PSYC 388 is a survey course designed to increase students' awareness of the field of counselling, including its evolution, processes, theories, and specialties. This course offers a broad survey of the field of counselling, including an introduction to the foundational skills and processes involved in counselling relationships. Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of counselling skills and processes through quizzes and written assignments; students in this course are not expected to apply these counselling skills in a placement or field experience.
Outline
Part 1: Historical and Professional Foundations of Counselling
Unit 1: Counselling in Canada: History and Trends
Unit 2: Personal and Professional Aspects of Counselling
Unit 3: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Counselling
Unit 4: Cultural Aspects of Counselling
Part 2: The Counselling Process and Assessment Interview
Unit 5: Building Counselling Relationships
Unit 6: Testing, Assessment, and the Diagnosis in Counselling
Unit 7: Working in a Counselling Relationship
Unit 8: Termination of Counselling Relationships
Part 3: Theories of Counselling
Unit 9: Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Theories of Counselling
Unit 10: Behavioural and Cognitive Theories of Counselling
Unit 11: Humanistic Theories of Counselling
Unit 12: Postmodern and Crisis Theories of Counselling
Part 4: Specialties in the Practice of Counselling
Unit 13: Groups in Counselling
Unit 14: Career Counselling Over the Life Span
Unit 15: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counselling
Unit 16: Counselling Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 388, you must satisfactorily complete the four online quizzes, two written assignments, and the final exam. You must achieve a minimum grade of 50 per cent on the final exam and a minimum course composite grade of D (50 percent) or better.
Activity
Weight
4 Online Quizzes (5% each)
20%
Case Study
15%
Research Paper
30%
Final Exam
35%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Brandes, B. (Ed.) (2016). Introduction to counselling (2nd Custom edition). Toronto, ON: Athabasca University/Pearson Education Canada. Adapted from S. T. Gladding & K. G. Alderson. (Print)
Other Materials
All other course materials can be accessed online. The online materials include a Study Guide; Course Information Manual; Student Manual; APA 6th edition tutorial; and a Counselling, Guidance, and Psychotherapy interactive tutorial.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 388 challenge registration, you must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the final exam and a minimum composite grade of D (50 percent).
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.