Western Kentucky University
Department of Counseling and Student Affairs
Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling
CNS 555
Course Objectives:
A. Knowledge Components:
Through participation in this course, students should develop an understanding of:
1. How cultures influence values, behaviors, and perceptions.
2. How cultural influences are integrated into personality development.
3. The similarities and differences between major cultural groups.
4. The relationship between socioeconomic factors and culture.
5. The relationship between culture and family dynamics.
6. How institutional barriers, both real and perceived, affect access to mental health services.
7. How to utilize counseling theories and techniques in a culturally-sensitive manner.
8. The various resources available to enhance cross-cultural counseling.
9. The concept of 'bias' and how it can interfere, consciously or unconsciously, with the counseling process.
B. Skills Components:
Through participation in this course, students should develop the skills needed to:
1. Accurately assess, and compensate for, personal cultural influences on counseling style.
2. Accurately assess the counseling needs of individuals from different cultures.
3. Identify and circumvent cultural barriers that potentially affect the counseling process.
4. Critique the efficacy of cross-cultural counseling sessions.
5. Appropriately modify theories and techniques when conducting cross-cultural counseling.
6. Recognize when personal limitations and/or cultural barriers warrant referral.
"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
And Other Conversations About Race
by Beverly Daniel Tatum (Basic Books, 1997)
1. Video Critique. Each student is responsible for preparing a paper which describes their personal/professional response to the video People Like Us. An outline of the video will be provided by the instructor, together with issues that should be addressed in the paper. [Suggested length: 7/9 pages minimum]
DUE: Saturday of the 2nd Weekend
2. Personal Cultural Critique. Each student is to develop a paper which describes and critiques their cultural background. Include in the paper how your cultural background provided you with both advantages and disadvantages as well as how it continues to influence your personal perspective and counseling style today. [Suggested length: 6/8 pages minimum]
DUE: Saturday of the 2nd Weekend
3. Book Critique. Each student is responsible for preparing a chapter-by-chapter critique/response/evaluation of "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum. Be honest and elaborate as appropriate. [Suggested length: 8/10 pages minimum]
DUE: Saturday of the 3rd Weekend
4. Group Presentation. Each student will be assigned into a group for the purpose of developing a class presentation over a topic assigned by the instructor. Presentations should be relevant, interesting, and convey useful information; quality is preferred over quantity. Some type of class participation in the presentation is strongly recommended. Presentations should last approximately 45-50 minutes.
DUE: Friday/Saturday morning of 3rd Weekend.
5. Final Examination. This examination will be essay in format and cover all course content covered/discussed during the course. It will involve applying the material discussed in class.
DUE: Saturday afternoon of the 3rd Weekend. 6. Attendance/Participation. Each student is expected to attend all class sessions and be prepared to contribute meaningfully at those sessions. Each student is expected to read and/or complete all assignments by the due date or as otherwise specified.
1. Video Critique......................................... 15 pts
2. Personal Cultural Critique...................... 15 pts
3. Book Critique.......................................... 15 pts
4. Group Presentation................................. 15 pts
5. Final Examination.................................... 25 pts
6. Attendance/Participation......................... 15 ptsTOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE .................. 100 pts
90 - 100 points .................... A
80 - 89 points ...................... B
70 - 79 points ...................... C
60 - 69 points ...................... D
Below 60 points .................. F
Aaron W. Hughey, EdD
Professor
Department of Counseling and Student Affairs
TPH 417-D
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Voice: (270) 745-4849
FAX: (270) 745-5031
E-mail: Aaron.Hughey@wku.edu
Website: http://edtech.cebs.wku.edu/~counsel/sa/sa-index.htm