DEPARTMENT of PSYCHOLOGY & COUNSELING
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Pittsburg State University
Summer 2009
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Course Number: PSYCH 826-50
Title: Contemporary/Ethical Issues in
School Counseling
Credit Hour: 1
Course Time Schedule: June 22-25;
2:00-6:00 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. (201 WH)
Instructor: Becky Brannock, Ph.D., LPC Office Phone: (620)235-4569
Professor
rbrannoc@pittstate.edu
Office: 205A Whitesitt Hall
Office Hours: M -Th:12-2 & F:10-12
(Additional times by appointment)
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Contemporary/Ethical Issues in School Counseling is a course designed to focus on the
contemporary issues school counselors face when working with children and youth in
schools. An emphasis will also be on the challenges school counselors address in
terms of ethical and legal issues. The American School Counselor Association’s and
American Counseling Association’s Codes of Ethics will be utilized.
II. PREREQUISITES
PSYCH 745; Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy and PSYCH 814; Program
Planning and Management in School Counseling or permission of the instructor.
III. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of the course is to prepare school counselors employed in elementary and
secondary settings, to work with students on a variety of contemporary issues. The
challenge of addressing ethical and legal issues will also be a focus of the course.
IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
A. Be aware of the importance of lifelong professional development and become
familiar with the major professional associations in the school counseling field.
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B. Organize and conduct classroom guidance activities, small groups, and teacher
inservice workshops which address current societal and environmental conditions.
C. Understand the utilization and importance of referral sources within the community
setting.
D. Be familiar with ASCA’s & ACA’s codes of ethics and the ramifications of ethical and
legal issues school counselors face.
V. REQUIRED TEXTS
No texts will be required, as supplemental materials will be incorporated.
VI. INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Huey, W.C., & Remley, T.P., Jr. (2002). Ethical and legal issues in school
counseling. Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association.
Metcalf, L. (2002). Counseling toward solutions. West Nyack, NY: The
Center for Applied Research in Education.
Sklare, Gerald B. (2005). Brief counseling that works: A solution-focused approach for
school counselors and administrators.Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc.
Stone, C. (2005). School counseling principles ethics and law. Alexandria, VA:
American School Counselor Association.
JOURNALS:
Professional School Counseling
The Journal of Counseling & Development
Counseling Today (tabloid)
ASCA School Counselor (published bi-monthly)
VII. TEACHING STRATEGIES
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Lectures and classroom discussions
Readings in journals and supplemental materials
Group activities
Student presentations
Guest speakers
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VIII. REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
A. Attendance is crucial as well as participation in class discussion. Points will be
assigned accordingly (see grading scale below).
B. Activities
1. Activity #1: Visit a school counselor (preferably meet with the counselor at his or her
school setting, if possible) for the level you intend to work with. The purpose is to ask
questions regarding the school counseling program, obtain resource ideas, get input on
contemporary issues students face today and pertinent, challenging ethical or legal
issues, etc. Submit a two page, double spaced, typed summary of what you learned.
(DUE DATE: June 24, 2009)
2. Activity #2: Make a classroom presentation from one of the assigned topics of
contemporary issues school counselors are challenged with and must address today
when working with children and youth in the school setting.
(PRESENTATION DATES: June 24 & 25, 2009)
C.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Evaluation Criteria:
Attendance/Classroom Participation
Topic Presentation
School Counselor Visit
TOTAL
D.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Grading Scale:
A = 150-135 points
B = 134-120 points
C = 119-105 points
D = 104-90 points
F = 89 points & below
50 points
50 points
50 points
150 points
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Course Outline
-Summer 2009-
M(6/22):Professionalism & Professional Associations; Ethical Decision Making Model;
Codes of Ethics; Ethical Dilemmas Discussion
T(6/23): Ethical Dilemmas Discussion, cont.; Processing Ethical Dilemmas; MTSS/RTI
speaker
W(6/24):Solution Focused Brief Therapy with Children and Youth;
TOPIC PRESENTATIONS: Bullying, Cutting & Self-Mutilation, Eating Disorders
SCHOOL COUNSELOR VISITS DUE.
Th(6/25): TOPIC PRESENTATIONS, cont.: Strengths Based School Counseling,
SIT/504’s, Creative Counseling Techniques; High School Counselor speaker
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