Faculty Contact Information:
Dr Clement Marcantonio
Email: clement.marcantonio@lnd.amedd.army.mil
Phone: DSN 486-8769 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:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author
Corey, G. & Corey, M. (2005). Groups: Process and Practice (7th 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.
Yalom, I.D. (1995) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (4th Edition)., Basic Books | |
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 | |
Course Description:
| Prerequisites: PSYC 502 and PSYC 734. This course is not offered online but must be taken onsite. 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. As this course replaces GUCO 531, students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: GUCO 731, 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:
|
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
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 and legal issues in group counseling.
6. Understand personal development through group activities.
7. Understand individual, interpersonal, and intragroup issues that occur in group counseling.
8. Demonstrate an enhanced self-awareness of personal strengths, interests, and abilities. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 - 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F 69% and Below
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. | |
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:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most fourteen-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions:You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
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 coursework 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. APA style is mandatory for all graduate counseling course work. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level work.
Orally/visually present prepared material:You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In an onsite course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In an online 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 for successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used in 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 participationin class discusssion constitute class participation. Participation also includes class attendance, punctuality, group project (both writen and oral), and active use of the WebTycho.
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 project 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 Textbook, 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 troubling you and how you are going to deal with it therapeutically (about 2-1/2 pages).
. Group Leadership Issue. 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 texbook and describe in detail your own theoretical orientation to group counseling. 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: Successful 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 process (about 10-12 pages).
SMALL GROUPS. Amost 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 feedback from fellow participants 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 pertain to what it is like for you to be part of your experiential group. You are expected to give feedback toothers and also to listen to and consider feedback you receive from others.
WEBTYCHO. Students will be enrolled in WebTycho-WebBoard conference for GUCO 731 Group Counseling. This is designed as an interim tool of communication between weekend classes. Students will make use of the WebTycho-WebBoard 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 WebTycho 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 Texbook for GUCO 731 at least a week prior to the first weekend. Read 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:
Course Synopsis amd Dates:
Weekend format: 31 March/1 April, 21/22 April, 5/6 and 19/20 May
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.
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 Froming Groups
Third meeting:
Introduction to Initial Stage of a Group
Begin Small Groups
Fourth meeting:
Lecture, Demostration, and Discussion
Issues during the Initial Stage
Groups Characteristics of Early Stage of Groups
Role of Leders and Members
Clarification of Goals
Demonstration: Initial Stage.
Assigned Readings for Week One: Chapters 1,2,3,4 & 5
Fifth meeting:
Transition Stage, Demosntration 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: Chapter 6 (Texbook)
Selected readings from Theory and Practice of
Group Psychotherapy (Yalom, I,D. 4th Edition)
Ninth meeting:
The Working Stage, Lecture, Demonstation 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 Factors
How Change occurs in GRoups
Eleventh meeting:
Overview of Some Theories of Group Counseling
Theories Dealing with Cognition,with Expression of Feelings
Integration of Thinking, Feeling and Doing
Ways to Apply Theory to Group Work
Twelfth meeting:
Developing Your Own Style of Group Leadership
Student led Group (Supervision)
Reflecting on weekend (assessment of progress of small group
sessions)
Proposal for Group Reports
Assigned Readings : Chapter 7 (Textbook), Selected Readings from
the Theory and Practice Psychotherapy (Yalom, I.D.)
Thirteenth meeting:
Final Stage, Lecture, Demonstration and Discussion
Focus of the Ending Stage Group
Tasks of the Final Stage
Fourteenth meeting:
Methods of Helping Members Integrate Learing
Specific Techniques for the Final Stage
Challenging Members to Develop Action Plan
Fifteenth meeting:
Evaluation of the Group Experience
Student Led Groups (with supervision)
Summarize and Integrate Learning
Sixteenth meeting:
Student Presentations
All written reports/assignments due
Final Exam
Class Evaluations
Course 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 the Milano Systemic Family Therapy Center; presently, works as Credentialed Group Leader 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. | |