COURSE NUMBER: PP 7111

COURSE NAME: Professionalization Group

TERM: Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR:

Susan Zoline, Ph.D.

PHONE:

312-777-7704

EMAIL:


FAX:

312-777-7748

ALT PHONE:

REQUIRED TEXTS: None

Title
Author(s)
Copyright
Publisher
ISBN
Edition

This Course Requires the Purchase of a Course Packet: YES NO

Clinical M.A. Professionalization Group (PP 7111)

Susan S. Zoline, Ph.D.

2007-2008

Syllabus

Credit Hours: 1 per semester (Fall/Spring)

Contact Hours: 14 hours per semester

I. Seminar Objectives and Description

  1. To assist students in making a successful academic and personal adaptation to Argosy University/Chicago.
  2. To familiarize students with the mission of the school program.
  3. To acquaint students with the various roles, responsibilities, and work settings of the professional psychologist.
  4. To promote personal and professional self-growth.
  5. To provide academic advisement to students regarding school policies, procedures, course selection, and requirements.
  6. To facilitate adherence and commitment to the ethical codes and standards of the profession.
  7. To assist with practicum planning and placement.
  8. To sensitize students to the issue of diversity as a central component of professional training.
  1. Program Outcomes

The Master’s Program in Clinical Psychology has been designed to educate and train students to enter a professional career as MA level practitioners. Argosy University/Chicago Campus provides students an educational program with all the necessary theoretical and clinical elements that will allow them to be effective members of a mental health team. The program introduces students to basic clinical skills that integrate individual and group theoretical foundations of applied psychology into appropriate clinical interactions and intervention skills. In addition, the Program offers excellent preparation for those considering application to the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.

III.Format

The group will meet on Thursdays from 10:00-11:00 A.M. throughout the academic year. There will be no Pro Group meeting on Thursday November 22nd due to the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no group meetings during final exam or break weeks.

Group sessions may include didactic presentation, discussion, student presentations, small group tasks, experiential exercises, and guest faculty visits. Learning and growth occur most optimally in an environment of safety and trust. Students are requested to collaborate in creating and maintaining such an atmosphere. Confidentiality of student self-disclosures is required.

IV.Office Hours

My office is Room 1317. Office hours are Mondays 1:00-2:00 P.M, Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 A.M., Wednesdays 12-12:30 P.M/1:30-2:00 P.M., and Thursdays 9:00-10:00 A.M., Friday meetings need to be scheduled in advance. I may be reached by phone at (312) 777-7704 or by e-mail at .

V.Grading

The Professionalization Group is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. A written evaluation of the student will be provided after each semester using the First Year Student Evaluation Form. This form provides evaluation and commentary of the student’s competency in two areas: Academic Competency and Professional Conduct and Clinical Suitability Competency. Evaluation is based on the student’s performance in Pro Group as well as review of student grade sheets, transcript, and consultation with faculty. Feedback from the fall semester First Year Student Evaluation Form will be considered by the full faculty in determining a student’s readiness to apply for a clinical practicum during the second semester.

VI. Group Requirements

  1. Students are expected to attend all meetings, to read material or to complete assignments by the required date, and to be prepared to participate fully in class discussions.
  1. Please contact the instructor if you are unable to attend a group meeting. Absence from more than two sessions in a semester may result in a grade of No Credit.
  2. Students are encouraged to become student members of the American Psychological Association (APA). Application forms will be provided.
  1. Each student will be asked to provide a brief presentation to the Pro group based on a journal or newspaper article of personal interest (related to mental health issues). This presentation will occur on a scheduled date sometime during the academic year. The article should not be one from other ISPP courses. The article should be distributed to group members the prior week for advance reading. The day of the presentation students should bring copies of a brief (one page) commentary or critique of the article or issue. The goals of this assignment are to enhance presentation skills and to expand areas of knowledge and interest within the field of psychology. This assignment will not be graded but feedback on writing and presentation skills will be provided to the student by the instructor.
  1. Specific activities for Spring Semester will be detailed at a later date and will be based in part on group needs, interests, and focus.
  1. Students are respectfully requested to turn their cell phones off during class so as not to interfere with the learning environment. If a special circumstance exists in which the student needs to have his/her cell phone on during a class, a request should be made to the instructor prior to the start of class.

VII.Disability Statement

It is the policy of the Argosy University/Chicago to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodation to complete the instructor’s course requirements, the student must notify the Director of Student Services. Procedure for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodation will be provided to students upon request.

Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing via a designated form. It is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her discretion) to the instructor in order to receive the requested accommodation in class. In an effort to protect student privacy, Student Services will not discuss the accommodation needs of any student with instructors.

VIII.Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism Statement

The University seeks to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity. Any work submitted by a student must represent original work produced by that student. Any source used by a student must be documented through normal scholarly references and citations, and the extent to which any sources have been used must be apparent to the reader. The University further considers resubmission of a work produced for one course in a subsequent course or the submission of work done partially or entirely by another to be academic dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to seek clarification from the course instructor about how much help may be received in completing an assignment or exam or project and what sources may be used. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty or plagiarism shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the university.

IX.Technology Statement

ArgosyUniversity encourages the use of technology throughout the curriculum.

This seminar may use the following: videotapes, online syllabus.

X.Library Resources: ArgosyUniversity’s core online collection features more than 21,000 full-text journals, 23,000 electronic books and other content covering all academic subject areas including Business & Economics, Career & General Education, Computers, Engineering & Applied Science, Humanities, Science, Medicine & Allied Health, and Social & Behavior Sciences.All electronic resources can be accessed through the library’s website at User IDs and passwords are distributed during orientation, but can also be obtained at the circulation desk, calling 312-777-7653, or by e-mail at .

In addition to online resources, ArgosyUniversity’s onsite collections contain a wealth of subject-specific research materials searchable in the Library Online Catalog. Catalog searching is easily limited to individual campus collections.Alternatively, students can search combined collections of all Argosy University Libraries. Students are encouraged to seek research and reference assistance from campus librarians.

Information Literacy: ArgosyUniversity’s Information Literacy Tutorial was developed to teach fundamental and transferable research skills, including selecting sources appropriate for academic-level research, searching periodical indexes and search engines, and evaluating and citing information. In the tutorial, students study concepts and practice them through interactions. At the conclusion of each module, they can test their comprehension and receive immediate feedback. Each module takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Please view the tutorial at

XI.ArgosyUniversity Statement Regarding Diversity

ArgosyUniversity prepares students to serve populations with diverse social, ethnic, economical, and educational experiences. Both the academic and training curricula are designed to provide an environment in which students can develop the skills and attitudes essential to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

XII.Fall Class Activities

September 6Welcome, Introductions, and Overview

Program Questions and Answers

September 13Tour of the ISPP Library/Ref Works

September 20Visit from Student Services

Voices of Experience: Visit from 2nd year MA Clinical Students

September 27Successful Matriculation: Time Management, Stress Management, Test-Taking Skills, Writing Skills, Academic Standards/Plagiarism, Accessing Support Services

October 4Pre-Registration for Spring Semester/First Year Milestones

October 11Becoming a Professional Psychologist: Professional Associations, Licensure, Diverse Career Paths

October 18Introduction to Ethics: APA Ethical Principles

October 25Continued Discussion of Ethics

November 1Exploration of Diversity/Difficult Dialogues

November 8Exploration of Diversity Continued

November 15Season of Thanksgiving: Social Service Project

November 22No Class Session: Thanksgiving Holiday

November 29Beginning Steps for Practicum Placement

December 6Beginning Steps for Practicum Placement

December 13No Class Session: Final Exam Week