Knowledge and Skill Learning Outcomes: CACREP Standards

Upon successful completion of this course, students will learn:

        6.a. theoretical foundations of group counseling and group work

·        6.b. dynamics associated with group process and development (KPI, final)

·        6.c. therapeutic factors and how they contribute to group effectiveness

·        6.d. characteristics and functions of effective group leaders (KPI, group facilitating exercise)

·        6.e. approaches to group formation, including recruiting, screening, and selecting members

·        6.f. types of groups and other considerations that affect conducting groups in varied settings

·        6.g. ethical and culturally relevant strategies for designing and facilitating groups

·        6.h. direct experiences in which students participate as group members in a small group activity, approved by the program, for a minimum of 10 clock hours over the course of one academic term

·        9.1.e. psychological tests and assessments specific to clinical mental health counseling

Learning Objectives

1.     Student learn the theoretical model of different types of groups. 

2.     Students experience the process of counseling groups.(KPI)

3.     Students learn therapeutic factors and how they contribute to group effectiveness

4.     Students learn the characteristics and functions of effective group leaders (KPI)

5.     Students learn the techniques and timing used by facilitators

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, its faculty, and its students adhere to the University Code of Conduct, State of Texas licensure laws and regulations, and the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (2014). The program has a professional responsibility to ensure that all students display ethical, professional, and personal behaviors that comply with these guidelines. Students are strongly encouraged to review, understand, and consult the American Counseling Association website for details related to these guidelines.

Department of Counseling students are expected to demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior, consistent with their counselor-in-training roles. Counselors-in-training are expected to convey attentiveness and respect in all professional and classroom settings. 

Online Etiquette: It is expected that students use formal, professional language when corresponding online. It is expected that you use complete sentences, address one another with respect, follow the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2014), and treat all members of the class with respect.

Inclusivity: It is my intent to present material and activities that are respectful of different backgrounds. It is also my intent that students from all perspectives and diverse backgrounds be well-served by this course, that student learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. Your suggestions about how to improve the value of inclusion in this course are encouraged and appreciated.

Confidentiality: Upholding confidentiality is a major responsibility of the student. Anything discussed during supervision, online in this class, or shared by individual students about themselves is considered confidential. Please do not share any information shared to you by other students.

Academic Dishonesty: Students at Midwestern State University are an essential part of the academic community and enjoy substantial freedom within the framework of the educational objectives of the institution. The freedom necessary for learning in a community so rich in diversity and achieving success toward our educational objectives requires high standards of academic integrity. Academic dishonesty has no place in an institution of advanced learning. It is each student's responsibility to know what constitutes academic dishonesty and to seek clarification directly from the instructor if necessary. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Submission of an assignment as the student's original work that is entirely or partly the work of another person.
• Failure to appropriately cite references from published or unpublished works or print/non-print materials, including work found on the World Wide Web.
• Observing or assisting another student's work.
• Multiple Submission - Submitting a substantial portion or the entire same work (including oral presentations) for credit in different classes without permission or knowledge of the instructor.
• Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software (does not include editing tools of Word or Grammerly i.e., spell check or rewriting suggestions for clarity).

Statement of Disability: Disability Support Services (DSS) provides services to students with disabilities to insure accessibility to university programs. DSS offers information about accommodations and disability, evaluation referral, adaptive technology training and equipment, and interpreter services for academically related purposes. 

If you suspect you have a disability that is impacting your academic performance or have been previously documented as a person with a disability, you will need to apply and provide documentation of that disability to the Disability Support Services. This documentation must be supplied by a qualified professional who is licensed or certified to diagnose the disability in question. 

The Disability Support Services office is located in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center. If you need assistance, you can also contact them at (940) 397-4140.

Attendance: Class attendance is crucial to successful completion of this course since much of the training cannot be learned in textbooks. Therefore, GRADUATE STUDENTS are expected to be on time and to attend every session online and all required face to face classes. Tardiness, leaving early, and absences are considered evidence of lack of dependability, and are taken seriously.        

Late Work: All papers and assignments must be turned in the day they are due. No exceptions. If you have an emergency please let me know in advance, and/or email me your assignment the same day it is due. Any late papers will be lowered 10%. Late papers can only be turned in before the deadline for the following assignments. Please observe that your assignments are worth a considerable amount of points and skipping even one assignment will, most likely,  significantly lower your grade. Please begin planning your semester schedule accordingly. 

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.