The course is an exploration of how counselors can respond to the ethical and professional requirements that require counselors to respect the diverse spiritual beliefs and religious practices of their counselees. The course is not a world religions course; it is a counseling course. The emphasis will be on counselor respect for spirituality as an important aspect of client diversity. The content and examples will be across counseling settings. EDHS 838 is a one credit option that follows EDHS 721 during the Fall 2005 semester. Other one credit options are planned and those options will be announced.

This class web page will be revised until the class begins. Changes will be updates of references and Learning Notes. The class page is posted to allow prospective students to understand the nature of the class.

Prerequisite The course is limited to students in the Counselor Education Program Area or those who register with instructor permission. Students must have the ability to access the course web site that will include links and materials necessary for the course. Permission for registration can be obtained by contacting the instructor.

General Course Objectives The course objectives are to explore how counselors and counselor educators who may work in secular settings should respond to the following ethical and program accreditation standards.

ACA Code of Ethics A.2. Respecting Diversity. a. Nondiscrimination. Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status. (See C.5.a., C.5.b., and D.1.i.) b. Respecting Differences. Counselors will actively attempt to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients with whom they work. This includes, but is not limited to, learning how the counselor's own cultural/ethnic/racial identity impacts her or his values and beliefs about the counseling process. (See E.8. and F.2.i.) C.5. Public Responsibility. a. Nondiscrimination. Counselors do not discriminate against clients, students, or supervisees in a manner that has a negative impact based on their age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, or for any other reason. (See A.2.a.)

CACREP (2001) Core Curriculum Standard for accredited entry-level programs in counselor education

II. K. 2. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY - studies that provide an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society related to such factors as culture, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, religious and spiritual values, socioeconomic status and unique characteristics of individuals, couples, families, ethnic groups, and communities including all of the following:----