UMUC-EUROPE GRADUATE PROGRAMS
BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

GUCO531 Syllabus

Course Title Group Counseling
Term TERM 5, 2004/2005
Education Center KAISERSLAUTERN-KAP-GRAD
Faculty Member Clement Marcantonio - cmarcant@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Faculty Contact Information:

Clement Marcantonio, Ed.D.
Email: clement.marcantonio@lnd.amedd.army.mil
Phone:DSN 486-8141 or civilian 06371-15917
Address: LRMC Box 799 CMR 402 APO AE 09l80

Consultation:

30 minutes before and after class and by appointment

Required Texts and Readings:

Corey, G. & Corey, M. (2002). Groups: Process and Practice (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Supplementary Readings:

All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills.

Corey, G., Schneider Corey, M, Haynes, R. (2000) Evolution of A Group, Student Video & Workbook. CA: Brooks and Cole.

Recommended Journals:

A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed on the Counseling Webboard at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/graduate/webboards/

Journal of Counseling Psychology at http://www.apa.org/journals/cou.html

Journal of Group Work

Course Description:

Prerequisites:  PSYC 502 and PSYC 534.  The primary objective of this course is to acquaint students with important skills that are considered to be prerequisites for effective group counseling as well as working with other kinds of groups. These skills include the basics of group dynamics and an introduction to the laboratory training method of working with groups. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: GUCO 531 or EDCP 617.

Course Goals:

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the theoretical concepts and fundamentals of group counseling as outlined in the CACREP common-core curriculum area of Group Work. Students will examine counseling theories and research related to group work along with learning micro-skills related to group development and dynamics. The course will provide students with a  beginning knowledge of conducting a group. An experiential component as a simulated counseling group will provide opportunities for practice and for personal and professional development.

Course Objectives:

1. Know the major theories of group counseling. 
2. Be able to apply group therapeutic techniques.
3. Have acquired group counseling skills.
4. Be familiar with problems encountered in group counseling.
5. Be familiar with ethical issues in group counseling.
6. Understand personal development through group activities.
7. Understand individual, interpersonal, and intragroup issues that occur in group counseling.

Grading Information:

Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:

A 92%
B 80 – 91%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%

Basis for Grading:
. Class participation and attendance........35 pts
. Position papers and group presentation....15 pts
. Final Paper...............................25 pts
. Final Examination.........................25 pts

Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs.

Course Requirements:

Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society.

In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:

Participate in classroom discussions...........10%
Write graduate level papers or case studies....30%
Orally/visually present prepared material......20%
Complete one or more written examination(s)....40%

Description of Course Requirements:

Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class and approximately ten hours of preparation per week for a DE class.

Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables.

Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.

Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.

The quality and degree of participation in class discussion constitute class participation. Participation also includes class attendance, punctuality, group project (both written and oral), and active use of the Web Board.

Students will form groups of four and will submit a written proposal for any of the following group populations: Children, Adolescents, Adults and Elderly. Further guidance about the structure and length of the group poject will be given on the first day of class.

Students will submit three short papers:

. Ethical Issue Position Paper. Based on Chapter 3 of the text
book, select a particular ethical issue of interest to you
as a group leader and develop your ideas on this question
(about 2-1/2 pages).

. Your Most Difficult Member. See yourself dealing with
a form of resistance or a particular behavior problem
of a group member. How is this particular behavior
troubling you and how you are going to deal with it
therapeutically (about 2-1/2 pages).

. Group Leadership Issue. Based on the chapters of the text,
select a group leadership topic to explore. Be specific and
take a stand (about 2-1/2 pages)

FINAL PAPER. This paper is to be written in two parts.

PART I: Review carefully Chapters 1&2 of the class text book
and describe in detail your own theoretical orientation to
group work. Complete the "Attitude Questionnaire" and "Self-
Assessment of Group leadership Skills" and include a
description of your own personal qualities and group
leadership skills. Be specific about techniques and leadership
styles that impressed you and those that did not.

PART II: Seccessful group work depends very much on your
ability to lead the group through the various stages of group
interaction. Successful execution of each of the four stages
(initial, transitional, working and closing) calls for an
awareness of the obstacles and challenges that group members
are expected to encounter as they move through the various
levels of group interaction. Give a clear concise and detailed
description of the assets and leadership qualities that will
enable you to handle the challenges every group leader is most
likely to face throughout the four stages of the group process
(about 10-12 pages).

SMALL GROUPS. Almost half of the time throughout the entire course
is allotted to small group participation. You will have several
opportunities to co-lead your small group and receive afeedback from fellow participatns in your group and the supervisor. To make these small groups work effectively, you will need to participate in a
personal way, by sharing your thoughts and feelings as it pertains
to what it is like for you to be part of your experiential group.
You are expected to give feedback to others and also to listen to
and consider feedback you receive from others.

WEB BOARD. Students will be enrolled in Web Board conference for GUCO 531 Group Counseling. This is designed as interim tool of
communication between weekend classes. Students will make use of the Web Board by sharing their thoughts, feelings and insights as it pertains to their group experience. As part of their "class participation", students will avail themselves of the Web Board
following each of the weekend group experience.

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNED READINGS AND PAPERS

. Assigned readings should be carefully read and studied before
each weekend session. This requires that students purchase
the Class Textbook for GUCO 531 at least a week prior to the
first weekend. Read twice Chapters 1,2,3,4 & 5.

. Papers are to be typed, double spaced in APA format; grammar
punctuation and spelling should be excellent. Your writing
style should make your meaning clear. Poorly written papers
will be returned for revision. Papers are expected on time,
so plan your work accordingly.

Course Schedule:

This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.

Course Synopsis and Dates:
June 4-5, 18-19
July 9-10, 23-24

WEEK ONE

Initial meeting:
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to subject

Second meeting:
Ethical Issues in Group Work
The Group Counselor as a Person
Issues in Forming Groups

Third meeting:
Introduction to Initial Stage of a Group
Begin Small Groups

Fourth meeting:
Lecture, Demonstration, and Discussion
Issues during the Initial Stage
Groups Characteristics of Early Stage of Groups
Role of Leaders and Members
Clarification of Goals
Demonstration: Initial Stage

Assigned Readings for Week One: Chapters 1,2,3,4&5

WEEK TWO

Fifth meeting:
Transition Stage, Demonstration and Discussion
Characteristics of Transition Stage
Key Tasks

Sixth meeting:
Conflict and Confrontation
Leader's Reaction to Resistance
Small Groups

Seventh meeting:
Dealing with Resistance and Difficult Group Members
Demonstration
Student Led Groups (with supervision)

Eighth meeting:
Assessment of Progress of the Small Group Sessions
Proposal for Group Reports

Assigned Readings for Week Two: Chapter 6,
Selected readings from the Theory and Practice of Group
Psychotherapy (Yalom, I. D. 4th Edition)

WEEK THREE

Ninth meeting:
The Working Stage, Lecture, Demonstration and Discussion
Group Process at Working Stage and Issues
Characteristics of the Group at the Working Stage
Differences between Working and Nonworking Groups

Tenth meeting:
Discussion on How to Assess Group
Therapeutic Factors of Group: Survey of Major Therapeutic
Fators and How change occurs in Groups

Eleventh meeting:
Overview of Some Theories of Group Counseling:
Theories Dealing with Cognition, with Expression of
Feelings, with Behavior (action plan)
Integration of Thinking, Feeling and Doing
Ways to Apply Theory to Group Work

Twelfth meeting:
Developing Your Own Style of Group Leadership
Student Led Groups (supervision)
Reflecting on weekend (assessment of progress of small
group sessions)
Proposal for Group Reports

Assigned Readings for Week Three: Chapter 7
Selected Readings from the Theory and Practice of
Psychotherapy (Yalom, I. D.)

WEEK FOUR

Thirteenth meeting:
Final Stage, Lecture, Demonstration and Discussion
Focus of the Ending Stage of Group
Tasks of the Final Stage

Fourteenth meeting:
Methods of Helping Members Integrate Learning
Specific Techniques for the Final Stage
Challening Members to Develop Action Plans

Fifteenth meeting:
Evaluationof the Group Experience
Student Led Groups (with supervision)
Summarize and Integrate Learning

Sixteenth meeting:
Each Group presents Highlight of Group Development
All written reports/assignments due
Final Examination
Class Evaluations

Academic Policies:

Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.

The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."

Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:

Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities

Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.

Faculty Bio:

Dr. Clement Marcantonio earned Doctor of Education degree in Psychology, Marriage and Family at the University of Northern Colorado; he is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and National Certified Counselor; pursued post-doctoral training in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Palo Alto Mental Research Institute, CA., and at Milano Systemic Family Therapy Center; presently,works with Groups at the In-Patient Psychiatric Clinic at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center; has taught graduate courses in excess of 25 years for the University of Southern Cal, Boston University and University of Maryland.


Last updated by Clement Marcantonio: July 7, 2005, 9:15 pm
Find this syllabus linked from the schedule at: http://www.ed.umuc.edu/schedule