COUNSEL 12: Personal Growth and Development Course Syllabus
Instructor: Beth Kaiama (Mrs. K.)
Phone: (626) 585-7086
Office: Counseling L104
Email: ejkaiama@pasadena.edu
Course description:
This is a comprehensive course that integrates personal and professional growth through
the development of effective communication skills, positive self-image and self-esteem,
and strategies for problem solving and decision-making. It includes an analysis of life
events, such as the development of career and educational objectives. Emphasis is on
personal health assessment and strategies for coping with stress.
Outcomes: At the end of the course the student should be able to:
*Distinguish between positive and negative individual characteristics that impact personal, academic
and professional success. (Institutional SLO-Cognition, Communication & Personal Development)
*Apply successful strategies for decision making to thrive in personal, academic and
professional situations. (Institutional SLO-Cognition)
*Apply successful goal setting and action planning strategies to excel in personal, academic and
professional situations. (Institutional SLO-Cognition)
*Identify behaviors that undermine personal health and develop an action plan for improvement
and maximize well-being. (Institutional SLO-Cognition & Personal Development)
Course Rules for Success:
 Show up! To support my success, I choose to attend every scheduled class period in
its entirety. Any student with more than 3 absences will not pass the course.
 Do the Work! To support my success, I choose to do my very best work in preparing
all of my assignments and hand then in on time
 Participate actively! To support my success, I choose to stay mentally alert in every
class, offering my best comments, questions, and answers when appropriate
ABSENCE POLICY ( IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTEND EVERY CLASS)
Three tardy’s equal one absence.
Leaving early equals one tardy.
Three absences will result in your being dropped from the class.
If 3rd absence is after the drop date your grade will be lowered by one grade level
Journals will not be accepted if you are tardy.
Note: All 32 success journals must be completed to earn a passing grade in the course.
Required materials:

On Course, Sixth Edition, by Skip Downing
Class material in a binder,
Counseling 12, Personal Growth & Development (Buy in bookstore)
For class taught by Elizabeth Kaiama ONLY
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Grading:
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3 ring loose leaf paper for journal entries
(BRING TEXTBOOK & BINDER TO EVERY CLASS)
Exams & Quiz (3 at 15 points each)
Group project
Success Journals (32 at 5 points each)
Essays & Extra Credit
45 pts.
50 pts.
160 pts.
40 pts.
300 total possible points
A=270-300
B=240-269
C=210-239
D=180-209
F=179 or below
Important Note: All 32 success journals must be completed to pass the course
1. Quiz’s (45 possible points)
This is a course for students who want to be successful in college and in life. One of the most
important factors of success in any endeavor is consistent and active participation. To encourage
and reward your preparation for active participation in every class, a number of quizzes on the
readings will be given. If you have read each assignment and completed your journal entries you
should have no trouble earning the maximum points for each quiz. A quiz is given at the
beginning of class. If you are tardy you are not allowed to take the quiz.
No quiz may be made up.
Great success is created one small step as a time. Each time you earn your quiz points you
take an important step toward your success in this course…and in life!
2. Group presentations (50 points possible)
You will be divided into groups to complete a project.
later.
More information will be distributed
Journals will not be accepted if you are tardy.
Note: All 32 success journals must be completed to earn a passing grade in the course.
3. Success journals (5 each-160 possible total points)
The journal entries allow you to experiment and explore your thoughts and feelings
concerning the success strategies in the textbook. Although I will be collecting your journals
and looking through them, write your journal for yourself, not for me. Your journal entries
will occasionally be read by your classmates.
In addition to the Journal entries from the textbook, you will complete some entries in class.
THEREFORE BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK AND BINDER TO EVERY CLASS
MEETING.
The criteria for awarding points for journal entries are as follows:
1) The entry is complete (all steps in the directions have been responded to) and
2) The entry is written with high standards (an obvious attempt has been made to dive deep).
Grammar, spelling and punctuation will NOT be factors in awarding points in this
journal. You are free to express yourself without concern for Standard English
conventions.
4. Essays ( 40 points possible)
In class and video presentations allow you to gain credit for your thoughts.
Two pages type for credit.
Internet Self-assessment assignment instructions:
1) Go to the following website:
www.pasadena.edu/on-course/
2) Click on Students
3) On the right side, click the following under student helpful links:
On Course self-assessment
4) Follow the instructions to complete the assessment for Journal #1, including the completion
of the two written questions following the assessment results.
Journals will not be accepted if you are tardy.
Note: All 32 success journals must be completed to earn a passing grade in the course.