Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
LIFC 502 Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
LIFC 502
ADVANCED LIFE COACHING SKILLS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Life coaching is a rapidly growing field that is a natural complement to the counseling profession. It involves mentoring or guiding an individual as they explore the requisite skills,
knowledge, confidence, and goals that they will need to become proficient and successful in the
area(s) in which they are being coached. This course will address some of the more advanced
skills with which the experienced life coach should become adept.
RATIONALE
As a basis for their work, life coaches should have a thorough understanding of coaching models,
theory, and application. This understanding serves to heighten the coaches’ effectiveness in formulating effective coaching strategies and in aiding in the delivery of advice in an efficient and
timely manner.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Word
IV. MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
The student will be able to:
A.
Examine and explain the contemporary issues addressed within the field of life
coaching.
B.
Analyze the major theoretical models in life coaching and how they relate to the
actual practice of coaching.
C.
Appraise life coaching and it’s applicability in the context of people’s lives.
D.
Compare and contrast coaching with counseling and social work.
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LIFC 502 Syllabus
E.
Construct a framework from which life coaching services can be aptly delivered.
This includes looking at advanced life coaching skills.
F.
Analyze the difference between secular and Christian models of life coaching.
These course objectives are designed to fulfill the following Psychology Department Learning Outcomes:
A.
Synthesize and apply an array of life coaching theories from within an integrated
Christian worldview.
B.
Compare and critique the various ethical and legal standards in the life coaching
discipline.
C.
Analyze the delivery of life coaching services in order to develop a coaching
strategy in accordance with a distinctly biblical worldview and established best
practices.
D.
Compare and contrast diverse individuals within a developmental systems context
in order to effectively determine appropriate coaching strategies.
V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes:
Regular readings will be assigned to allow you to complete the reading of your
required text within the eight weeks allotted for the course. This assignment meets
learning outcomes A, B, C, & D.
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the
related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums
The student is expected to make regular postings to the Discussion Board topics
provided. There will be six graded forums that represent 30 percent of the student’s final grade. Threads must be at least 250 words. Additionally, the student
will post a reply (no less than 150 words in length) to at least 1 other student’s
thread. This assignment meets learning outcomes A, B, C, D, E, & F.
D.
4Mat Paper
The student is expected to complete two 4Mat papers during the course of his/her
study. Instructions for completion of this paper will be found in the Assignment
Instructions folder located in the Course Content area of the course. This assignment meets learning outcomes A, B, C, D, E, & F.
E.
Movie Reviews
The student is expected to complete two movie reviews. This review (2–3 pages)
requires the student to interact with the content of the movie in a way that allows
for a better understanding of the life coaching process. The student will watch two
movies of his/her choice with a strong life coaching theme and then complete a
three-page (not including title page) critique of each movie as it relates to the
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LIFC 502 Syllabus
topic of life coaching. Further instructions for completion of these reviews can be
found in the Course Contents folder. This assignment meets learning outcomes A,
B, C, D, E, & F.
F.
Research Paper
The student will choose a life coaching topic that is of particular interest to
him/her from the textbook or course lectures and write a 10–12 page paper. There
must be sufficient research on this topic in coaching journals, so the student
should choose accordingly. This assignment will enable the student to explore an
area of interest in the area of life coaching in an in-depth manner and provide the
student with practice expressing his/her content knowledge in writing. The student must include at least 10 relevant sources in his/her paper that were written no
earlier than 2008. The student may cite articles, journals, and books (not textbooks) found unless that citation is linked to an author whose work is seminal to
your topic. This assignment must be completed adhering strictly to APA format.
This assignment meets learning outcomes A, B, C, D, E, & F.
VI. COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklis
10
Discussion Boards (6 at 50 pts ea)
300
4MAT Reviews (2 at 100 pts ea)
200
Movie Critiques (2 at 100 pts ea)
200
Research Paper
300
Total 1010
B.
Scale
A = 940–1010 A- = 920–939 B+ = 900–919 B = 860–899 B- = 840–859
C+ = 820–839 C = 780–819 C- = 760–779 D+ = 740–759 D = 700–739
D- = 680–699 F = 679 and below
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
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LIFC 502 Syllabus
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a
20% deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
class will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Tests/Exams
1.
2.
E.
For timed tests/exams students are required to complete the exam
within the assigned time. For students who exceed this time limit a
penalty of 1 point will be deducted for each minute they exceed the
assigned time limit.
Students must take the exam during the assigned module/week. Late
submissions will be penalized at 5% per day, cumulative, with no
test/exam being accepted seven (7) days after the original due date
without written approval from the professor. Whenever possible,
this approval must be sought prior to the test/exam due date.
Dual Relationship
The faculty is responsible to interact with counseling students in a supervisory capacity/role. As such, faculty may provide students professional principles, guidance, and recommendations as it relates to the context of the student-client setting.
The faculty is responsible to avoid dual relationships with students such as entering a student-counselor or student-pastor relationship. Thus, the faculty does not
provide personal counseling addressing student personal problems. If a faculty
member perceives that a student is in need of personal or professional counseling,
then that faculty member will recommend that the student pursue either pastoral
or professional assistance from a counselor in their community.
F.
Limits of Confidentiality
In the event of a student’s disclosure, either verbally or in writing, of threat of serious or foreseeable harm to self or others, abuse or neglect of a minor, elderly or
disabled person, or current involvement in criminal activity, the faculty, staff, administrator, or supervisor will take immediate action. This action may include,
but is not limited to, immediate notification of appropriate state law enforcement
or social services personnel, emergency contacts, and notification of the appropriate program chair or online dean. The incident and action taken will become part
of the student’s permanent record.
G.
Correspondence
Students are expected to communicate in a professional manner at all times whenever emailing classmates, professors, or any employee of Liberty University. Be-
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LIFC 502 Syllabus
cause there is no accompanying tone of voice, facial expressions or body language, email communication is more easily misinterpreted than face-to-face. Your
emails should be courteous and well thought out to avoid knee-jerk responses that
will be interpreted as “flaming” or sarcasm. Communicate complaints directly to
the individual involved. Do not send a blanket email to everyone in the class or to
administrative personnel until you have communicated your concerns directly to
the person involved and allowed them time to respond. Do not post a message to
the class on Blackboard that is more appropriate for an individual. Avoid offensive language of any kind.
H.
Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is strictly prohibited. See The Graduate Catalog for specific definitions, penalties, and processes for reporting.
I.
Disability Statement
Online students with a documented disability may contact the Liberty University
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY
FN Update
Students who begin a course, but at some point in the semester cease attending,
and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of
"FN" at the discretion of the instructor, dated to the student’s last date of academic activity. A grade of "FN" will be assigned when a student stops attending
and/or participating in a class for a period of 21 consecutive days or longer. "FN"
indicates that the student ceased attendance and failed to complete the course objectives. The last date of attendance will be based upon the last date that a student
submitted an academic assignment (such as an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic event). This will be the “Creation
Date” of the assignment.
Before posting the "FN" the professor must email the student after noticing at
least 14 days of nonattendance. The professor should utilize the template email
provided below to communicate the seriousness of the "FN" grade to the student.
After 21 days of nonattendance in which the student has not submitted course
work or communicated with their professor, the professor should post the "FN"
grade in the Post Final Grades area of Blackboard, along with the student’s last
date of attendance.
Students who receive a grade of "FN" may appeal to their professor to have the
grade removed to allow a resumption of work in the course. This appeal must be
communicated in written form to the faculty member within 1 week of the notification of the "FN" grade being posted. The faculty member will confer with their
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Associate Dean in order to review and make a determination concerning the status
of the appeal.
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COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
LIFC 502
Textbooks: Dunbar, Essential Life Coaching Skills. (2010).
Williams & Menendez, Becoming a Professional Life Coach (2015).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Dunbar: chs. 1–2
Williams & Menendez: chs. 1–2
1 presentation
Presentation Lecture Notes
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
Discussion Board 1
10
0
50
2
Dunbar: chs. 3–4
Williams & Menendez: chs. 3–4
1 presentation
Presentation Lecture Notes
Discussion Board 2
Movie Review 1
50
100
3
Dunbar: ch. 5
Williams & Menendez: chs. 5–6
2 presentations
Presentation Lecture Notes
Discussion Board 3
50
4
Dunbar: chs. 6–7
Williams & Menendez: chs. 7–8
1 presentation
Presentation Lecture Notes
4MAT Review 1
100
5
Dunbar: chs. 8–9
Williams & Menendez: chs. 9–10
2 presentations
Presentation Lecture Notes
Discussion Board 4
50
6
Dunbar: chs. 10–11
Williams & Menendez: chs. 11–12
1 presentation
Presentation Lecture Notes
Discussion Board 5
Movie Review 2
50
100
7
Dunbar: chs. 12–13
Williams & Menendez: chs. 13–15
2 presentations
Presentation Lecture Notes
Discussion Board 6
4MAT Review 2
50
100
8
Dunbar: ch. 14
Williams & Menendez: ch. 16
2 presentations
Presentation Lecture Notes
Research Paper
300
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
NOTE: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at
11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.