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Course Descriptions

PSYC 601: Developmental School Guidance Counseling 3 S.H.
This course presents the philosophy, principles, and practices of Developmental School Guidance Counseling, and recent research in the field. Students learn about the roles and functions of counselors at the elementary, middle, and high schools levels. This course focuses on academic guidance including the Curriculum Frameworks, MCAS, standardized testing and test interpretation, and counselors’ roles in special education, college counseling, and post-secondary options.

PSYC 645: Prevention & Group Counseling in Schools 3 S.H.
In this course students develop skills in preventing and intervening with violence, substance abuse, mental illness, and child maltreatment. Topics include group guidance and leadership, changing the school climate, consultation, and referrals. Students learn about the relationship of counselors to other professionals in pupil personnel services, the school system, and the community. Students complete a 60-hour pre-practicum in a school.

PSYC 665: Family Counseling in Schools 3 S.H.
This course is designed to help school counselors assess family systems, establish school/family partnerships, and work together with parents and other school personnel to help children and youth succeed. Students learn how to conduct qualitative research with families on their relationship with schools, and develop their consultation and family counseling skills.

PSYC 683: Ethical School Counseling Practice Seminar 3 S.H.
In this course students engaged in their Practicum in School Guidance Counseling discuss their work and receive group supervision. Students learn about the ethical and legal guidelines relevant to school counseling, and the steps required to resolve typical dilemmas, including mandatory reporting, confidentiality, school records, grouping, professional obligations and limitations, special education law, and children’s rights to schooling.

PSYC 684: Practicum in School Guidance 6 S.H.
This course brings graduate students face-to-face with the daily responsibilities undertaken by school guidance counselors. In a supervised environment, students are involved in all facets of guidance counseling. They work with students, administrators, teachers, parents, and other constituencies. They engage in group and individual interventions. Students are challenged to apply classroom knowledge to the practice of school guidance. Prerequisites: PSYC 601, 645 & permission of the Director of School Guidance

PSYC 513: Psychological Testing 3 S.H.
This course establishes an understanding of the problems involved in the measurement of abilities, achievement, attitudes, interests, behavior, and personality. Methods of test construction and the concepts of reliability and validity are considered.

PSYC 515: Child Development & Counseling 3 S.H
This course examines the bio-psychosocial development of children and adolescents. Learning, normal development, and play therapy techniques are covered.

EDUC 683: Learning Disabilities 3 S.H.
This course is used to examine theories of etiology and intervention models for remediation and compensation of learning disabilities. Emphasis is on adolescents and adults whose learning disorders are chronic and may include other primary handicapping conditions.

PSYC 614: Counseling Diverse Populations 3 S.H.
This course examines the complex interplay of values, expectations, and social and political forces that influence the counselor/client relationship. Students learn about multicultural competency in mental health agencies, schools, and other settings. Students improve their ability to counsel members of specific ethnic groups and gay men and lesbians.

PSYC 643: Career Development & Counseling 3 S.H.
This course provides a framework for career development interventions across a variety of professional settings. Theory and research perspectives related to career development over the life span are offered as a basis for individual and group work in career planning, guidance, and employment counseling. Current issue such as college counseling, employment trends, assessment, multiculturalism, and the use of technology in career advisement are addressed.

PSYC 622: Principles of Counseling 3 S.H.
This course provides graduate students with opportunities to learn and acquire basic counseling skills that can be used in a variety of settings. Participants survey major approaches to counseling to further their knowledge of human behavior and the change process. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the dynamics underlying various therapeutic techniques and fostering the ability to establish a strong working alliance.

PSYC 685: Counseling Practicum 3 S.H
This course provides an opportunity for skill-building experience in the application of counseling methods in a closely supervised laboratory situation. Each student is seen individually and in a group seminar on a weekly basis for discussion and videotape evaluation of counseling interviews. Prerequisite: PSYC 622

PSYC 631: Psychopathology 3 S.H.
Employing a biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, and sociocultural approach, various types of pathology across the lifespan are examined, emphasizing descriptive characteristics, etiology, and treatment. This course focuses on the use of the DSM-IV, interpretation of case histories, and awareness of moral/ethical aspects of labeling or acknowledging psychopathology.

RSCH 610: Foundations and Methods of Research 3 S.H.
This course emphasizes the search for truth and the ways in which this search is conducted. It includes the identification and delineation of research problems, survey of related literature, detailed examination of different research methods, and basic descriptive and inferential statistical coverage. Attention is given to the presentation of research results in acceptable form. Required of all master’s degree students.

PSYC 680: Group Dynamics 3 S.H.
This is an examination of and experience in basic group process. Emphasis is on knowledge of group dynamics, skill building as group leaders, and participation in a group experience. Awareness of self and others at increasingly open and honest levels of communication is encouraged without the intensity of encounter approaches.

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EDUC 640 Behavior Management for School Aged Children 3 S.H.
This course presents methods and theory on behavior management issues in today’s classrooms and the risk factors that influence anti-social behavior. Participants learn how to develop a multi-modal approach to behavior management that includes de-escalation techniques, classroom design and management strategies, cognitive restructuring, social skills instruction community and family involvement, establishing routines, limits and anchor points and crisis intervention. An emphasis is placed on applied research and practical applications.

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PSYC 588: Counseling the College Bound Student 3 S.H.
This course explores the college admissions process, with emphasis on current issues confronting secondary school counselors, application and admissions criteria for various types of colleges, and college counseling for special student populations. Students gain an understanding of the resources available to counselors in the college admissions process including print material, software, web sites, and organizations.