • Develop and demonstrate effective communication and active listening and body language
  • Identify different relationships between student, peers, relatives and professionals in their lives

Description

This course supports neurodivergent students in developing the skills to build and maintain respectful, safe, and fulfilling relationships. Topics include setting personal boundaries, increasing self-awareness and self-esteem, and making informed choices in personal, professional, and social interactions. Students will explore strategies for effective communication, emotional regulation, and personal safety, with a focus on building confidence and autonomy in a variety of relationship settings. This course is part of the Tools for Transition & Work cohort-based program for neurodivergent learners pursuing independent success in college, career, and adult life.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand different types of relationships in their lives
  2. Define appropriate boundaries for each type of relationship
  3. Recognize unhealthy relationships and abuse
  4. Analyze choices so that they make decisions leading to healthy relationships
  5. Develop a personal code of conduct
  6. Understand the importance of self-care in communicating respect for self and others and supporting self-esteem
  7. Identify behaviors involved in physical, psychological/emotional, financial, and cyber safety
  8. Demonstrate effective communication, active listening, and body language in the context of healthy relationship development
  9. Develop strategies to reduce bullying

Course Content

  1. Types of relationships
    1. Intimate relationships
    2. Family relationships
    3. Friends
    4. Acquaintances
    5. General community members
  2. Personal boundaries based on the type of relationship
    1. Appropriate touches for each relationship
    2. Concentric circles of levels and stages of relationships
    3. Levels of conversation
    4. Common questions and discussion topics in general, personal, and intimate conversations
    5. Developing trust
  3. Unhealthy relationships and abuse
    1. The spectrum of unhealthy relationships ranging from subtle to explicit and illegal behaviors
    2. Red flag behaviors that signal potentially unhealthy relationships
    3. Seeking help
  4. Analyzing choices for healthy decision-making
    1. Legal issues
    2. Ethical questions
    3. Physiological, psychological and social safety concerns
    4. Appropriateness for the situation
    5. Alignment with individual values
  5. Developing a personal code of conduct
    1. Making friends and keeping friends
    2. Attraction and dating
    3. Building a safety net of people to help and support when needed
  6. Supporting self-esteem and the importance of self-care
    1. Positive self-talk
    2. Communicating self-respect through personal hygiene and grooming
    3. Giving and receiving respectful feedback
    4. Stress reduction
  7. Physical, psychological/emotional, financial, and cyber safety
    1. Actions that can cause physical harm
    2. Examples of psychological abuse
    3. Retaining control of money and gifts
    4. Appropriate use of social networking sites and cell phones
      1. Safe disclosure of information
      2. Fact checking new online acquaintances
      3. Avoidance of posting risky information
      4. Sexually explicit pictures and material
  8. Effective communication
    1. Use of body language in communication
    2. Active listening
    3. Resolving conflict
    4. Use of "I" statements
    5. Self-advocacy
  9. Anti-bullying
    1. Identify types of bullying
    2. Strategies for dealing with bullies
    3. Strategies if you are the bully
    4. Peer intervention

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. When taught on campus: accessible classroom with computer projection equipment, document camera, and internet access.
2. When taught online/virtual: students and faculty need internet access with Zoom-capable computer, monitor, and speakers.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Group and individual projects
In-class participation and demonstration of growth
Quiz/final exam

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Examination of case studies

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Instructor-provided handouts as appropriate.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Students read Levels of Conversation on pages 47-49 in handout, and list questions that might be asked in general conversation, personal conversation, and intimate conversation
  2. After viewing movie clips containing instances of bullying and discussing what students were feeling, seeing, hearing, and experiencing in class, students write a reflection paper on different strategies to change the situation
  3. Students write their own positive self-talk and repeat it daily
  4. Students read a scenario that describes a situation where trust was violated, and prepare written answers to questions
  5. Students review their social media presence and that of people they know, and prepare a paragraph on changes necessary to ensure safety
  6. Students have assigned weekly journal entries to analyze and reflect upon communication

Discipline(s)

Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)