Credit: 1 semester hours credit.  An Elective for the Master of Education and Master of Arts in Counseling and Personnel Services.

 

Instructor: Dr. Jim Calvin, who: took over 100 undergraduate semester hours (and got B.A. degree) and took two graduate EDCP courses, from UMUC, on Okinawa; got Ph.D. at Kent State; is a Board Certified, licensed clinical psychologist; served 27 years in the United States Navy – 9 years enlisted and 18 years as a clinical psychologist and health care manager; and has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses since 1990.  Jim is a UMUC Collegiate Professor; and a Dharma Teacher at Providence Zen Center and Kwan Um School of Zen.

 

Dr. Calvin’s e-mail – jcalvin@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Dr. Calvin’s address – Dr. James Calvin, Box 936, Barnstable, MA 02630

 

Class Location – WebTycho.  Please check, by September 4th, to ensure that you are enrolled in the Class, and accessing WebTycho.

 

Office Hours – Use WebTycho for general issues and questions (that the whole class can read).  For personal issues, e-mail me.  IMPORTANT NOTE – PLEASE contact me with ANY of your concerns, issues, and needs!!

 

Class Location – WebTycho

 

Required Texts:  1) American Psychological Association (2001).  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5^th Ed.).  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.  2) Pickering, John (Ed.) (1997).  The Authority of Experience: Essays on Buddhism and Psychology.  __, Curzon Press.

 

Course Description.  This Course will guide students to examine and evaluate Zen and Eastern philosophy and religion as it relates to counseling; topics include: “Object” (Western) religions vs. “Subject” (Eastern) religions (Hindu, Shinto, Buddhism, and Zen); Zen concepts and philosophy; Zen and Eastern view of psychosocial and psychological problems; Zen and Eastern view of counseling; Zen teaching techniques; practical aspects – for both counseling, and for personal growth and stress reduction – meditative techniques.

 

Course Objectives – Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts, definitions and applications of Zen Buddhist spiritualy and philosophy – as each relates to psychological problems and to counseling.

 

Evaluation - Grades will be given based on mastery of course objectives, class/WebTycho participation, and a written project.

 

Mastery of objectives will be tested by a "take home" Final Examination, during the week of October 7^th-11^th.  The Final will be worth 30 points, and will consist of definition questions, and one “extended” essay question.

       

Because we are working on the internet (WebTycho), class participation and WebTycho assignments are significant!!  You are expected to read the required readings, then must log onto WebTycho, submit work and comments, and respond to others – weekly!  Please do not be tardy with work, as this is only a five week course!  There will be assignments to be posted, each week.  These assignments are listed in the week by week assignments section (and are also listed in the syllabus, below).  “Due date” means midnight, on the due date, in your time zone.  You will be further reminded (on WebTycho) about upcoming weekly assignments, week by week.  For WebTycho assignments and for written projects – you may include, in your work and research, researching Web Sites; relevant Web Sites will be posted within our WebTycho class.  Participation and WebTycho assignments count for 40 points.

 

Diversity of opinion is encouraged; it will serve our learning if we respect each other, and the values and opinions of each of us.  If we cultivate an atmosphere in which we can challenge ourselves and each other, supportively, we will all learn and grow!

 

There is ONE written project, 5 - 7 pages (“double spaced”), on any topic of YOUR choice – relating to Eastern philosophy/religion, and counseling.  The Paper is due on October 6^th, and is worth 30 points.

 

Here are a few basics to consider when composing your papers: Clearly state, in the introduction, just what it is that you intend to accomplish.  Illustrate your thoughts and points with evidence – theoretical and/or personal.  If you are making theoretical points, cite the textual passage, research, or theory that supports your argument.  Summarize, at the end of your paper.  Because effective writing is a critical part of your education, essay work should be clear and concise, with proper grammar and spelling.  Your paper should also be in proper “APA” format and properly referenced.

 

GRADES AND GRADING: Students who wish to excel in this course must give evidence of critical thinking, and demonstrate an ability thoughtfullly to compose and carry out the written assignments.  Students should interact with their fellow students (and ME!) in WebTycho Topic Areas.

      

Grading Summary:                                                               %

            WebTycho Assignments and Participation                                    40

            Paper – due 10/6                                                                  30

            Final Exam                                                                             30

            Total                                                                                        100

 

Course GRADES will be given as follows: 90-100 points - A; 80-89 - B; 70-79 – C

In addition to formal course requirements, personal journaling is strongly encouraged.

Students are reminded of UMUC’s policies on academic dishonesty and plagiarism, and UMUC’s penalties for same – including course failure and/or dismissal.

 

Students with special needs are requested to discuss their situation with the Instructor, so that reasonable accommodation may be addressed.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY – Because self-analysis is important to promote understanding ourselves, and therefore important to counseling, each of you should be introspecting and analyzing yourselves.  This is a course that involves some self-examination and degrees of sharing personal information with the class. Therefore, students must be sensitive to the right to privacy of others. It is important to be discrete and appropriate in your personal sharing in our “classroom”; therefore be VERY mindful of what personal information you post onto WebTycho (which goes to each of us, and to no one else).  It is important to self-disclose about yourself; BUT ALSO, to be very mindful of what you share in “class” and NOT to share those personal things that you might regret – at some later point – sharing.  Further, you must be sensitive to the privacy of your fellow students, and that all information shared REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL!  During the first week of class, you MUST go to the Topic Area titled “Self-Disclosure and Confidentiality” and AGREE TO the terms of self-disclosure and confidentiality in this course.

        

COURSE CALENDAR

 

Week 1 – September 9 – 15, 2002 - WELCOME, CONFIDENTIALITY, INTRODUCTIONS, SYLLABUS, and GETTING STARTED

Reading – NO textbook reading, this week

Projects/Assignments – Under Topic Area “Assignments – Week One” – SEVEN INDIVIDUAL Projects – to be posted by 9/15:

1.      Go to the Topic Area titled “Self-Disclosure and Confidentiality” and AGREE TO the terms of self-disclosure and confidentiality in this course

2.      Read my Introduction (Topic Area – Jim’s Introduction).  IN THAT TOPIC AREA, please respond to my Introduction by answering the following question: Do you have any questions for ME – about me (Jim), or about my Zen practice and background?

3.      Introduce YOURSELF – in the Topic Area “Student Introductions”

4.      Respond to the Introductions of at least ONE of your fellow students, in the Topic Area “Student Introductions”

5.      Read my thoughts in the Topic Area “My philosophy on this Course and on Distance Education”; post any thoughts or questions you have

6.      Please post – ON WebTycho (for whole class to see), any questions that you have about the syllabus or the course

7.      Finally, E-MAIL (NOT on WebTycho) me IF you have any questions, problems, or concerns that you do NOT want posted to the whole class (on WebTycho)

 

Week 2 – September 16 – 22, 2002 – BASICS OF EASTERN THOUGHT/RELIGION

Reading – 1) Jim article – “East and West Religions”

    2) Pickering text articles:

            a)

            b)

Projects/Assignments – Under Topic Area “Assignments – Week Two” – FOUR INDIVIDUAL Projects to be posted:

1.      Questions for Jim

2.      Pickering Text articles – rate each (due 9/20)

3.      Pick ONE of the Pickering text articles and write a ¼ - ½ page commentary on it; due by 9/20

4.      RESPOND briefly to the comments of ONE of your classmates – on their comments (#3) on one of the Pickering articles; due by 9/22

 

Week 3 – September 23 – 29, 2002 – BASICS OF BUDDHISM AND ZEN, and ZEN VIEW OF PROBLEMS

Reading – 1) Kwan Um School of Zen Web Site

    2) Pickering text articles:

            a)

            b)

Projects/Assignments – Under Topic Area “Assignments – Week Three” – FIVE INDIVIDUAL Projects to be posted:

1.      Questions for Jim

2.      Search through and report on Kwan Um School of Zen Web Site

3.      Pickering Text articles – rate each (due 9/27)

4.      Pick ONE of the Pickering text articles and write a ¼ - ½ page commentary on it; due by 9/27

5.      RESPOND briefly to the comments of ONE of your classmates – on their comments (#4) on one of the Pickering articles; due by 9/29

 

Week 4 – September 30 – October 6, 2002 – BUDDHIST AND ZEN VIEWS OF PROBLEM SOLVING AND COUNSELING

Reading – 1) Jim article _ Zen and Counseling

    2) Pickering textARTICLES:

                        a)

                        b)

                        c)

Projects/Assignments – Under Topic Area “Assignments – Week Four” – FIVE INDIVIDUAL Projects to be posted:

1.      Questions for Jim

2.      Pickering Text articles – rate each (due 10/4)

3.      Pick ONE of the Pickering text articles and write a ¼ - ½ page commentary on it; due by 10/4

4.      RESPOND briefly to the comments of ONE of your classmates – on their comments (#3) on one of the Pickering articles; due by 10/6

5.      Written Project due – on 10/6

 

Week 5 – October 7 – 11, 2002 - ***Take Home FINAL EXAM***

 

A personal note from Dr. Calvin:

 

Welcome to each of you!!  In these trying times, I must emphasize the importance of counseling, and of supporting each other.  I look forward to working with each of you in this (hopefully fun and interesting) course.  You will find that the five weeks – in this "mini-Term" - go very quickly.  But the Pickering text should be easy to read and interesting.

 

President Bush Senior used to say, “Read my lips!”; here is MY “read my lips”: I am here to help you, support you, and encourage you – to do your own personal growth – in knowledge, counseling theory, and personally.  Please do NOT be bashful about asking for feedback, advice, and counseling; this is “WHY I AM HERE”!  PLEASE CONTACT ME with ANY of your concerns, issues, and needs!!

 

QUESTIONS??? – about the Syllabus, or anything: ASK!!!!