Faculty Contact Information:
All class related issues should be addressed using WebTycho. For personal issues please use my E-mail: tsommerfield@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
Note: An updated text is used for this class:
Wagner, W.G. (2008) Counseling, Psychology, and Children, 2nd Ed. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall.
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Consultation:
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For any comments, questions, or concerns of a personal nature, please use email as listed above.
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Required Texts and Readings:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Golden, L.B. (2001) Case Studies in Child and Adolescent Counseling. (3rd. ed.) Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall.
Wagner, W.G. (2002) Counseling, Psychology, and Children: A Muiltidimensional Approach to Intervention. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall.
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Supplementary Readings:
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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.
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Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
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Prerequisite: PSYC 502. This course addresses the specific developmental stages, needs, and problems of children and adolescents. Techniques for counseling these groups will be illustrated through demonstrations and personal growth and development activities. As this course replaces GUCO 540, students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: GUCO 840 or GUCO 540.
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Course Goals:
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This course is designed to enable students to become familiar with the major theories of counseling as they apply to children and adolescents. 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. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of problem behavior in children and adolescents and the theoretical, societal, cultural, ethnic, family, and other factors involved.
2. Develop an understanding of the importance of societal, spiritual, cultural, and ethnic sensitivity in working with this population and with parents.
3. Acquire knowledge and skills in the use of methods and techniques of enhancing self-esteem in children and adolescents, individually and in their peer groups.
4. Identify problems that have potential for precipitating a family crisis and to develop skills in counseling with school staff and others on strategies to ameliorate problems.
5. Identify facilities and programs both traditional and non-traditional, including technological advances developed to meet the needs of children and adolescents.
6. Develop skills and techniques for counseling children and adolescents, both individually and in groups.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the organizations, legal and ethical standards, and legal and ethical issues in dealing with children and adolescents.
8. Demonstrate an enhanced self-awareness of personal strengths, interests, and abilities.
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Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 - 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F 69% and Below
GRADES AND GRADING: Students who wish to excel in this course must give evidence of critical thinking, and demonstrate an ability to thoughtfully compose and carry out the written assignments. Students should interact with their fellow students in WebTycho Topic Areas. 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 each other and ourselves supportively, we all learn and grow!
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:
(Grading Summary - % weights of Requirements)
WebTycho Assignments/Participation - 45%
Case Study Report - 20%
Film Report - 20%
Final Exam - 15%
Total - 100%
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Description of Course Requirements:
Grades will be given based on mastery of course objectives, class (WebTycho) participation and written assignments, and written Projects.
WebTycho Assignments and Participation - There will be WebTycho assignments to be posted each week (except between terms 'break'). "Due date" means midnight on Sundays, on the due date, in your time zone. You will be further reminded, AND can ask questions about, upcoming weekly assignments week by week. Please do not be tardy with work.
Because we are working on the internet (WebTycho), class participation is significant!! You are expected to read the required readings by the beginning of the appropriate week, then must log onto WebTycho, submit work and comments with appropriate references cited, and respond to others weekly. WebTycho assignments and Participation are worth 45 points. An important note, for WebTycho assignments: on your WebTycho postings, I want YOUR thoughts and observations, NOT a "cut and paste" from your textbooks; it is important that you take the ideas and concepts from the texts and "make them your OWN"!! Also, no plagiarism! We need to make this as 'experiential' as possible using a distance education format.
Written Projects - There are TWO Written Projects.
The first Written Project is to give a minimum six page report on a Case Study as presented in the Golden textbook. I will post further guidelines and instructions while choosing which chapter/case each of you will do. You'll post your Case Study Report onto WebTycho, in your Case Study (assignment) folder and is worth 20 points.
The second Written Project is a Film Report - a movie chosen by you, (approved by me via my email), that displays a troubled child as a main character. You then will write a minimum six page report describing the character and what you might recommend as a treatment approach in order to assist her/him and/or family while sharing your reasoning. This Film report will be posted in your Film Assignment Folder and is worth 20 points.
Mastery of objectives will be tested by a "Take Home" Final Examination, during the last week of the course. The Final will be worth 15 points, and will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. This is an open book exam that really just another learning enhancement tool in this course. Nothing to freak out about of course!
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Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 10 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 dates: 12 November – 27 January 2007
Break: 24 – 30 December 07
Initial meeting:
Welcome, Getting Started, and Introductions.
Orientation to subject.
Reading - Chapter 1, Wagner text.
A Multidimensional Approach to Child Therapy
Second meeting:
Reading - Chapter 2 & 3, Wagner text.
Developmentally and Culturally Sensitive Therapies; Ethical and Legal Issues
Case Study assignments given from the Golden books.
Third meeting:
Reading - Chapter 4, Wagner text.
Contemporary Issues: Managed Mental Health Care, Brief Therapies, and Empirically Supported Therapies for Children
Fourth meeting:
Reading - Chapter 5 & 6, Wagner text.
Assessment: The First Step and Art & Science, Process and Outcome
Fifth meeting:
Reading - Chapter 7 & 8, Wagner text.
Psychodynamic Theory & Interventions
Assignment Due: Case Study Report using the Golden text
Sixth meeting:
Reading - Chapters 9 & 10, Wagner text.
Child-Centered Theory and Interventions
* BREAK *
Seventh meeting:
Reading - Chapters 11 & 12, Wagner text.
Behavior and Cognitive-Behavioral Theory and Interventions
Eighth meeting:
Reading - Chapters 13 & 14, Wagner text.
Family Systems Theory and Interventions
Ninth meeting:
Reading - Chapters 15 - 17, Wagner text.
Consultation; Psychopharmacotherapy…; Integrated Approaches
Tenth meeting:
**** "Take Home" FINAL EXAM****
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Academic Policies:
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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."
Course Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw from a DE course is Friday before the last full week of the course. The last day to withdraw from an on-site course is the last business day before the last class meeting.
Students with disabilities should contct:
Director of Student Services
UMUC-Europe, UNIT 29216
APO AE 09102
Or: Im Bosseldorn 30, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
Phone: +49-6221-378-299
Email: edstudent_svc@ed.umuc.edu
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:
Dr. Tom Sommerfield earned his A.A. in General Studies, a B.S. in Psychology, and a M.Ed. in Counseling & Personnel Services all through University of Maryland programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Family Psychology from Capella university. His primary interests are with parenting styles, divorce issues, and children's exposure to media and/or domestic violence.
Dr. Sommerfield has lived in the Heidelberg, Germany area for about 19 years since leaving high school and joining the U.S. Army. After four successful years as a soldier and being assigned to the Department of Psychiatry in an Army hospital, he has been working as a "civilian" in the Heidelberg military community since 1990. He is married to a wonderful German woman and has a beautiful little family. His son Jerome Thomas is now seven and his daughter Sydney Joy is five.
He has also completed work as the drummer in a very successful music project in the Heidelberg/Karlsruhe area. Although there is a new drummer in his place, he made "guest appearances" when the group performed nearby. (www.sammy-goes-nuts.de) Dr. Sommerfield returned to the states (September 2006) after all these years to start a clinical position as a supervisor of a Functional Family Therapy team. This is with the Child Guidance Clinic of Greater Waterbury, Inc. located in Connecticut. He and his family currently live northeast of Waterbury in (ironically) Berlin, CT.
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