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. 

Other Readings:

McGoldrick, M., Giordano. J., Pearce, J.K. (1996) Ethnicity and
family therapy. (2nd Edition). New York: The Gulford Press.

McGoldrick, M. (1998). Re-visioning family therapy, race, culture, and gender in clinical practice. New York: The Guilford Press.

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 promote excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skilful 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, the following is required:

10% Research Paper/Group Project

15% Participation (responses to other students online)

15% Complete one chosen exercise assignment per chapter Okun.

30% Reaction papers

10% Reflection on professional article

20% Self-evaluation paper

Please submit all work on time! Assignments submitted past the deadline will automatically loose one grade!

Student participation:
Student's responses to other classmates count as student participation. This includes writing two responses to other students about their work. Responses that might be examples of feedback to them.

Reflection Paper on a Professional Article:
Write a five, single-spaced page reflection. This could be – but does not have to be -- 50% summary of the article, 50% what you think of the article (positives and negatives of the article) -- please note, this is just a suggestion -- on a professional article of your choice on the topic of this class. You can find the article on the UMUC online library. The website is on the first page this syllabus.

Research Paper (Group Assignment):
Students will research a particular topic of interest in the field of
cross-cultural counseling and psychology as a group of students. This work will be done in groups of 3 to 4 depending on the size of the class!
Because effective writing is a critical part of graduate work, all written assignments should be clear and concise, with proper grammar and spelling. This research paper should be five to seven pages long (single spaced) and should be properly referenced. I will assign each one of you to the group you will be working in!

Self-Evaluation:
The self-evaluation paper should be a four - to five - page, single-spaced paper describing the things that you are discovering through this course that you have to improve in order to become a more effective multicultural counselor.

Classroom exercise assignment: You are required to complete one exercise of your choice per chapter from the book Understanding Diversity. It should be at least one page single spaced in length. Please make sure you make a notation in the paper, which exercise you chose! This is very important due to the fact that I must see, which chapter / exercise number you worked on!

Week 1 to Week 2: October 31 to November 14

Read: Thomas, A.J., and Schwarzbaum, S. (2005). Culture and Identity: Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage for chapter 1 and chapter 2.

Complete a Reaction Paper from the assigned chapters for week 1 and week 2. The paper should be approximately 5 to 7 pages in length, single-spaced. The length of the paper will not determine the grade, only the content will. I prefer a quality 3-page work versus a not so good 7-page work. So do not feel pressured, that it has to be 7 pages in order to get a good grade on it. It has to focus on what the student has learned that specific week/s and how that learning will be personally and professionally beneficial. The due date is November 16.

Complete student responses. Please respond to other classmates. This counts as student participation. This includes writing two responses to others about their work. Responses that might be examples of feedback to them. This is due on November 16.

Classroom Exercise Assignment: Every student is required to complete one exercise of their choice in chapter one in the text Understanding Diversity. This is due on November 14!

Week 3 to Week 4: November 15 to November 29

Read: Culture and Identity: Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists for Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Complete a Reaction Paper from the assigned chapters for week 3 and week 4. This is due on November 29.

Complete Student Responses: Please respond to other classmates. This counts as student participation. This includes writing two responses to others about their work. These responses might be examples of feedback to them. This is due on December 3.

Classroom Exercise Assigment: Every student is required to complete one chosen exercise of their choice in chapter two in the text Understanding Diversity. This is due on November 29.

Week 5 and Week 6: November 30 to December 12

Read: Culture and Identity: Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists Chapters 5 and Chapters 6.

Complete a Reaction Paper from the assigned chapters for week 5 and week 6. This is due on December 12.

Complete Student Responses: Please respond to other classmates. This counts as student participation. This includes writing two responses to others about their work. These responses might be examples of feedback to them. This is due on December 15.

Classroom Exercise Assignment: Every student is required to complete one chosen exercise of their choice in chapter 3 in the text Understanding Diversity. This is due on December 12.