Course

Working with Others in Groups

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Child and Youth Care
Course code
CYCC 2320
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
Students will have the opportunity to explore and apply the skills of group participation, design and facilitation. Models that promote empowerment, mutual aid, and self-awareness will be presented for examination and application to practice with groups.
Course content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  • Self-awareness of one's personal leadership style, past experiences, values, identities, and impact on others is essential for ethical group practice. This includes understanding one's social location, privilege, and how personal biases may affect group dynamics, group progress, and marginalized participants.
  • Understanding group dynamics—including how power, privilege, and oppression operate within groups—allows practitioners to create more equitable and effective group experiences for all participants.
  • Effective communication must be adapted for group contexts while actively honouring diverse ways of being and communicating.  Group leaders must be concerned for individuals in the group as well as the group as a whole.  
  • Competent practitioners understand not only how and when to use specific skills, but also the ethical implications of their interventions, particularly regarding power dynamics and potential harm to vulnerable participants.
  • Effective groups balance task accomplishment with working relationally, and traditional Western assumptions about productivity or work will be challenged.
  • Groups evolve through developmental phases (planning, beginning, working, ending) that involve common as well as unique tasks and worker skills, and success at one phase is dependent in part on success at previous phases.
Learning activities
  • Lecture
  • Skill practice and demonstration 
  • Group work
  • Student presentations
  • Guest speakers
  • Audio-visual presentations
  • Discussions
  • Case studies

 

Means of assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.

Typical evaluationcan can include: 

  • Written assignments  
  • Skill demonstration
  • Testing  
  • Individual and group projects 
  • Small and large group discussions 
  • Field research  
  • Case study analysis 
  • Group Presentations 
This is a letter-graded course
 
Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

  • Analyze the effectiveness of groups in Child and Youth Care settings from anti-oppressive principles when designing groups that are inclusive and culturally responsive to participants' identities and backgrounds.  
  • Identify and describe group dynamics, group development, and group power structures and imbalances that impact the heathy progress of a group or individual group members. 
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills including anti-racist communication practices that challenge discriminatory language or behaviours in groups, resolution of conflicts in a group setting, and expanding individual relationship building skills to group settings.  
  • Evaluate types of group leadership and one's own personal leadership style and its impact on participant voices in Child and Youth Care settings.  
  • Identify obstacles to group functioning and recognize systemic barriers and structures that can prevent group member participation, or group leaders in recognizing the contributions and values from group members.  
Textbook materials

Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students.  A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for CYCC 2320
Langara College (LANG) LANG GNST 2XXX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CYC 168 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) DOUG CFCS 2333 (3) & DOUG CYCC 2320 (3) = UFV CYC 168 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2026

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. B
Room
B2320
Times:
Start Time
13:30
-
End Time
16:20
Section notes

This course is restricted to BACYC/DPCYC students.