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CRMJ 1301 (previously CRMJ 1500) Syllabus

Course Syllabus

CRMJ 1301 (previously CRMJ 1500) - Correctional Counseling

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course introduces students to the role of the correctional counselor. It defines the goals and methods, as well as the theories associated with institutional counseling. The course exposes students to the different issues associated with offender typologies.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

  • Understand the role of the correctional counselor.
  • Know the ethical and legal considerations when providing counseling within a correctional institution.
  • Understand the importance of data gathering, assessment, diagnosis, classification, and treatment plans for correctional clients.
  • Know the different skills necessary for basic rapport building.
  • Discuss the common theoretical counseling perspectives – behavioral, cognitive, reality, and Gestalt therapy.
  • Be aware of the various family systems therapy techniques.
  • Identify the advantages and disadvantages of group therapy.
  • Be aware of the various co-occurring disorders that are common to substances abusers.
  • Identify and discuss the various issues associated with counseling juvenile offenders.
  • Know the basic components and processes to anger management and domestic abuse group interventions.
  • Identify and discuss the challenges that are more common for female offenders than for male offenders.
  • Identify and discuss the challenges that are associated with counseling sex offenders.
  • Know the necessary coping skills needed to assist those offenders who are facing death and dying, suicide, terminal illness/diseases, and elderly.
  • Know the importance of validity and reliability when evaluating research, various treatments, and treatment programs for correctional clients. 
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
  • Correctional Counselors: Roles, Work Environments, Conflicts and Challenges
  • Offender Classification and Assessment
  • Meanings of the Evidence in Evidence-based Correctional Counseling
  • Criminological Theories and Their Relevance to Correctional Counseling
  • Psychological Models in Correctional Counseling
  • Advances in Interpersonal Cognitive Research and the Implications for Correctional Counseling
  • Counseling Processes
  • Group Counseling in Corrections
  • Anger Management
  • Mentally Disordered Offenders in Corrections
  • Understanding and Treating Substance Abuse
  • Restorative Justice and Correctional Counseling
  • Overcoming Prejudice and Promoting Diversity 
Specific Course Requirements:

Knowledge of Desire2Learn (D2L) and access to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint is necessary for successful completion of the course. 

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

The course consists of Quizzes, Exams, and a Final Exam. The Quizzes, Exam, and Final Exam will be posted on Friday. Each quiz, Exam, and the Final Exam must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. It is each student’s responsibility to submit the quiz or exam at the appropriate time. 

Grading Procedures:

It is each student’s responsibility to submit all assignments in a timely manner. Failure to submit assignments in a timely manner can cause the student’s grade to be negatively impacted. 

Grading Scale:
AverageAssigned Grade 
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 
70 - 79
60 - 69 D
Below 59 
Assignments and Projects:

Each discussion, quiz, dropbox, and exam will be graded individually. Therefore, you have to do each assignment when given. The dates are listed within each module.

Graded Items: 

Discussions Percentage
13 Discussion Questions,100 points each 12%
13 Quizzes, 100 points each20%
13 Dropbox Assignments, 100 points each28%
3 Exams, 100 points each30%
Final Exam, 100 points 10%
Total Points100%
Class Participation:

Students are expected to participate in the weekly discussions; submit completed assignments as requested by the instructor; communicate with the instructor about his/her progress in the course; and follow the guidelines of academic integrity. 

Late Policy:

Students are expected to submit all assignments within the indicated timeframe.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021