MCP-600 Foundations/Comm Psychology & Counseling (3 credits)
Admission to the MSCP program or instructor approval. This course has been designed to provide the foundational principles of Community Psychology for students in the Master of Science in Community Psychology (MSCP) program. Emphasis is given to examination of the major perspectives in community psychology and their application within, cultural, global, historic and contemporary contexts. The student explores an array of strategies and policies designed to promote individual growth, high level community cohesion along with prevention and treatment of social and mental health problems. The students studies, creates and evaluates an array of programs and policies, particularly those designed to engender wellness, prevent violence and to address issues related to substance use disorders. Across the semester, the student develops skills in constructing reasonable psychological explanations for complex behavior and is able to solve problems by evaluating and drawing upon a variety of psychological methods, including system analysis. Particular attention is given to developing strategies that promote community-level change.
MCP-601 Orientation to MSCP Program (0 credits)
Admission to the MSCP program. This orientation is designed for students who are starting the MSCP Program.
MCP-611 Human Development in Community Contexts (3 credits)
This is one of two foundational courses in the Master of Science in Community Psychology program. In this class, students engage with a variety of theoretical perspectives that pertain to human development and learning. They will apply these perspectives to broadly themed issues of identity, adjustment and normal, as well as abnormal behavior. These applications will be made within an informed understanding of the impact of community contexts on both individual and group behavior. As students explore the processes of human development over the life span, they will consider the role of family, school, agency and government in the process of an individual's development.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-600 Admission to the MSCP program or instructor approval.
MCP-620 Helping Rel: Prevention, Intervnt & Syst (3 credits)
This course has been designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the philosophic bases of the helping processes, counseling theories and their applications. Basic and advanced helping skills will be explored in the context of developing effective empathic listening skills. Consultation theories will be discussed and applied to case examples that address client and helper self-understanding and self-development. Students will explore the process of change as facilitated by a framework of strength and multiple models of prevention and intervention will be addressed through developing an understanding of the complex systems which impact helping relationships.
MCP-625 Clin Mntl Hlth Cnsl: Diagnosis& Treatmnt (3 credits)
This course focuses on the origin, evaluation, interpretation and application of the major theories within cultural, global, historic, and contemporary contexts. As many of the major theories influencing modern day thought were not derived from strict scientific methods, but essentially reflect philosophical assumptions, and the application of these theories to actual real-life situations as in counseling and psychotherapy, reflect creative acts, thereby showing that theories may function as art, the theories will be evaluated from the perspectives of philosophy, science and art in this course. Emphasis will be given to the application of the theories to an array of settings designed to promote prevention and treatment of psychological and social disorders on individual and community levels. Across the semester the students study and evaluate a variety of therapeutic approaches and clinical settings through their own system of values. Students develop critical thinking abilities about complex issues in mental health. Emphasis is given to diagnostic and treatment, and prevention issues related to substance use disorders and violent behavior.
MCP-627 Culturally Engaged Counseling (3 credits)
This course orients students to the major theoretical perspectives and concepts of multicultural and cross-cultural counseling.
MCP-630 Topics in Community Psy & Counseling (3 credits)
This course gives students the option of a variety of electives. Because of the range of topics in community psychology, it is advisable to select a specific topic on a semester-by-semester basis. Examples of topics courses include child and adolescent issues and advanced trauma counseling.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-627 or instructor approval, MCP-699 or instructor approval
MCP-640 Trauma Counseling (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the issues and impacts of interpersonal trauma, primarily domestic and sexual violence. Trauma victims are conceptualized within a variety of contexts, including family, culture, community, and society. Course content includes the following topics: exploration of trauma and its impacts; tactics of offenders and differential impact on victims; trauma during childhood and adulthood; traumatic meaning making within the context of culture/identity; trauma in the context of poverty and oppression. Students gain a broad knowledge of issues and impacts related to interpersonal trauma and develop skills in presentation, consultation, case conceptualization, and scholarly research.
MCP-642 Advanced Trauma Counseling (3 credits)
Advanced Trauma Counseling is an elective course in the Masters of Science in Community Psychology (MSCP) program. This course builds on the knowledge base established in the initial Trauma Counseling course, and gives students the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge about key skills and approaches to working with trauma survivors. Course content will include the following topics: (1) Review of Stages of Trauma Counseling; (2) Effective Trauma Interventions Across Stages [including Cognitive behavioral therapy, Mindfulness, Group work] (3) Ancillary Approaches, and (4) Adapting Interventions to Specific Trauma Populations. Through this course, students will gain knowledge and will develop skills in case conceptualization, treatment planning, utilization of effective intervention strategies, and scholarly research.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-640
MCP-645 Couples, Partners & Family Counseling (3 credits)
This course is designed to give students tools, theories, and practices related to counseling with children, adolescence and families. Family systems, child and adolescent behavior, and methods of treatment are addressed.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-620
MCP-651 Research, Evaluation & Statistics Method (3 credits)
This course has been designed to prepare students to design their final research project. It focuses on the acquisition and practice of essential skills involved in psychological research and evaluation.
MCP-655 Group Dynamics Processing & Counseling (3 credits)
This course prepares students to work effectively with groups, including those in the community, in organizations and in a conseling setting. Students are introduced to theory and research pertaining to group dynamics, which is used as the basis for analysis of group process, and they explore theoretical models related to group counseling. Finally, they apply this knowledge to the practice of group facilitation skills.
MCP-660 Individual Appraisal, Assmnt& Measuremnt (3 credits)
This course is designed to prepare students for assessment practice across a variety of different client populations. This course will use an ecological perspective to prepare learners to make sound, culturally sensitive choices in assessment. Students will explore the history of assessment and connect this history to current practices and issues. Students will gain knowledge of theories related to the practice of assessment, have hands-on experience in administering and scoring selected tests, and learn the importance of the role of supervision. Focus will be on both individual and systems assessment.
MCP-671 Substance Abuse Counseling (3 credits)
In this course students will review a variety of approaches to addressing the treatment of a range of addition disorders. Students will review some of the physiological mechanisms of addiction as well as identify a wide variety of addictive substances including alcohol, meta-amphetamines, barbiturates, pain killers and others. In this class students will familiarize themselves with various models for explaining addiction including, but not limited to the Stages of Change Model. They will practice treatment methods and will observe clients in treatment related settings.
MCP-677 Physiological Psychology (3 credits)
This course as related to community contexts will enable the learner to understand and explain the physiological processes involved in a number of neurologically based conditions that affect potential clients and community members, to a "physiological naive" audience. Learners will also be able to develop patient/client educational material on a top of their choice the physiological dimensions of resource for clients and families that may be affected by conditions, such as but not limited to Addiction, Alzheimer's/dementia, Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder and Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-611
MCP-679 Physiological Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
This course as related to community contexts will enable the learner to understand and explain the physiological processes involved in a number of neurologically based conditions that affect potential clients and community members, to a "physiological naive" audience. Learners will also be able to develop patient/client educational material on a top of their choice the physiological dimensions of resource for clients and families that may be affected by conditions, such as but not limited to Addiction, Alzheimer's/dementia, Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder and Post-traumatic stress disorder.
MCP-680 Counseling Theory: Ind, Group & Family (3 credits)
This course prepares students for counseling practice across a variety of client populations. It focuses on the acquisition and practice of essential skills involved in therapeutic psychological intervention, covering a wide range of theoretical models (e.g., psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, feminist, person-centered, existential, behavioral).
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MSCP program or instructor approval.
MCP-682 Adv Counslng Thry: Evidence Based Pract (3 credits)
This course has been designed to prepare students in the Masters of Science in Community Psychology and Professional Counseling (MSCP) program for counseling practice at an advanced level, across a variety of different client populations. The course will focus on treatments that have an empirical base of support for their efficacy. Given the current landscape of mental health treatment, which tends to emphasize empirically-supported treatments, this elective course will be valuable to students intending to enter clinical practice.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-680
MCP-685 Lifestyle & Career Development (3 credits)
Admission to MSCP program or instructor approval. This course is designed to prepare counselors for the inevitable need to engage in career guidance and decision-making which so often happens in the counseling process. The course will also be of help to those who are preparing for community research and consultation as the issue of employment is a key issue for both individuals and organizations within the community. In the Career Counseling course, students will work with models of career counseling, career assessment inventories and interviews, theories of motivation and processes of decision-making as they relate to career needs and choices. The course will also engage students in the multi-faceted issues of unemployment and the support resources that are needed for the unemployed and under-employed.
MCP-688 Professional Ethics & Legal Issues (3 credits)
In this course students will carefully examine ethical issues related to a variety of issues and concerns. They will engage in reflection on their own attitudes, values and practice as these relate to multi-cultural competency and issues of social justice both within counseling practice in community research. They will review ethics practices in the fields of community counseling and community psychology and relate these practices to case studies as well as to their own professional (or pre-professional) experience. They will identify the core values of the discipline and relate these values to the ethics code of the discipline as well as to their own value stance. Students will review a wide variety of theoretical sources for understanding appropriate ethical action and will apply relevant literature to their own intended practice.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-625
MCP-695 Grant Writing (3 credits)
In this class, students will learn how to use data to propose grants for the ongoing work of organizations or initiatives. Students will engage with a variety of perspectives and methods regarding grants and grant writing. They will learn the skills associated with grant writing and fund development requests. As a part of the class, students will write a grant associated with a community agency or project.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-600
MCP-698 Practicum/Internship Seminar (0 credits)
This is a required 0-credit course that will consist of a one-time seminar as well as online materials from Moodle. Students will attend the orientation meeting where they will learn about the process of applying for practicum/internship. They will have access to materials online that will help with tasks such as constructing a competitive CV and cover letter.
Prerequisite(s): Take two semesters before you plan on taking MCP-699.
MCP-699 Supervised Practicum (3 credits)
This course is the first of three required clinical field experiences for students in the MSCP program. Students are supervised as they acquire and apply the principles of community and counseling psychology at an approved practicum site. They complete a minimum of 100 practicum hours, with at least 40 of those hours being of direct service. In this practicum, students learn and apply a variety of strategies for professional counseling and intervention while gaining an understanding of community resources and system dynamics. They then use this knowledge to advocate for clients at multiple levels of practice. A student must have a clinical site secured before registering for this course.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-688
MCP-700 Supervised Internship I (3 credits)
In this course students will be supervised as they acquire and apply the principles of community and counseling psychology at an approved practicum site. Students will complete a total of 300 practicum hours with at least 125 hours of those hours being of direct service. Students will experience one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision from an on-site supervisor and an average of 1 1/2 hours per week of classroom consultation provided by a program faculty member. Students will learn and apply a variety of strategies for psychological intervention and professional counseling while gaining an understanding of community resources and system dynamics. Students will then utilize this knowledge to advocate for clients at multiple levels of practice. Students will engage in the practice of community psychology with significant attention to multicultural competencies and to the ethical and legal issues that impact their practice. Upon course completion, students will participate in a formal evaluation process in conjunction with the supervisor.
MCP-720 Supervised Internship II (3 credits)
In this course, students will be supervised as they acquire and apply the principles of community and counseling psychology at an approved practicum site. Students will complete a total of 300 practicum hours with at least 125 hours of those hours being of direct service. Students will experience one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision from an on-site supervisor and an average of 1 1/2 hours per week of classroom consultation provided by a program faculty member. Students will learn and apply a variety of strategies for psychological intervention and professional counseling while gaining an understanding of community resources and system dynamics. Students will then utilize this knowledge to advocate for clients at multiple levels of practice. Students will engage in the practice of community psychology with significant attention to multicultural competencies and to the ethical and legal issues that impact their practice. Upon course completion, students will participate in a formal evaluation process in conjunction with the supervisor.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-700
MCP-750 Community-Based Research (3 credits)
In this course, students complete their culminating work involving applied research, including implementation of the project and integration and presentation of the results. Final research takes the form of a professional project in which students systematically evaluate and analyze a systemic problem relevant to counseling practice, and determine potential interventions aimed at alleviating the problem. For those interested in advancing their research expertise, the final project is a master of science research thesis proposal involving data collection and analysis.
Prerequisite(s): MCP-651