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Unit of study_

PSYC4724: Coaching Practice

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students will consolidate the theory and skills acquired in PSYC4721 and PSYC4722 through a semester-long coaching practicum. Using real-life issues in a supportive and confidential environment, students will coach each other in a structured solution-focused personal coaching program based on the material taught in previous units of study. This unit gives students experience in being both a coach and a client. A key component of this course will be feedback from the lecturer on students' coaching styles, skills and other relevant issues. As such this unit provides students with the opportunity to embed and develop their coaching skills. Structured relections, video taped coaching sessions and case presentations will form part of the unit. A lecture series on advanced topics in coaching practice, including psychodynamics, personality, supervision and case conceptualisation form part of this unit of study.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PSYC4724
Academic unit Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
PSYC4721 and PSYC4722
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Cavanagh, michael.cavanagh@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Cavanagh, michael.cavanagh@sydney.edu.au
Practitioner(s) Renee Lockwood, renee.lockwood@sydney.edu.au
Kevin Sinclair, kevin.sinclair@sydney.edu.au
Gareth Dando, gdan9303@uni.sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Presentation
Presentation on a personality style and disorder in coaching.
15% Multiple weeks 40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz Exam
Multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
20% STUVAC
Due date: 06 Nov 2023 at 18:00
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Coaching Session Video
Reflection on recorded coaching and in-class coaching.
25% Week 07
Due date: 11 Sep 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 10 Oct 2022
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Small continuous assessment hurdle task Learning Journal & Attendance
Weekly journals and ~1000-word reflection on coaching practice.
40% Week 13
Due date: 30 Oct 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 30 Nov 2022
~1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Hurdle assessments are compulsory. If you do not make a serious attempt at these assessments you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade for this unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

You will receive a penalty of 5% of the maximum value of the assignment for each calendar day it is submitted after your due date. More than 10 calendar days after your due date, a mark of zero is applied. Submissions will not be accepted after the closing date.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 02 Personality Styles and Disorders Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 03 Case Conceptualisation1 Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 04 Case Conceptualisation II Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 05 Psychodynamic Issues in Coaching Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 06 Supervision Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 07 1. Narcissism 2. Paranoid Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 08 1. Schizoid. 2. Dependant Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 10 1. Borderline 2. Procrastination 3. Schizotypal Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 11 1. Anti-social 2. Social Phobia 3. Histrionic Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 12 1. Obsessive Compulsive PD 2. Generalised Anxiety 3. Passive Aggressive Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 13 1. Avoidant 2. Depressive Lecture (3 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Standards Australia (2011), Handbook of Organisational Coaching, Sydney, Standards Australia  

See Canvas for other related readings.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. develop understanding and competency in coaching practice and its microskills
  • LO2. develop understanding and competency in case conceptualisation
  • LO3. understand personality styles and disorders and appropriate coaching responses
  • LO4. to understand the theory and application of defence mechanisms, transference and counter-transference in coaching
  • LO5. To understand and explore the application of supervision theories in coaching
  • LO6. To develop reflective practice skill with respect to one's own coaching practice

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Increased supervision and practice time has been added in response to student feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.