Submit a 1,500–2,100 autobiography written in the first person. If you are submitting more than one essay for credit, you will only need to submit one autobiography. You may also view a sample autobiography.

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How to write and submit your essay

  1. Select an approved topic from our experiential essay list
  2. Essays must be written and submitted in our essay template and follow these guidelines:
    • They must be written in the first person.
    • The personal experience used in writing experiential learning essays must have occurred post high school or after date GED® was granted.
    • Use 12-point, Times New Roman font and double-space the document.
    • Address the four sections of Kolb’s experiential learning model:
      1. Concrete experience
      2. Reflective observation
      3. Abstract conceptualization
      4. Active experimentation
    • The topic must represent your personal experience — not history, research, observation or the experience of a third party. The essay should demonstrate a high level of expertise.
    • Download the three-credit essay template
  3. Submit a 1,500–2,100 autobiography written in the first person. If you are submitting more than one essay for credit, you will only need to submit one autobiography. You may also view a sample autobiography.
  4. Submit supporting documentation along with your essay as evidence that your experience resulted in the level of expertise portrayed in your essay. Acceptable documents include photocopies of licenses and certifications, as well as letters on company letterhead with official signatures from employers, training providers or human resource representatives. Friends and family can also corroborate your knowledge or experience through letters of recommendation. Each individual essay must have separate supporting documentation.
  5. Complete the online application on eCampus:
    • After logging in, select the Program tab at the top of the page.
    • Under Credit Assessment Services, select Prior Learning Assessment Center.
    • At the bottom of the page, select Submit Your Application online.

Earn credits for what you already know

The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) administers the experiential essay program and approves submitted essays for college credit. The program format is based on Kolb’s experiential learning model, which considers experience a source of learning.

Explain what areas a forensic psychology professional may likely assess when making specific recommendations involving high-profile situations (such as the Bill O’Reilly case). Provide specific examples.

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Child custody is a contentious area of forensic psychology and often an area where many forensic psychologists are sued. It is easy to understand why: No matter what the recommendation, at least one of the parties will be extremely unhappy and will perceive that his or her children are being taken away as a result of the professional findings. Unfortunately, children can often be used as “pawns” for the parents, who in their highly emotional state may forget that the best interest of the child is what should matter most. Every day the legal system faces these difficult child custody cases, and professionals attempt to mediate and find solutions to assist in choosing the best alternatives for the children. It is often very difficult for all parties involved.

In this week’s Discussion, you will consider the high-profile case involving Bill O’Reilly and his own legal battle for child custody. How will you as the forensic psychology professional confront the difficulties of the media and the potential sensationalism involved in this case while also understanding the implications for communicating your opinions regarding the findings of the case?

 

Post a response to the following:

  • Explain what areas a forensic psychology professional may likely assess when making specific recommendations involving high-profile situations (such as the Bill O’Reilly case). Provide specific examples.
  • Recommend one juvenile forensic assessment instrument that the forensic professional would most likely utilize in making a decision regarding the case.
  • Provide specific guidelines for effective communication of forensic assessment findings, especially in light of the high-profile status of the case. Your ability as a forensic professional to remain impartial should be an important consideration.

 

Required Readings

Altman, B., & Treneff, C. (2014, May). Old and new solutions in high conflict custody cases. Paper presented at the American Bar Association Section of Family Law 2014 Spring CLE Conference. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/family_law/2014/05/section_of_familylawspringcleconference/11_fri_custody.authcheckdam.pdf

American Psychological Association. (2016a). Guidelines for child custody evaluations in family law proceedings. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/child-custody.aspx 

Chasmar, J. (2016, March 2). Bill O’Reilly loses custody of his children in court battle. The Washington Times. Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/2/bill-oreilly-loses-custody-of-his-children/

Hans, J. D., Hardesty, J. L., Haselschwerdt, M. L., & Frey, L. M. (2014). The effects of domestic violence allegations on custody evaluators’ recommendations. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(6), 957–966. doi:10.1037/fam0000025
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Patel, S., & Choate, L. (2014). Conducting child custody evaluations: Best practices for mental health counselors who are court-appointed as child custody evaluators. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(1), 18–30. doi:10.17744/mehc.36.1.e00401wv7134w505
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Resendes, J., & Lecci, L. (2012). Comparing the MMPI-2 scale scores of parents involved in parental competency and child custody assessments. Psychological Assessment, 24(4), 1054–1059. doi:10.1037/a0028585
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Zumbach, J., & Koglin, U. (2015). Psychological evaluations in family law proceedings: A systematic review of the contemporary literature. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 46(4), 221–234. doi:10.1037/a0039329
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases

Provide at least two specific examples. In addition, explain one way your own spirituality or religious convictions might support your work with a client, and one barrier it might present.

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Furness and Gilligan (2010) stated, “There is a growing body of literature written predominantly for health professionals and more recently for social workers about the importance of developing and incorporating cultural and spiritual sensitivity and awareness in their work with others” (p. 2187). Spirituality, which may or may not include involvement with an established religion, contributes to human diversity and influences human behavior. An individual’s spirituality may be an important factor in his or her social environment. As a social worker, your awareness of a client’s spirituality may help increase your understanding of the client and his or her needs.

Sensitivity to and respect for your client’s spiritual dimension reflects your appreciation of diversity. As you consider the potential impact of your clients’ spirituality on their perspectives and behavior, you must also consider how your spirituality might influence your interactions with a client.

For this Discussion, you consider the impact of spirituality on your interactions with clients.

Post a Discussion in which you explain how considerations about clients’ worldviews, including their spirituality or religious convictions, might affect your interactions with them. Provide at least two specific examples. In addition, explain one way your own spirituality or religious convictions might support your work with a client, and one barrier it might present. Finally, share one strategy for applying an awareness of spirituality to social work practice in general.

identify the age group and developmental stage selected. Describe the important physical, emotional, cognitive, and social features of that age group.

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Selecting an Age Group/Developmental Stage for the Final Paper

This week, you will begin preliminary work on your final assignment in the course, Integrating the Field of Developmental Psychology: A Review of the Literature, which is due in Week Six. To begin, select an age group/developmental stage from the list below:

  • Infancy and toddlerhood (0-3 years)
  • Childhood (3-12 years)
  • Adolescence (13-18 years)
  • Young Adulthood (18-40 years)
  • Middle-Late Adulthood (40+ years)

In your paper, clearly identify the age group and developmental stage selected. Describe the important physical, emotional, cognitive, and social features of that age group. Analyze that developmental stage from the point of view of at least three developmental theorists (For example, but not limited to the viewpoints of; Piaget, Freud, Erickson, etc.). Summarize the theory you find most useful to explain that developmental stage.

In the creation of the paper, support your selections and conclusions with reasoned arguments. A minimum of three peer-reviewed articles are required for this paper.

The paper

  • Must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
  • Must include a separate title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources.  These may include the required articles for the assignment.
  • Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.