ASU-HPC-FALL 2010-COURSE SYLLABUS
Course: HPC 5110-101 Multicultural Counseling
Room: ED 225
Meeting Times: R 2:00-4:50pm
Facilitator: Hakan Ersever, Ph.D.
Office: ED 102D
Telephone: Office: 828-262 6051
e-mail: erseveroh@appstate.edu
Office Hours: M 3:30-5:30pm; T 8:00-9:30am; W 1:30-5:30pm; and by appointment as needed.
Required Text:
Lee, W. M., Blando, J. A., Mizelle, N. D., & Orozco, G. L. (2007). Introduction to Multicultural
Counseling for Helping Professionals (2nd Ed.). New York: Routledge.
Additional resources will also be used.
Course Description: This course is an introduction to multicultural counseling, and aims to increase the
awareness for diversity and how it may impact the counseling relationship. Diversity will be explored
from a broad perspective and will include race, age, SES, religion, language, international populations,
sexual orientation, handicapping conditions, and special needs.
Students are encouraged and challenged to examine their personal attitudes and belief system and how
their values may impact their counseling effectiveness with clients of differing world views. The primary
goal of this class is to challenge the students to think critically about cultural issues and their impact upon
them personally, and as a helping professional.
Course Overview: This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of multicultural
counseling by utilizing theoretical framework and different experiential activities. Students will
participate in class presentations, discussions, role-plays, and class exercises while respecting each other’s
self-disclosures. Students will respectively give and receive feedback under the supervision of the
facilitator. Influence of cultural dynamics such as, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious
affiliation and spirituality, age, ability, class, and nationality within the process of counseling will be the
main focus of this course.
Course Objectives and Competencies:
1. Be able to identify societal changes and trends from within a historical framework.
2. Be able to identify societal changes and trends from multicultural and pluralistic perspective.
3. Be able to identify societal changes and trends from a national and international perspective.
4. Explore the roles, societal subgroups, gender issues, social mores, and interaction patterns of diverse
populations.
5. Identify the legal and ethical considerations in dealing with differences.
6. Explore the individual, couples, family, and group counseling strategies that can be used with diverse
populations.
7. To participate in numerous experiential learning activities to expand the awareness and the integration
of diversity issues on a personal and professional level.
8. To identify the barriers to a culturally competent counseling process, and learn how to deconstruct
them.
9. To identify and develop counseling skills and techniques that is culturally appropriate.
Class Attendance: Students are expected and required to attend all scheduled class meetings, and
participate actively in class by asking questions, providing feedback for the members of the class, and
taking part in daily class discussions in an atmosphere of mutual respect and professionalism.
If you miss a class meeting it is your responsibility to make up work, acquire handouts, notes, etc. You
are expected to arrive on time and stay for the full duration of the class period. The facilitator should be
notified regarding anticipated deviations from this policy.
There will also be in class assignments/activities performed during the class meetings. If you miss the class,
you will not be permitted to make up for those activities.
A record of attendance will be kept, and will be used in the evaluation of each student’s final course
grade. You can be absent from one (1) class meeting without and deductions from your final grade. Each
additional absence will result in ten (10) points taken out of your final grade. Three (3) and more absences
will result in a failing grade regardless of academic good standing. Tardiness, early leaves, or “extended
breaks” will be noted and counted toward absences.
Student Religious Observance: Students must be allowed a minimum of two (2) excused absences each
academic year for religious observance required by the faith of a student. Written notice must be given to
each instructor no later than three weeks after the first class day of the term.
The use of cellular phones, beepers, or other electronic devices is disruptive and prohibited.
Make sure your ASU e-mail account is working properly. You will be receiving important
information throughout the semester to your account.
Student Responsibility: Students are expected to follow the ACA code of ethics, North Carolina
Counseling Association code of ethics, the Student Conduct rules and policies for Appalachian State
University and HPC policy. University's academic integrity policy can be found at the Office of Student
Conduct web site: http://studentconduct.appstate.edu/.
If any ethical or legal incident occurs or violation occurs a student is expect to follow the appropriate
procedures and contact the university supervisor. Several meetings maybe scheduled between the
necessary parties to discuss the incident and/or volition. If necessary appropriate actions will be taken to
limit further harm to either the student, client, site, site supervisor and/or university. If you should need to
leave a site prior to the end of the semester appropriate steps as outline in the handbook will be followed.
Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: Appalachian State University is
committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities
in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. Those seeking accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and
register with The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at http://www.ods.appstate.edu/ or 828-262-3056.
Once registration is complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility and appropriate
accommodations.
If you think you have a disability (physical, learning disability, hearing, vision, psychiatric) which may
need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Disability Services located in 222 D. D.
Dougherty Building as early as possible. As part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the
responsibility of the student to disclose a disability prior to requesting reasonable accommodation.
Student Confidentiality: Any information about a class member will not be disclosed to third party
members. The facilitator and other class members will respect, and abide by the confidentiality policy of
the institute.
Disclaimer:
During this course, as a student, as a future professional, and as a person, you will be exposed to various
sensitive/challenging topics, related videos, group discussions, and other material that will require you to
make personal evaluations/explorations. You are also expected to share your personal views and
experiences with the class/group members, and disclose some personal information if you wish to do so.
Your personal journey and contributions may create a personal challenge, put you in a vulnerable
position, and create personal discomfort. In short, there is a risk involved with being a class/group
member. Same risk and vulnerability also applies to the facilitator/supervisor as a group member.
I do see this vulnerability and personal challenges you encounter during your education as a necessary
component of your education, and your personal growth. Your personal contributions also help other class
members to grow as a professional and as a person.
As the facilitator/supervisor of this course, I choose the materials I use very carefully, and very
professionally. However, I can not control who will be personally offended and who will be comfortable
with what is presented.
I do want every student to feel free to choose what they want to contribute, and what they do not want to
contribute personally to the class. If you feel any discomfort, you can always bring it to the group to be
evaluated. You may also choose to stay silent or leave the classroom environment.
If being a member of the class I am facilitating creates unbearable personal discomfort, you also have the
freedom to drop the class and take it from another professor. You also have the right to complain/express
your concerns about me or my class environment to the department chair and higher authorities.
Use your adult judgment to do the best for yourself. If you feel any discomfort during the class meetings,
my suggestion for each one of you would be to evaluate your discomfort and face the challenging issues
for your personal and/or professional growth. However, the choice is yours. I am confident that you will
make wise decisions.
If you have any questions/comments about the above disclaimer or you would like more information
added to it, please feel free to bring your concerns to class members’ attention.
Grading/Evaluation/Course Assignments:
Reading Assignments: Reading assignments (related chapters of the text, and other materials that may be
provided by the facilitator) are to be completed prior to the class meetings on the specified dates. The
intent of the assigned course reading is to provide you with initial exposure to important ideas about the
subject matter.
Classroom activities will highlight some of the reading material (not all!) and provide new material in
addition to the textbook. Students will be responsible for all material covered during the class meetings,
in addition to the textbook.
Cultural Box of Self: This assignment encourages students to clarify their identity and build pride within
that identity. You are asked to create a “cultural” box of self that houses different items in a container to
represent important aspects about you, and to illustrate, symbolize, or describe your cultural roots or
ethnic identity. You are also asked to hand in a typed report to the facilitator. Your report needs to reflect
your cultural background. Further/detailed instructions will be provided to students early during the
semester.
Your cultural box of self and typed report combined is worth 15 points (15% of your final grade).
Due date for this assignment is: beginning of the class meeting, September 2, 2010.
Multicultural Action Plan (MAP): A multicultural perspective warrants that each student gain
experiences with cultural situations that are different from their own. This assignment is designed to
expose you to range of experiences at different levels. Each student will select a topic to explore in
greater depth, moving through different levels of exposure.
Further/detailed instructions will be provided to students early during the semester.
Multicultural Action Plan is worth 30 points (30% of your final grade).
Group Presentation and Report (GPR): Students will work in small groups, research a topic of their
choice (a targeted population), and prepare a 30-40 minute presentation in which they discuss the major
points of their topic, research findings, and implications for counseling for the targeted population.
Students are strongly encouraged to be creative, include visual aids, and incorporate individual
expression, and activities of their choice into these presentations.
As a group, you are asked to write a report about your work and hand it to the facilitator of the course the
same day (further guideline will be provided earlier during the semester). Each group will receive
feedback on their presentations.
Also, as a member of your group, you are asked to write a one page report about your work and email
your report to the facilitator of the course within 24 hours (further guideline will be provided earlier
during the semester).
Group Presentation and Report will be worth 25 points (25% of your final grade). Group formations and
topic selection will be discussed and finalized during the first class meeting.
In Class Assignments/Activities (ICA): You will be exposed to certain activities during class meetings,
and will earn points toward your final grade (Total 30 points/30% of your final grade).
If you miss the class, you will not be permitted to make up for those activities.
All assignments and take home projects are due at the beginning of the assigned date. Late work will
receive 25% deduction per day, starting on the first day. If you can not be in class that day, you should
make arrangements to get your assignment to the facilitator on time. You may not e-mail assignments to
the facilitator.
All assignments must be word processed. Computer problems will happen; take the necessary precautions
to ensure that your work is not lost or destroyed. Be sure to save a copy of the file for yourself.
Breakdown of the Grades:
Cultural Box of Self:
Multicultural Action Plan:
Group Presentation and Report:
Class Activities:
15 points
30 points
25 points
30 points
Total: 100 points
ASU Graduate School Grading Scale:
100-95 A; 94-90 A-; 89-86 B+; 85-83 B; 82-80 B-; 79-76 C+; 75-73 C; 72-70 C-; Below 70 F
Weather Policy: Classes will only be cancelled if the university is closed. Class may be postponed in the
event of bad weather. If the facilitator postpones the class, students will be notified through a phone tree
system. The facilitator will call the first person on the list who will contact the second person on the list
and so on until each person is contacted. If a student cannot reach the person they are to contact, they
need to leave a message on the facilitator’s answering machine stating the name of the student that could
not be reached and then contact the next person on the list. A phone tree list will be drawn up the first day
of class and copies of the phone tree list will be given during the second class. If any student is
uncomfortable giving out his/her phone number to the class, it is that student’s responsibility to let the
facilitator know he/she does not want his/her name on the list. Any classes which are postponed will need
to be made up.
Please remember, this syllabus is tentative-subject to change, and you will be informed in advance
concerning the changes to this syllabus.
Please inform me if you have special learning needs. I will do my best to accommodate legitimate
needs.
I hope your experience in this course will be a meaningful one that contributes to your academic
integrity, and enhances your personal growth.
Important Websites:
American Counseling Association (ACA)
American School Counseling Association (ASCA)
N.C. Counseling Association (NCCA)
N.C. School Counselor Association (NCSCA)
National Board for Certified Counselors
www.counseling.org
www.schoolcounseling.org
www.nccounseling.org
www.nccounseling.org/NCSCA
www.nbcc.org
COURSE SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
STUDENTS WILL BE INFORMED ABOUT ANY CHANGES TO THE COURSE SYLLABUS
DETAILED CLASS SCHEDULE WILL ALSO BE SENT AFTER FIRST CLASS MEETING/DISCUSSION