vcc.ca
INTR 2210: Ethics & Professional Decision Making
Effective date
September 2023
Department
Sign Language Interpretation
School
Arts and Sciences
Description
This course provides students with opportunities to clarify their own values and integrate that knowledge into the concept of sign language interpreters as cultural mediators within their professional role. Applying prior learning regarding power, privilege and oppression, students will discuss and analyze meta-ethical principles and the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct espoused by sign language interpreters in Canada. Students will also further their understanding of the decision-making framework known as Demand Control Schema and its application to ethics.
Credits
2.5
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
INTR 2100.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify personal and professional values and their impact on professional decision-making
- Examine the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
- Utilize the Demand-Control Schema framework for decision-making
- Analyze the impact of positionality and power on interactions between interpreters and others
- Recognize the ethical responsibility of the interpreter aiming to be anti-oppressive in their practice
- Determine the difference between ethical and professional practice dilemmas
- Develop a personal philosophy of practice
- Specify their commitment to ongoing growth and exploration of values, privilege and positionality
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Lecture/seminar, small group work, guest speakers, course readings/video
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
B+
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Project |
20 |
Field Research Group Project, Presentation |
|
Project |
25 |
Case Study Group Project, Presentation |
|
Assignments |
10 |
Article Review: |
|
Other |
20 |
Case Conference |
|
Assignments |
25 |
Personal Philosophy Paper |
Course topics
- Values and ethics Relationship between one’s own personal and professional values and one’s professional code of ethics A code of ethics as an expression of values and guidelines Critical thought and situational variables that impact the application of the code of ethics Personal philosophy of practice
- Professional governance General purposes of professional codes of ethics Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct Workplace guidelines and policies of employers of interpreters Legislation that impacts the interpreting community of practice Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (WAVLI) and Occupational Title Protection in BC Conflict and/or tensions between professional, employer and legislated governance
- Demand Control Schema Constellations of demands Controls on a liberal-conservative spectrum Positive and negative consequences Resulting demands Case studies and hypothetical dilemmas
- Interpreter power, privilege, positionality Possibility and implications of using one’s position of power to reinforce the status quo Ongoing examination of one’s own positionality in a variety of professional and community settings Envisioning oneself as an agent of change toward social, economic and racial justice
Learning resources
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.