WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Virtual Campus
Wayland Mission Statement
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused, and
distinctively Christian environment for professional success, and service to God and humankind.
Course Title, Number, and Section: CNSL 5303 - Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling
Term: Winter 2015
Instructor: Dr. Shannon Hicks
Contact Information: WBU Email Address: Shannon.hicks@wayland.wbu.edu
Office Hours, Building, and Location: virtual campus
Class Meeting Time and Location: virtual campus http://virtualcampus.wbu.edu
Catalog Description: Study of cultural factors, poverty, ethnicity, ageism, and disabilities and how these factors
impact and affect cognitions, emotions, behavior and social interactions in both the school and community setting.
Ethical issues related to multicultural aspects of counseling will be addressed as well.
There is no prerequisite for this course
Required Textbook(s) and/or Required Material(s):
Title:
Author(s):
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
Edition / Copyright:
Publisher:
Book Type:
Counseling the Culturally Diverse
Sue, Derald Wing / Sue, David
1-118-02202-5
978-1-118-02202-3
6TH 13 - Current Edition
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hardback
Optional Materials: will be loaded on the Blackboard course for review
Course Outcome Competencies: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
 To discuss the relevance of diversity from an individual, group, and global perspective.
 To explain the theoretical and practical models pertaining to diversity issues in counseling.
 To become familiar with research related to racial-cultural issues.
 To utilize critical thinking skills.
 To expand awareness of contemporary racial-cultural issues.
 To increase self-awareness around diversity issues.
Attendance Requirements: Virtual Campus
Students are expected to participate in all required instructional activities in their courses. Online courses are no
different in this regard; however, participation must be defined in a different manner. Student “attendance” in an
online course is defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Instructors in
online courses are responsible for providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate
in the course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional activities within their
course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for documenting student participation. These mechanisms
may include, but are not limited to, participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments
in Blackboard, or communicating with the instructor. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the
professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements. Any student absent
25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 3 or more weeks of an 11 week term, may
receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress for students with
excessive non-participation. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census
date for any given term is considered a “no-show” and will be administratively withdrawn from the class without
record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and view the course. The student must
be submitting work as described in the course syllabus. Additional attendance and participation policies for each
course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance
policy.
Disability Statement: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of
Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in,
be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the
university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and
should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a disability must
accompany any request for accommodations.
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria:
EVALUATION OF STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE/COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS:
400 points
% of grade
Final Exam (Week 10)
100 points
25%
Discussion Board Posts over textbook material (30 pts per wk)
300 points
75%
In order to receive full credit for your weekly discussion posts:
Assignment
criteria
Possible points
Post answer to the
weekly discussion board
Question thread(s).
-200 word minimum
-Cite references in APA
-Post before Wednesday
@8pm
-100 word minimum
-Respond on 2 separate
days
-Post each reply before
Saturday @ 8pm
20 possible points
Post 2 responses to
separate student’s posted
answers for each
question, each week.
10 possible points for
each week
Students are required to read the chapter(s) before doing their discussion board assignments. The discussion board
serves many functions. It provides the opportunity for students to share their personal experiences, point of view,
insight, knowledge base, wisdom, and understanding of the course work material. Collaborative learning is
important in that it expands the learning contexts and allows students to explore course material in several different
ways. I will post grades every (2) weeks.
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF =
withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within
the last two days of a micro term to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or
other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work
required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an
earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the “I” is converted to an “F”.
Student grade appeals:
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A
student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or
appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process
described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course
bypass examinations. Appeals limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any
stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive
Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty
Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more
proper evaluation.
Tentative Schedule:
Professor reserves right to modify syllabus as needed. This outline may be altered somewhat so please review the
posted syllabus and email messages periodically throughout the semester for clarification & updated information.
Consult catalog for important deadlines such as add/drop, withdrawal, etc.
See assignment section on black board course.
Additional Information:
1. Use ONLY this email address for ALL course related email messages: Shannon.hicks@wayland.wbu.edu
2. Look over assignments and ask questions during the weekdays so that you get the information you need before
the weekend. I may not respond on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. Students are responsible for all items listed in the syllabus, revised syllabus, sent to your email address & what is
posted within the virtual campus Black Board course as of the first day of the course. Stating that you were unaware
of an exam date will not be an acceptable reason to take the exam late.
4. This course operates off of Central Standard Time Zone. Do not wait until the last day something is due to
complete the assignment. Things happen. I suggest that you also save your work in Microsoft Word on your
personal computer. I will not accept late work for any reason. You are college students and I will hold you
responsible. Textbooks should be purchased and obtained prior to the first day of the course. Late assignments
will not be accepted due to books arriving late.
MAKE-UP WORK: Not allowed. Discussion board posts must be submitted during the correct week in order for it
to be an interaction/discussion among students. This is where the participation piece of the course is documented.
To receive attendance credit you must post answers and replies on the discussion board 2Xs a week at minimum.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Read the Policy on Academic Integrity found in the current edition of the Wayland
Baptist University catalog. If I feel that people are cheating on exams, I reserve the right to change the testing
procedure. This is a college course- please respect your integrity and mine. Quizzes and exams are not designed to
be taken “open book as fast as I can find the answers”.
Technical Issues – please contact Virtual Campus technical support. They are awesome and will help you out
quickly.
Netiquette Rules
Written communication in an online community is an extremely important factor in all our online educational
programs. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is crucial to the success of all online learning
programs. Below you will find a list of rules to follow as you proceed through your online courses.
Instructors and Students in an Online Community Should Be:
Considerate: Treat each other with respect. Take the time to read and respond to each other in such a way that a
learning environment can continue to develop. Format your post so that everyone can learn from your knowledge,
skills and abilities.
Encouraging: Not everyone has had previous online experience. Some may spend more time observing (reading
other students postings, remaining invisible for some time) than others. Notice the habits of your students and
classmates. Provide encouragement for creative and critical conversation.
Helpful: Even a well-presented course can create some confusion. It is very easy to lose your place or miss reading
information on certain links or pages. When other students are lost, offer a helping hand by pointing them in the
right online direction so they can regain their confidence in online learning.
Aware: We all have had different life experiences. Be aware that your written word is the only form of
communication in an asynchronous learning environment. Use your words carefully. Ask yourself if your comment
could possibly be interpreted as insulting, disrespectful, discriminating, mocking, or rude. How would you feel if
this comment was directed toward you?
The following behaviors should be avoided:
Shouting: Using all capital letters when communicating in an online environment is known as shouting. This usage
is considered a rude method of communicating. Avoid using all capital letters in your online communications.
Impatience: Once you have posted a question or concern to your instructor, please wait patiently for a reply.
There is no reason to bully your instructor or make judgment calls about their performance. In an online
community, patience is a virtue.
The following behaviors are disruptive to the learning environment and will not be tolerated.
Flaming: Flaming is the term used for behaving disrespectfully to others online. This behavior includes, but is not
limited to, mocking, shouting, cursing, humiliating and discriminating against someone in the online environment.
Disrespect: Impolite and impertinent behavior such as putting down or cursing your instructor or any student in an
online classroom will not be tolerated. PLEASE note: Tone and presentation of your thoughts are very important. If
you disagree with a posting or find one to be personally insulting, please find a way to respond politely or contact
the Online Instructional Specialist for a review of the content.
Offensiveness: An online classroom is not the place for graphic terminology, sexual discussions, swearing, or any
pornographic resources. Inappropriate language and materials of this nature are inexcusable and constitutes
unacceptable behavior.
Discrimination: Derogatory statements about race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, disability,
sexual orientation, and veterans will not be tolerated
http://catalog.wbu.edu