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C6440 Ethics in Counseling

Argosy University- Tampa

Syllabus

Spring, Term 2, 2007 (3/1/07 – 4/21/07)

Course Requirements

Attendance and Participation:

Attendance and participation are required through online participation and at each on ground class session.

Online participation requirement:

A student must make 2 online contacts at least five times a week for each week that the class is in session. If a student misses 2 contacts in a week it will result in loss of one letter grade for the week’s participation grade. If the student misses 5 contacts in a week it will result in an automatic F for the one line participation grade that week. The instructor of this course is the official moderator of the online Course Website Discussion Board and daily screens the text of the responses which students submit. The Instructor also decides upon the content of the discussion questions as well as other online activities.

On ground participation requirement:

Any excessive amount of class time missed will negatively impact upon your grade. Accumulative absences of four or more hours will result in automatic loss of one full letter grade for the course. Accumulative absences of eight or more hours missed will result in automatic failure of the course. If you have emergencies that prevent you from attending class you will be encouraged to withdraw from the class. Please notify your instructor and the program office concerning any anticipated absences. Consult your Argosy Catalog and Program Handbook for information concerning withdrawal policies. It is expected that students will arrive ON TIME for on ground classes and with all assignments. Points will be deducted for students arriving late to class.  Cell phones are turned off when entering the classroom.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

It is the policy of the Argosy University/Tampa to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  If a student with disabilities needs accommodations to complete the instructor’s course requirements, the student must notify the Dean of Student Activities.  Procedures for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodation will be provided to students upon request.

Student Assessment Procedure:

A variety of assessment procedures, including evaluating completed assignments on the following, (a) adherence to assignment guidelines, (b) quality of ideas, (c) content and organization, and (d) technical aspects of writing will be used to determine student achievement of the course objectives. Grades will be based on both the accumulated points received on the items listed under Course Requirements and the quality of class participation. All required assignments listed under Course Requirements will be given a specific grade. Grades will be computed using the following scale:

Grading Criteria

In addition to the timely completion of your written assignments, students are expected to complete all required readings before coming to class meetings, and participate in class discussions and activities both online and in the on ground classes. Your failure to complete these obligations will result in a drop in your final letter grade.

Grading of Written Work:

All documents are to be typed, spell-checked and grammar checked, submitted double-spaced, and prepared in the proper APA format. The attached “Standards for Written Assignments” will be used to evaluate and weight the scoring of papers.

Grading of Oral Presentations:

All classroom presentations made by students must be accompanied with PowerPoint Slide Programs which are to be spell-checked and grammar checked, and prepared in the proper APA format. The attached “Standards for Oral Presentations” will be used to evaluate and weight the scoring of all student classroom presentations.

Late assignments:

Assignments are late if not submitted by the time designated on the due date.  No credit will be given for late work.  If you are late with an assignment, the assignment will be graded “0”.

Behavior:

It is expected that each student will conduct him/her self in a professional manner and in accordance with expectations of graduate students and Argosy University (please refer to the Student Handbook for additional information). Please refrain from conduct unbecoming a professional counselor. 

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism:

You are expected to abide by standards set and expected for academic honesty. Please review the section on Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism that appears under the heading of Student Rights & Responsibilities in the Argosy University Academic Catalog. The work that you submit should be your original work. Information about the exams, papers or assignments that may have the potential of enhancing another student’s grade, should not be shared with other students under any circumstances. Should such information be shared, or should one student ask another student for such information, either or both students may be charged with academic dishonesty and be brought in front of the Student Conduct Committee or other disciplinary bodies.

Instructional Strategies:

This course will include a combination of online activities, classroom lecture, discussion, videos, role-play activities and participation in small group experiences.  This class is a “hands-on” class with lots of activities geared towards professional counselors. The timeline for instruction, particularly during residence, are estimates. Our schedules will be adjusted as we progress through the semester.

Assignments

1. Seven Weekly Discussion Question: 2 points each week (7 points) for seven weeks of posting. DQ initial response due Noon Wednesday of each week.

Beginning the first week of class you are to make a weekly online contact, via the Online Discussion Platform of 2 contacts a day for five days of each of seven weeks in this online class. One of these threads is a weekly discussion question to which you are to submit a 250 word response and then react to your classmate’s responses. Your initial online reaction to each Discussion Question is due by Wednesday of each week.

2. The Reading and Inventory Reaction is due by noon on every Thursday of the week for six weeks. 3 points each (18 points) This is a 500 word reaction to the readings and ethical self-inventory in the specific assigned Corey Text readings for the week.

3. Ethics in Action Video’s Analysis 4 points each for a total of 24 points

Each week for six weeks you will be expected to give a reaction to two videos in the Ethics in Action video tape series on the CD: Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2003).  Ethics in Action [CD-ROM]. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. ISBN: 0-534-63970-4

These reactions will be due by Noon on each Friday for six weeks beginning March 9. The reaction will be no less than 250 words per grid with a separate grid for each of the videos. The grid to be used is as follows:

Ethics in Action Video Analysis Grid for Video #__

 The Ethics in Action Analysis grids are due on noon on Sundays for six weeks as follows:

4. Ethical Case Analysis – 7 cases (1000 word minimum per case) at 5 points each for 35 points total.

Specific ethical cases from the attached list at the end of the syllabus are to be analyzed and evaluated. The Case Analysis is due by noon on every Saturday of the week during the length of the online portion of the course and to be posted on the Online Discussion Board

Each case is to be evaluated in the attached grid, which outlines the important points relevant to the ethical/legal issues in question. The Ethical Case Analysis is to be posted on the appropriate thread of the Discussion Board by noon on day due.

Ethic Case Analysis Outline:

1. Summary of the case presented and identify the ethical problem in the case
2. Describe the nature and dimensions of the ethical dilemma
3. Identify specific current ACA, AMHCA, AAMFT, or ASCA ethical codes that may have bearing
4. Identify what potential courses of action can be taken and potential consequences for each option
5. Identify the best course of action to be taken in this case

Ethical Analysis of Case # ____: ____________

5. My Personal Ethical Policies and Procedures Project - 9 points Due Noon Wednesday April 18 to be posted on appropriate thread on Discussion Board as a WORD attachment.

You are to complete the following outline in a 7-10 page single spaced Manual in which you detail how you will address your ethical and legal behaviors in your future practice of professional counseling. Your Personal Ethical Policies and Procedures Manual needs to include the following Key Points:

1. What is your personal assessment of the nature of ethics in the field of professional counseling?
2. What you have learned in your research and readings about Ethics and Legal Issues that has either confirmed or challenged your ethical intuition, and what are you now going to do in the future to insure that you make well considered decisions concerning the role of law and ethics in your practice of professional counseling.
3. What further additional knowledge and skills will you need to acquire in your graduate education to insure that you have sound abilities, attitudes, and understanding of ethical guidelines and processes for making sound ethical judgments in your future counseling practice?
4. What policies and procedures will you adopt in your counseling practice to address the following issues:
   1. Your Personal Behaviors and Professionalism
   2. Your Values in the Counseling Relationship
   3. Insuring Ethical Counseling Practices and Approaches with Clients
   4. Dealing with Clients with Multicultural or Diversity Perspectives
   5. Guaranteeing Clients’ Rights
   6. Insuring Client Confidentiality
   7. Maintaining Healthy Boundaries with Clients
   8. Maintaining Professional Counseling Competence
5. What additional steps or procedures would you implement in your counseling practice to insure that your work is both ethical and legal?

You are to utilize the Self-inventories at the beginning of Chapters 1-13 in the Corey, Corey and Callahan Text to assist you to create you own Ethical Policies and Procedures and you will need to reference these readings and inventories in your project. You also will need to reference the sections of the various Codes of Ethics which relate to each section of your ethical manual. References: Use APA references for each of the sections of the manual and place them at the bottom of each section of the grid.

My Personal Ethical Policies and Procedures Manual

Name:                                                                         Date:

Due: posted on Discussion Board as WORD attachment by noon Wednesday April 18

Grading Grid:

Grading Criteria

C6440 Course Calendar:  Spring 2 March 1-April 21, 2007