PCG 303 Professional Ethics and Legal IssuesMEF UniversityDegree Programs Guidance and Psychological CounselingGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Guidance and Psychological Counseling
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Education
Course Code PCG 303
Course Title in English Professional Ethics and Legal Issues
Course Title in Turkish Mesleki Etik ve Yasal Konular
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Seçiniz
Semester Fall
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 1.5 Recitation: Lab: Other:
Estimated Student Workload 76 hours per semester
Number of Credits 2 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites PCG 106 - Guidance and Psychological Counseling
Expected Prior Knowledge none
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To learn the main ethical and legal issues related to the counseling profession.
Course Description This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and issues of professionalism and ethics in counseling. Students will understand the roles, functions, and characteristics of psychological counselors while focusing on ethical, legal, and professional issues. Students will learn to think critically and challenge themselves to make sound decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas.
Course Description in Turkish Bu ders öğrenciler için psikolojik danışmanlıkta profesyonel prensipler ve etik konularına giriş niteliğinde tasarlanmıştır. Öğrenciler etik, yasal ve profesyonel konulara odaklanarak psikolojik danışmanların rollerini, görevlerini ve niteliklerini anlayacaklardır. Etik ikilemlerle karşılaştıklarında öğrenciler eleştirel düşünerek ve kendilerini sorgulayarak doğru kararlar almayı öğreneceklerdir.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) demonstrate awareness of ethical and professional competencies necessary to become an effective psychological counsellor;
2) know the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association’s ethical guidelines;
3) recognize potential personal difficulties to overcome as well as understand his/her own competencies, skills, and strengths as a future professional counselor;
4) analyze ethical dilemmas by a sound decision-making process.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4
1) Scientific competence, knowledge, skills and effective teaching methods and strategies in order to provide psychological help.
2) Knowledge that will enable students to develop the skills to cope with problems they encounter in the school environment.
3) Basic knowledge about developmental processes from early childhood to adulthood and the characteristics and issues unique to each stage.
4) Knowledge about the tools used in school counseling services and being equipped to develop relevant programs.
5) Competence in vocational guidance and counseling practices.
6) Understanding of human relations and interaction.
7) Knowledge, experience and skills in scientific methods in order to conduct research studies in behavioral sciences.
8) Awareness of the necessity of lifelong learning, accessing information, and monitoring developments in education, science, and technology. An ability to solve problems related to the field, continuously developing and renewing oneself, and having critical thinking and questioning skills. An ability to use information technologies.
9) Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written Turkish; ability to use English at least in the European Language Portfolio B2 General Level.
10) Knowledge about past and present regulations and legislations regarding professional applications of the field and being equipped to contribute to its further development.
11) Sensitivity for different cultures, values ​​and democratic rights of individuals; the knowledge of national culture and history, and using that knowledge in increasing awareness and involvement in national and international social, cultural, artistic, and technological developments.
12) A sense of professional and ethical responsibility, and awareness of national and universal sensitivity expressed in the Basic Law of National Education.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Scientific competence, knowledge, skills and effective teaching methods and strategies in order to provide psychological help. N
2) Knowledge that will enable students to develop the skills to cope with problems they encounter in the school environment. S Presentation
3) Basic knowledge about developmental processes from early childhood to adulthood and the characteristics and issues unique to each stage. N
4) Knowledge about the tools used in school counseling services and being equipped to develop relevant programs. N
5) Competence in vocational guidance and counseling practices. N
6) Understanding of human relations and interaction. N
7) Knowledge, experience and skills in scientific methods in order to conduct research studies in behavioral sciences. N
8) Awareness of the necessity of lifelong learning, accessing information, and monitoring developments in education, science, and technology. An ability to solve problems related to the field, continuously developing and renewing oneself, and having critical thinking and questioning skills. An ability to use information technologies. S Participation
9) Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written Turkish; ability to use English at least in the European Language Portfolio B2 General Level. N
10) Knowledge about past and present regulations and legislations regarding professional applications of the field and being equipped to contribute to its further development. S Exam
11) Sensitivity for different cultures, values ​​and democratic rights of individuals; the knowledge of national culture and history, and using that knowledge in increasing awareness and involvement in national and international social, cultural, artistic, and technological developments. S Presentation
12) A sense of professional and ethical responsibility, and awareness of national and universal sensitivity expressed in the Basic Law of National Education. H Presentation
Prepared by and Date ,
Course Coordinator MUSTAFA ÖZCAN
Semester Fall
Name of Instructor Asst. Prof. Dr. VINCENT HENRY SIENKIEWICZ

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Introduction to Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling
2) Professional Identity of Counselors
3) Multicultural Competence and Social Justice
4) Client Rights and Counselor Responsibilities
5) Confidentiality and Privileged Communication
6) Competence and Malpractice in Counseling
7) Boundary Issues
8) Technology in Counseling
9) Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults
10) Counseling Families and Groups
11) Professional Relationships and Private Practice
12) Supervision and Consultation
13) Professional Writing, Conducting Research, and Publishing
14) Resolving Legal and Ethical Issues
15) Final Examination Period
16) Final Examination Period
Required/Recommended ReadingsTextbook: Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling. (5 th ed.) Boston: Pearson Education Limited. Guidelines: Psikolojik danışma ve rehberlik alanında çalışanlar için etik kurallar. 8. Baskı. Ankara: Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Derneği. http://www.pdr.org.tr/userfiles/file/etik.pdf
Teaching MethodsIn order to provide a productive learning environment, I will use a combination of video recorded short lectures, experiential learning activities, and facilitated class discussions. Students are expected to check the syllabus for each week and come to class prepared (having read the chapters and watched the videos) to actively participate in class discussion. Student comments and questions enhance the usefulness of this course for everyone. Therefore, please actively participate in the experiential activities and group discussions. Please do not hesitate to stop me and ask questions at any point during class.
Homework and ProjectsCase Presentation and Discussion of Resolving an Ethical Issue: Groups of 4 or 5 students will each come up with a case that involves an ethical or legal issue that is related to the topic of the week. The case should involve aiming to find a solution to an issue faced in the counseling field. The case could take place in a school setting, a mental health institution, or could involve the community at large. The groups will each present their case and lead a class discussion on how to resolve the ethical and legal issues involved in the case using the ethical decision making process learned in class. Asking questions to your classmates and finding creative ways of getting them involved in the ethical decision making process is essential. A 1-2 pages of write up of the case and the group’s response for the resolution of the issue should be uploaded to Blackboard together with the presentation before class on the day the presentation is due.
Laboratory Work
Computer Use
Other Activities
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 1 % 20
Presentation 1 % 40
Midterm(s) 1 % 40
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 1 2 1 56
Homework Assignments 1 10 10
Midterm(s) 1 8 2 10
Total Workload 76
Total Workload/25 3.0
ECTS 2