Criswell CollegeDr. Katherine Pang
4010 Gaston AvenueOffice E-300
Dallas TX 75246Phone: 214-531-7624 (C)
E-Mail:
CRISWELL COLLEGE
FALL 2015
CSL 615L00.A Group
Mondays 7:00-9:30PMRoom E205
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of current theories and techniques in group therapy, including dynamics of interpersonal relationship and the social, diagnostic, and other factors that impact group psychotherapy. Dynamics of interpersonal relationship and groups within the context of the church are also examined.
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the dynamics at work in various kinds of groups with an emphasis on church groups (support and therapeutic).
- Describe and analyze the principles of group dynamics; including group process components, developmental stage theories, group members’ roles and behaviors, and therapeutic factors of group work.
- Understand group theories of counseling, including commonalities, distinguishing characteristics, and pertinent research and literature.
- Describe and analyze group leadership styles and approaches, including characteristics of various types of group leaders.
- Compare and contrast approaches used for other types of group work, including task groups, psycho-educational groups, and therapy groups.
- Understand group counseling methods, including group counselor orientations and behaviors, appropriate selection criteria and methods, and methods of evaluation of effectiveness.
- Understand group strategies for working with and advocating for diverse populations, including multicultural competencies.
- Describe and apply ethical and legal considerations.
- Integrate a Christian theological doctrine of self and relationship with a group counseling theory and approach.
COURSE TEXTBOOK
Corey, Gerald (2016), Theory and Practice of Group Counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Additional readings will be assigned or suggested on an occasional basis to enhance your research and Discussion Board posts.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Readings
There will be weekly assigned readings throughout the course. Please refer to the Course Outline for weekly assigned chapters. Readings need to be completed prior to that weeks posting assignment. Student’s posts should reflect a knowledge base that demonstrates evidence of having read the weekly reading assignment and additional literature (e.g. research articles) to establish scholarly insight and not personal opinion.
Assignments:
This course will require each student to complete three assignments
The assignment will be to submit a written Group Proposal for a group you would like to lead in the future. This group needs to be for 8 (1.5 hour) sessions. Instructions for this assignment will be provided in class. The assignment must be submitted via email to assignment will be due week 3 of class.
The second assignment is a Leadership Exploration exercise. This is an 10-15 page paper in APA format and is due week 8 of class. The assignment must be submitted via email to . This paper is a self-exploration and philosophy of group leadership paper, which will provide you the opportunity to write about you personal characteristics and preferences that may affect your group leadership style. You will reflect on the theoretical approaches to group intervention that fit best for you, the aspects of group leadership that might be most challenging for you, the type of co-leader with whom you might work best, and values you hold that might affect your work as a group leader. This assignment does require you to draw from resources, such as academic journal articles, and to substantiate your statements with explanatory reasoning and analysis.This assignment is due Week 8 of class
The third assignment will be to complete a Group Experience Paper. Each student will be required to participate in mock in-class group sessions and to attend three Open Share Groups of your choosing, such as but not limited to a Celebrate Recovery meeting, a church leadership or development discipleship or community group,or another group with the approval of the professor. You will then write a 5-8 page paperdescribing the experience, your observations and summary of the experience, and insights that you will use if you were to lead a group. Be sure that the meeting you attend is listed as an “Open Share Group” which means that anyone interested can attend. Further instructions will be provided in class. The assignment must be submitted via email to. The due date for this assignment will be due in Week 15.
Exams
There will be an in-class midterm and final for this course, which will be administered in class as closed book exams.
Grading Criteria:
Grades for the course will be based on the following points:
Group Proposal15%
Leader Exploration Paper25%
Group Experience Paper15%
Midterm Exam20%
Final Exam20%
Participation (in-class) 5%
TOTAL 100%
The following grade symbols are also recognized for transcript evaluation:
AUAudited CourseCRCredit
EXExemptIIncomplete
NCNo CreditPPassed Non-credit Course
RCRepeat CourseSSatisfactory Progress
WWithdrawnWFWithdrawn Failing
WPWithdrawn Passing
NOTE: An “I” will be changed to an “F” 60 calendar days after the close of the term or semester in which the “I” was awarded, if the course work is not completed by the stated date published in the Academic Calendar.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES:
Students are expected to attend all class sessions (see Criswell College Catalogue, 2014-15, page 72.
Absences: Since class participation is vital to learning, absences should be taken only when absolutely necessary. Absences of class sessions for more than seven (7) classes for two-days-per week classes and three (3) for block classes will result in an “F” in the course. The professor and the Executive Vice President and Provost must approve all exceptions to this policy. Proportionate absences apply to all other terms (J-Term, summer classes, language term, etc.). Students are responsible for all absences due to illness or any other reason. Granting of excused absences is permitted at the discretion of the professor.
Tardiness: Being at least fifteen minutes (15) minutes tardy to class, or departing fifteen (15) minutes prior the end of class is considered one absence. Three instances of tardiness of fifteen minutes or less equals one absence. The tardy student is responsible for notifying the professor of his/her presence in writing at the end of class. Students who wish to depart early should clear it with the professor prior to departure.
CLASSROOM MILIEU
Academic Honesty: Absolute truth is an essential belief and basis of behavior for those who believe in a God who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty is the application of the principle of truth in the classroom setting. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all work students submit must be their own and any ideas received from somewhere else must be carefully documented.
Learning Disabilities: If you have learning or other disabilities, please inform the professor at the beginning of the course. Our intention is to help all students learn. We will try to accommodate your needs, if at all possible.
Auditing and Sit-in Students: Any student may enroll in a course as an Auditor if space is available in the classroom. A student’s permanent transcript will reflect which courses have been completed as audits. Sit-in students are not given grades by professors and their transcripts will not reflect enrollment in the course. Taking tests and participation in course activities afforded to credit students in the syllabus is at the discretion of the professor.
Communication with the Professor: Short conferences after class are possible. Longer conferences need to be scheduled with the professor via e-mail or phone contact. Please do not hesitate to contact the professor with questions regarding the course requirements and material.
Grading scale:
The significance of letter grades is as follows:
A97-1004.0 grade points per semester hour
A-93-963.7 grade points per semester hour
B+91-923.3 grade points per semester hour
B 88-903.0 grade points per semester hour
B-86-872.7 grade points per semester hour
C+83-852.3 grade points per semester hour
C 80-822.0 grade points per semester hour
C-78-791.7 grade points per semester hour
D+75-771.3 grade points per semester hour
D 72-741.0 grade point per semester hour
D-70-710.7 grade points per semester hour
F 0-690.0 grade points per semester hour
Incomplete Grades:
Students requesting a grade of Incomplete (I) must understand that incomplete grades may be given only upon approval of the faculty member involved. An “I” may be assigned only when a student is currently passing a course and in situations involving extended illness, serious injury, death in the family, or employment or government re-assignment,not student neglect. Students are responsible for contacting their professors prior to the end of the semester, plus filing the appropriate completed and approved academic request form with the Registrar’s Office. The “I” must be removed (by completing the remaining course requirements) no later than 60 calendar days after the grade was assigned, or the “I” will become an “F.”
Late Submissions
Late submissions will not be accepted by the professor except for exigent circumstances with prior consent from the professor.
APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE OF CLASS TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Subject to Change
Week / Date / Assigned Reading / In-Class Topic / Assignments Due1 / 8/17/15 / Course Introduction
2 / 8/24/15 / Chapter 1 2 / Introduction to Group Work
and Group Leadership
3 / 8/31/15 / Chapter 3 / Ethical and Professional Issues / Group Proposal Assignment Due
4 / 9/7/15 / Labor Day Holiday / NO CLASS
5 / 9/14/15 / Chapters 4 5 / Stages in Group Development
6 / 9/21/15 / Chapters 6-16 / Student Chosen Topic based on chosen Chapter / Student Facilitated Discussion of
Chosen Chapter
7 / 9/2815 / Midterm / Midterm
8 / 10/5/15 / In-Class Mock Group
9 / 10/1215 / In-Class Mock Group / Leadership Assignment Due
10 / 10/19/15 / In-Class Mock Group
11 / 10/26/15 / In-Class Mock Group
12 / 11/02/15 / In-Class Mock Group
13 / 11/09/15 / In-Class Mock Group
14 / 11/16/15 / Chapter 17 / Integration
11/23/15 / FALL BREAK & / THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY / NO CLASS
15 / 11/30/15 / Chapter 18 / An Integrative Perspective / Group Experience Paper Due
16 / 12/7/15 / Chapter 15 / Final Exam / Final Exam