Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
Satisfactory completion of:
- Theoretical Foundations in HR Counseling
- Ethical Issues in the Counseling Profession
- Psycho-Social Development
Course Materials
Required
- Newsome, D. W., & Gladding, S. T. (2013). Clinical mental health counseling in community and agency settings (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN 978-0132851039
- Yalom, I. (2009). The gift of therapy: An open letter to a new generation of therapists and their patients (2nd ed.). New York: Harper Collins. ISBN: 978-0061719615
Recommended (not required)
- American Counseling Association: Code of Ethics
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Points will be based upon discussion board and Live Session participation | 400 |
| Personal Belief Statement | 3-4 page written assignment | 100 |
| Professional Counselor Interview | 4 page written assignment | 100 |
| Advocacy Project | Profile of agency in a written document and a handout | 100 |
| Yalom Group Reflection | Group assignment | 100 |
| Final Exam | Part I: Multiple-choice & Part II: Reflection Questions | 200 |
| Total | 1000 |
Scale
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 895–1000 |
| B | 795–894 |
| C | 695–794 |
| D | 595-694 |
| F | 0-594 |
Course Components
Participation
You can earn participation points in two ways:
- Live Sessions - There are two ways in which you can earn points for the Live Session. Remember, these Live Sessions will count toward your final grade.
-
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. When possible, you should attend and participate in the Live Sessions in real-time. To get credit for your attendance, type in the date and time of the session you attended by clicking on the red "Submit Assignment" button at the top of the Live Session page. Your self-reported attendance log will be cross-checked against the attendance tracker in Zoom.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, please review the recording of the Live Session then write a 2-3 paragraph summary of the Live Session from your perspective. Click on the "Submit Assignment" button to type (or copy/paste) your paragraph into the text field. Don't worry if the system indicates your submission is late. You will have until the next Live Session to submit your paragraph summary.
- Weekly Discussion Boards - In lieu of meeting to discuss required readings, students will complete weekly essay-style discussion assignments for each lesson.
- Each student will complete an original post in response to the discussion questions provided.
- Responses should be a minimum of a half-page essay post (this will equal approximately 2 paragraphs).
- The response posts are due each week by Friday by 11:59 PM.
- In addition, students will be required to reply to at least two of their classmates' essay posts each week.
- These are due by Sunday of each week at 11:59 PM each week. Replies should be respectful and insightful.
- Responses are to be a minimum of four full sentences per response.
Written Assignments
Students will be required to complete a total of three individual, brief assignments during weeks.
- These assignments will be explained in more detail in the Modules in which they are due.
- They are worth a total of 300 points (100 points each).
Group Project
Towards the end of this class, you will be reading The Gift of Therapy.
- In addition to reading this book, you will be working in groups to reflect upon the content of the book, along with specific discussion questions, that will be provided.
- You will submit one assignment for the entire group.
- Then, individually, you will submit a peer feedback form to reflect upon group members' participation.
Final Exam
The final exam will occur during the final week of class (check the course schedule for specific dates).
Part I
The purpose of part one of the final exam is for students to gain practice taking a timed multiple-choice examination covering comprehensive counseling material.
- This is the same format and content of the National Counseling Examination required for all Licensed Professional Counselors.
- Part one will be a timed, multiple choice exam.
Part II
The purpose of part two is for students to reflect on the learning from the text.
- This part of the final exam will cover materials from the textbook.
- You will be given ten reflection questions to respond to.
- It will be untimed
Course Policies
Communication
If you need to get in touch with me, please do so by email at cwebster@ou.edu.
I will respond within 24 hours on Monday through Friday. I do not always check email over the weekend, so please wait until Monday for a reply.
Late Policy
No late work will be accepted. Exceptions will be made only for documented Provost-approved University-sponsored activities or legally required activities such as emergency military service, jury duty, or documented serious illness or emergency and then only after discussion with me. Contact me by email if an emergency occurs.
Technical difficulties do not qualify as an emergency unless the problem is severe, prolonged, and on the server end (the problem is with Canvas). In such cases, the due date will be modified, and a new due date specified. Expect technical difficulties on your end and plan for a secondary location from which to post or an alternative Internet Service Provider.
Posting Difficulties
Files that do not post correctly in the assignments area or responses which do not correctly post on the discussion board will not be accepted for a grade. If your file does not post (you are timed out, for example), becomes corrupted, contains a virus, or if your response is blank/partial, you should re-post before the deadline so that you may receive a grade.
Always check to see that your response or file has been correctly posted before you exit Canvas. Be sure to post in advance so that you have enough time to correct any posting difficulties.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|