Faculty Contact Information:
Dr. Mary Guindon
UMUC-Europe
PSC 37 Box 4238
APO AE 09459
mguindon@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
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Consultation:
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By appointment and via email
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Required Texts and Readings:
Whiston, S. (2005). Principles & Applications of Assessment in Counseling. 2nd Ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Zimmerman,M. (1994). Interview Guide for Evaluating DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorders & the Mental Status Examination. East Greenwich, RI: Psych Products Press.
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Supplementary Readings:
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Additional handouts will be provided in class.
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 wri
ting skills.
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Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
This course explores the basic concepts of quantifying behavior including validity, reliability, norms, and methods of expressing test scores statistically. The course examines theoretical and multicultural
issues in assessment and emphasizes standardized and non-standardized instruments, methods of communicating test results, and planning the school and non-school testing program. Practice in test interpretation is provided. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: GUCO 510 or EDCP 615.
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Course Goals:
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This course is designed to enable students to become familiar with general theories of counseling as they apply to subjective assessment, tests and their measurement. It will assist students in preparing for the comprehensive exam and will prepare them for professional practice.
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Course Objectives:
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At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Respond to verbal and non-verbal behavior of clients so as to facilitate the process of assessment.
2. Identify and assess problems presented by the client.
3. Formulate counseling strategy appropriate to the client’s concerns and needs.
4. Use and interpret various interest inventories, aptitude tests, and other measures related to education and career choices.
5. Identify assessment limitations that stem from gender, multicultural, special needs clients, and other issues.
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Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 92%
B 80 – 91%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" 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.
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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 successfully complete or participate in:
1. Class Participation and Discussion----------10%
2. Mental Status Exam and Psychosocial History 15%
3. Self-Assessment Project---------------------15%
4. Case Study and Presentation-----------------25%
5. Midterm Examination-------------------------15%
6. Final Examination---------------------------20%
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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.
1.Participate in classroom discussions (10%of final grade)
You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. The “give & take” of the class discussion is a key learning experience and cannot be fully experienced unless the student regularly attends and contributes to the discussion. Unexcused absence/poor participation may negatively impact your grade.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables.
Expectations for Written Work
APA style should be followed including 12pt font, double-spacing, and one-inch margins. No elaborate bindings, a staple in the top left corner is sufficient. It is the instructor’s expectation that all writing will be of graduate level quality.
2. Mental Status Exam and Psychosocial History (15% of final grade)
Interview in depth a person who is unrelated to you. You will conduct a full Mental Status exam and psychosocial history and assessment. Before you begin you will have the interviewee sign an informed consent form and you will adhere to all ethical standards. You will ascertain past and present psychosocial history, in four major areas: family of origin and childhood; marriage and adult family;
education and occupation; and lifestyle and habits. Based on your findings, you will write an analysis and summary in APA format Guidelines will be provided in class.
3. Self-Assessment Project (15% of final grade)
Take four online assessment instruments. Each student will be purchasing a collection of tests and assessments (The Assessment Battery). All four will be self-administered, scored, interpreted and summarized in a test report on yourself, in an appropriate format. Your Self Assessment MUST include your psychosocial history, assessment of your own Mental Status, and ALL the tests that you self-administer. You will prepare an appraisal report including biographical information on the client (yourself) and results of the four above instruments. Protocol for making such a report will be discussed in class.
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.
4. Case Study and Presentation and Group Consultation-(25% of final grade) Students will choose one of three case studies provided in class and write a complete case history and treatment plan based on the information provided. Included in your case study will be an appraisal of the formal and informal information provided, a summary and interpretation of the assessment results, a review of each assessment instrument, a plan for conveying assessment information to the client, and recommendations for treatment plans based upon the findings. You will include the type of services you recommend for the client and relevant cultural and socio-demographic factors. Your assessment reviews will include a detailed critique for each instrument with a rationale for their inclusion or exclusion in this case study. One of your test reviews must be at least 5 typewritten pages and includes a minimum of 5 published references, formatted in APA style. Guidelines will be distributed in class. This paper should be a total of 12-15 pages. In addition, the student will prepare a one-page assessment results summary to share in class as a group presentation and consultation.
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.
5. Midterm Examination(15% of final grade)
The mid-term will cover Whitson Chs. 1-4,6,12, and 14 and consist of all readings, handouts, and lectures to date.
6. The Final examination. (20% of final grade)
The final exam will cover Whitson Chs. 5, 7-11, 13, 15 and consist of all readings, handouts, and lectures.
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Course Schedule:
Course Schedule:
The course is scheduled over four weekends from August 20-October 2.
NOTE: There will be only one class meeting on the weekend of September 10/11. We will meet on Saturday September 10 It is strongly suggested that you use Sunday, September 11, to study for your mid-term, complete your self-assessment project and begin work on the Case Study project.
This schedule presents 14 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.
FIRST WEEKEND: Saturday, August 20
1. Introduce ourselves, experiences with testing
2. Review and clarification of syllabus
3. Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
4. What is Assessment? Nature and Historical context
5. Ethical Issues
Assignments Due: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE THE START OF CLASS
Whitson, Read Ch 1, 14; review Appendices B,C
Zimmerman, review pp. 1-3, 120-124
Handouts will be distributed in class.
FIRST WEEKEND: Sunday, August 21
1. Basic Assessment Principles
2. Initial Assessment, Psychosocial History, Mental Status Exams
3. Assessment and Diagnosis
Assignments Due:
Whitson, Read Ch. 2, 6, 12, begin Ch. 3
Zimmerman, review pp. 132-141
Homework:
Begin online self-assessments
SECOND WEEKEND: Saturday, September 10
Mental Status/Psychosocial assignment due
1. Testing Principles: Reliability
2. Testing Principles: Validity
Assignments Due:
Whitson, complete Ch. 3, Read Ch 4. Handouts
Homework:
Work on course requirement assignments
THIRD WEEKEND: Saturday, September 17
1. Midterm Exam Chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 14
2. Selection, Administration, Scoring, Communicating Results
3. Using Assessment in Treatment Planning and Counseling
Assignments Due:
Whitson, Read Ch. 5,13
THIRD WEEKEND: Sunday, September 18
1. Self-Assessment project due
2. Diversity Issues in Assessment
3. Categories of Assessment Instruments: Intelligence and Achievement, Career, and Personality assessment
Assignments Due:
Whitson, Ch 7, 8, 9, 10 15, Appendix D
Homework:
Review assessment online standards, critiques, manuals, catalogs
HANDOUTS
FOURTH WEEKEND: Saturday, October 8
1. Categories of Assessment Instruments: Marriage and Family
2. In-class genograms.
3. Case Studieies due
4. Case Study Group presentation and consultation
AssignmentsDue:
Whitson Ch. 11, 16
Handouts
Homework:
Prepare for final
FOURTH WEEKEND: Sunday, October 9
1. Final Examination
2. Planning Testing Programs – in-class work
3. Technology and Future Trends
4. Evaluations and Wrap up
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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.
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Faculty Bio:
Mary Guindon is a collegiate professor and holds a PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Virginia. She is currently on sabbatical from Johns Hopkins University where she is associate professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and Human Services. A licensed clinical professional counselor(in Md) and a licensed psychologist (in PA), she serves on the ACA Professional Publications Committee and is on the editorial board of NCDA's Career Development Quarterly. She is past president of NJMHCA and NJACES, past secretary of Maryland Association for Counseling and Development (MACD), and former district consultant for AMHCA. Most recently she served on the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as the higher education representative and state licensure consultant. Her areas of expertise are mental health and career development, self-esteem, and counselor accountability and training. She is also an organizational consultant and trainer.
I'm thrilled to be teaching for the military community. I am a former wife and daughter of Army officers and spent a happy three years in Germany long ago and have fond memories of my time there.
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