Term Paper on "Academic Autobiography"

Quoted Instructions for "Academic Autobiography" Assignment:

I would need an Academic Autobiography which is a reflective essay that requires some information about some specific aspects of my journey toward my bachelor degree completion.

I am being asked to reflect upon 5 general classes and 5 classes for my major and all of the knowledge that I have gained, and over the skill sets that I have acquired and now practice.

It is more than a collection of courses taken over a period of time. It is a photo album of my academic journey. These courses represent a body of college level learning that will qualify me for a bachelor*****s degree.

These courses have provided me with knowledge, insights, skills and convictions that may have become so integrated that I have ceased to recognize them. This is my opportunity to look back over your journey and reflect on the broad philosophical purposes of higher education, on what it means to be a college educated person.

The description of the task of writing the Academic Autobiography that follows may help me in this reflective and integrative exercise. As I review the information again, keep in mind that your Academic Autobiography must address:

♦ The credits that have been used to meet my general education requirements

♦ The credits that have been used to meet your concentration.

This should be about 5 pages double space. This paper should flow.

General Courses:

ENGLISH COMPOSITION 101

Develops strategies for college-level writing through the critical study of various rhetorical modes. Emphasizes the development of carefully reasoned essays that cite appropriate evidence to support conclusions. Develops library and research skills required for composition and communication. Students will write a number of short expository papers and a longer research paper incorporating MLA documentation techniques. (Because English is my second language, this class help me with my writing skills and techniques).

SPEECH COMMUNICATION 101

This course is a survey incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal, and

public speaking. Students will acquire theory and develop skills in gender communication, workplace communication, interviewing, informative and

persuasive speaking. (This course help me with getting the fear out and learn how to speak in public, which is what I do as a drug/alcohol counselor at my job)

DARC 158: BIOLOGY OF ADDICTIONS

Studies how and why drug abuse impacts both the human body and society. Students are introduced to the process of neurotransmission and learn how each class of psychoactive substances alters neurotransmission and homeostasis. The course examines the consequences of short- and long-term substance use, abuse, and addiction on all major bodily systems and the fetus. (This class help me understand the biology of addiction in dual diagnosis patients at work, it help understand how addiction can be insidious).

DARC 251-252: COUNSELING INTERNSHIP

Provides students with the experience of spending 15 hours per week in a substance abuse treatment facility under the joint supervision of the DARC program and a credentialed supervisor at the facility. Students will observe the treatment process from intake to discharge. Students will observe, practice and develop competency in the 12 core functions of addiction counseling. As students develop increased competence, they will progress from active observers to co-counselors and then to counselors. To enhance the field experience, students will continue academic study during a weekly seminar. Students will be expected to reflect on their fieldwork, participate in clinical supervision as well as peer group interaction and continue their research in support of counseling theories.

Note: This internship help me with my employment intent of running groups and writing progress notes in patient*****s documentation. Also it helps me with understanding how to admit a patient and discharge patients.

DARC 111: INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING

Learn, practice, and develop counseling such skills as attending, reflecting, active listening, and mirroring. This course presents the fundamental theories of addiction counseling and the relationship of theory to skills. Students reflect on their roles as counselors and define the qualities, knowledge, and skills essential to become a competent, ethical, culturally-aware counselor-in-training. Combines didactic and experiential learning. (This was the beginning*****¦how to become a counselor)

PSY-ECE 301 PSYCHOLOGY OF PLAY

An examination of play as a medium for cognitive, social-emotional and physical growth. Particular emphasis will be placed on the creative aspects of play and its relation to fantasy and emotions, as well as to the contrast with more structured experiences for children.

(This helps me understand adolescences patients that I work with at the hospital and the importance of play among children*****s).

PSY 319 PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER

An overview of the theoretical, empirical, and applied psychological literature related to gender. Learners critically analyze research on gender and psychology; describe constructivist and essentialist perspectives to psychological issues related to gender; and relate course content to their own gendered experiences. Topics include sex and gender differences and similarities in physical development, mental abilities, mental health issues and coping, spirituality, personality, social behavior, gender socialization in the context of ethnicity and class, sexual orientation, health, workplace, and media portrayal.

PSY 333 SELECTED TOPICS IN SOCIAL PSYCH & DEVIANCE

This course uses the major concepts and theoretical approaches in social psychology to provide adult learners with a deeper understanding of how people relate to and are changed by the social contexts in which they find themselves. This social psychological perspective is in turn used to critically investigate the concept of deviance: the violation of social norms.

Social psychology is a broad and ambitious field. It captures the complexities of our everyday existence and brings these complexities into sharper focus. Through the study of social psychology, we sometimes discover that certain areas of our social lives that we might have taken for granted, those areas that seemed unimportant, might in fact be the foundation upon which our lives are built. This course capitalizes on the intuition and experiences of adult learners to bridge a more complete understanding of the social experience of individuals. We will also examine the concept of deviance through the lens of the social norms.

SOC-PSY 410 RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

This course will be an examination of the fundamental principles of behavioral science research. There will be an overview of the conceptual need for research and an analysis of the methods or designs commonly employed and the procedures utilized to collect and analyze data. Students will review and design research in their areas of interest.

Quantitative psychological research is defined as psychological research which performs statistical estimation or statistical inference. This definition distinguishes it from so-called qualitative psychological research; however, many psychologists do not acknowledge any real difference between quantitative and qualitative research. The validity of the distinction is discussed in the article about qualitative psychological research.

(This course show me how to analyzed and research. It also help me re-do the survey application where I work)

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY

Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Abnormal psychology in clinical psychology studies the nature of psychopathology, its causes, and its treatments. Of course, the definition of what constitutes 'abnormal' has varied across time and across cultures. Individuals also vary in what they regard as normal or abnormal behavior. In general, abnormal psychology can be described as an area of psychology that studies people who are consistently unable to adapt and function effectively in a variety of conditions. The four main contributing factors to how well an individual is able to adapt include their genetic makeup, physical condition, learning and reasoning, and socialization. (This course helps me understand abnormal behaviors among psych patients at the hospital)

My job is working with dual diagnose (patients with two or more disorder i.e. patient with addiction to drug, alcohol and psych disorders) Patients at a psychiatric hospital for 10 years.

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