Graduate Coursework
EDPS 620 - Child Development
This course focuses on the nature of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development from birth through adolescence, with implications for learning and teaching; major perspectives on the study of child development, including Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of child development and learning; periods of child development from birth through adolescence, seen in cultural context, with implications for learning and teaching; integration of theory and research findings from the fields of developmental and educational psychology; and multicultural contexts for growth, development, and learning with diverse student populations.
EDSE 640 - Assessment of Individual Differences in General Education and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective
This course focuses on assessment in general and special education of individuals differences in intelligence, learning potential, personality, motivation and school achievement; management of data from assessment and monitoring of student progress; characteristics of standardized tests; the role of educational testing in program design and informing instruction, particularly for students with disabilities, including children with autism; assessment of young children; use of achievement tests; introduction to dynamic (or interactive) assessment; differences between static and dynamic assessment; the use of teacher-made informal tests; opportunity to observe and practice use of achievement tests and curriculum-based assessment approaches in classrooms.
PSY 631 - Counseling Families of Exceptional Children
The focus of this course is to develop an understanding of the role and dynamics of a family in the management of exceptional children. The course introduces Family Systems theory and also explores the family as a mediator of the culture and as a context within which the child develops. The course addresses the interactions of families with children with handicapping conditions such as medical conditions and learning problems. A focus is on the impact of the child with special needs on parents and siblings. Students develop skills in assessing the family’s interactions with the referred child, and evaluation of the family’s needs. They become familiar with the impact and relevance of the socio/economic and cultural context for families with special needs children.
PSY 632 - Multicultural Counseling
To effectively function in a multicultural society with clients from diverse backgrounds, students develop the knowledge, tools and skills to become responsive counselors to different ethnic minority and cultural groups. Students become aware of their assumptions about human behavior, values, biases, preconceived notions, personal limitations and attempt to understand the worldview of culturally different clients in the process of developing and practicing culturally appropriate skills in working with culturally diverse clients.
PSY 637 - Appraisal in Child and Adolescent Counseling II
This course is a continuation of PSY 636 and examines additional disorders and their assessments. The course focuses on utilizing rating scales and more quantifiable methodology to assess social-emotional status, and contrasts clinical and non-clinical populations. Work, school and home intervention techniques are emphasized and include topics such as functional behavioral assessment, and behavior management applications.
EDSE 640 - Assessment of Individual Differences in General Education and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective
This course focuses on assessment in general and special education of individuals differences in intelligence, learning potential, personality, motivation and school achievement; management of data from assessment and monitoring of student progress; characteristics of standardized tests; the role of educational testing in program design and informing instruction, particularly for students with disabilities, including children with autism; assessment of young children; use of achievement tests; introduction to dynamic (or interactive) assessment; differences between static and dynamic assessment; the use of teacher-made informal tests; opportunity to observe and practice use of achievement tests and curriculum-based assessment approaches in classrooms.
PSY 670 - Best Practices in Crisis Intervention
This course covers the theoretical foundations and current research on the impact of trauma and disasters on children, adolescents and adults. It focuses on best practices for short-term and crisis intervention to support a return to normalcy and resilience in youth. A major focus is on identification, intervention, and treatment of children who exhibit signs of distress or who are at-risk for future mental health problems. Group work is explored as a means to therapeutically intervene with youngsters who exhibit signs of traumatic stress.
PSY 678 - Life Style and Career Development
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of theoretical and practice aspects of career development across the life span. In this context, the major career development theories will be presented as well as the treatment implications for counseling and psycho-educational interventions.
PSY 680 - Group Dynamics and Organizational Diagnosis (OD)
The course builds on theories introduced in the prerequisite course, Use of Self (PSY682), and applies these theories to diagnosing key challenges in organizations. Students learn to use a consultative approach to affect change. Discussion, role-play, field practice and reflection will be the primary tools for learning. Students must be prepared to find a “client” with which to conduct fieldwork.
SC 641 - Academic Functioning: Educational Intervention
For School Counselors, understanding teaching and learning is critical. Besides testing and counseling, School Counselors are expected to serve on pre-referral intervention teams and to consult with over-worked teachers on a variety of issues. This course provides students with tools to perform those functions. Students attain a basic understanding of how people learn, as well as the most popular theories about learning as a social and cognitive process. Focus is on recognizing where and how learning problems typically arise, tools and strategies to prevent and/or remediate such problems. While there is an assessment component, this is not a testing course. The assessment in this course is dynamic in nature and used directly in intervention planning. Consultation issues are briefly covered.
SC 648 - Classroom Management: Students as Change Agents
This course examines the role of the school counselor in serving children and adolescents who present behavior problems in the school and/or community. The course introduces basic behavior management techniques. The course further focuses on teaching social skills (primarily through cognitive or cognitive behavioral interventions) with an emphasis on teaching students self-regulations and strategies aimed at changing their own behavior.
SC 652 - Advanced Issues in Vocational Counseling
This course provides a solid understanding of the process of improving high schools so that more students are able to excel in freshman-level college courses or entry-level jobs, laying a solid foundation for lifelong growth and success. The course also provides guidelines for high school faculty to adapt their programs of instruction in the direction of enhanced college/career readiness. Further explored are practical strategies for improving students' content knowledge and academic behaviors through best practices and research-based recommendations for change.
SC 654 - Topics in Educational Psychology
The course provides a detailed analysis of modern learning theories and practices as they relate to the k-12 environment. The course investigates the major research in educational psychology focusing on cognition and further explores emotional and behavioral perspectives.
SC 656 - Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services
This course covers a range of issues involved in managing a school counseling program, from writing student assessments and dealing with school crises to setting budgets and running effective meetings. The course addresses the transformed role of school counselor as it pertains to the American School Counselor Association's National Model for Counseling Programs. The course further provides the necessary knowledge for developing a comprehensive school-counseling program by working through the planning, designing, implementing and evaluating stages.
SC 658 - Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling
The course explores the legal and ethical issues involved in School Counseling and the research relevant to ethical behavior of counselors in mental health, career, and school settings. The course further explores the study of important legal developments related to confidentiality, testing, and supervision.
SC 676 - School and Community Relations
This course provides an examination of the role and importance of the community in the school system. It also provides an important look at the significance of community relations within the school system and its impact on the students, teachers and administration. This course is meant as an introduction to the principles of the community collaboration in school-student-parent relations.
SC 682 - Contemporary Issues in School Counseling I
This course provides a solid understanding of the process of counseling in K-12 environment through experiential exposure.
SC 683 - Contemporary Issues in School Counseling II
Through the latest evidence-based research and as a continuation to SC 682, this course furthers students’ understanding of the process of counseling in K-12 environment through experiential exposure.
SC 687 - Internship
The purpose of this practicum experience is to provide opportunities for students to work with diverse clients and client situations, affording students a structured and supportive environment in which to apply counseling theories, techniques and skills learned in previous course work. Focusing on the school environment (K-12), students also develop skills in observations, feedback, case preparation, interview analysis and reporting as well as become aware of a variety of professional resources and community referral agencies.
This course focuses on the nature of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development from birth through adolescence, with implications for learning and teaching; major perspectives on the study of child development, including Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of child development and learning; periods of child development from birth through adolescence, seen in cultural context, with implications for learning and teaching; integration of theory and research findings from the fields of developmental and educational psychology; and multicultural contexts for growth, development, and learning with diverse student populations.
EDSE 640 - Assessment of Individual Differences in General Education and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective
This course focuses on assessment in general and special education of individuals differences in intelligence, learning potential, personality, motivation and school achievement; management of data from assessment and monitoring of student progress; characteristics of standardized tests; the role of educational testing in program design and informing instruction, particularly for students with disabilities, including children with autism; assessment of young children; use of achievement tests; introduction to dynamic (or interactive) assessment; differences between static and dynamic assessment; the use of teacher-made informal tests; opportunity to observe and practice use of achievement tests and curriculum-based assessment approaches in classrooms.
PSY 631 - Counseling Families of Exceptional Children
The focus of this course is to develop an understanding of the role and dynamics of a family in the management of exceptional children. The course introduces Family Systems theory and also explores the family as a mediator of the culture and as a context within which the child develops. The course addresses the interactions of families with children with handicapping conditions such as medical conditions and learning problems. A focus is on the impact of the child with special needs on parents and siblings. Students develop skills in assessing the family’s interactions with the referred child, and evaluation of the family’s needs. They become familiar with the impact and relevance of the socio/economic and cultural context for families with special needs children.
PSY 632 - Multicultural Counseling
To effectively function in a multicultural society with clients from diverse backgrounds, students develop the knowledge, tools and skills to become responsive counselors to different ethnic minority and cultural groups. Students become aware of their assumptions about human behavior, values, biases, preconceived notions, personal limitations and attempt to understand the worldview of culturally different clients in the process of developing and practicing culturally appropriate skills in working with culturally diverse clients.
PSY 637 - Appraisal in Child and Adolescent Counseling II
This course is a continuation of PSY 636 and examines additional disorders and their assessments. The course focuses on utilizing rating scales and more quantifiable methodology to assess social-emotional status, and contrasts clinical and non-clinical populations. Work, school and home intervention techniques are emphasized and include topics such as functional behavioral assessment, and behavior management applications.
EDSE 640 - Assessment of Individual Differences in General Education and Special Education: A Socio-Cultural Perspective
This course focuses on assessment in general and special education of individuals differences in intelligence, learning potential, personality, motivation and school achievement; management of data from assessment and monitoring of student progress; characteristics of standardized tests; the role of educational testing in program design and informing instruction, particularly for students with disabilities, including children with autism; assessment of young children; use of achievement tests; introduction to dynamic (or interactive) assessment; differences between static and dynamic assessment; the use of teacher-made informal tests; opportunity to observe and practice use of achievement tests and curriculum-based assessment approaches in classrooms.
PSY 670 - Best Practices in Crisis Intervention
This course covers the theoretical foundations and current research on the impact of trauma and disasters on children, adolescents and adults. It focuses on best practices for short-term and crisis intervention to support a return to normalcy and resilience in youth. A major focus is on identification, intervention, and treatment of children who exhibit signs of distress or who are at-risk for future mental health problems. Group work is explored as a means to therapeutically intervene with youngsters who exhibit signs of traumatic stress.
PSY 678 - Life Style and Career Development
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of theoretical and practice aspects of career development across the life span. In this context, the major career development theories will be presented as well as the treatment implications for counseling and psycho-educational interventions.
PSY 680 - Group Dynamics and Organizational Diagnosis (OD)
The course builds on theories introduced in the prerequisite course, Use of Self (PSY682), and applies these theories to diagnosing key challenges in organizations. Students learn to use a consultative approach to affect change. Discussion, role-play, field practice and reflection will be the primary tools for learning. Students must be prepared to find a “client” with which to conduct fieldwork.
SC 641 - Academic Functioning: Educational Intervention
For School Counselors, understanding teaching and learning is critical. Besides testing and counseling, School Counselors are expected to serve on pre-referral intervention teams and to consult with over-worked teachers on a variety of issues. This course provides students with tools to perform those functions. Students attain a basic understanding of how people learn, as well as the most popular theories about learning as a social and cognitive process. Focus is on recognizing where and how learning problems typically arise, tools and strategies to prevent and/or remediate such problems. While there is an assessment component, this is not a testing course. The assessment in this course is dynamic in nature and used directly in intervention planning. Consultation issues are briefly covered.
SC 648 - Classroom Management: Students as Change Agents
This course examines the role of the school counselor in serving children and adolescents who present behavior problems in the school and/or community. The course introduces basic behavior management techniques. The course further focuses on teaching social skills (primarily through cognitive or cognitive behavioral interventions) with an emphasis on teaching students self-regulations and strategies aimed at changing their own behavior.
SC 652 - Advanced Issues in Vocational Counseling
This course provides a solid understanding of the process of improving high schools so that more students are able to excel in freshman-level college courses or entry-level jobs, laying a solid foundation for lifelong growth and success. The course also provides guidelines for high school faculty to adapt their programs of instruction in the direction of enhanced college/career readiness. Further explored are practical strategies for improving students' content knowledge and academic behaviors through best practices and research-based recommendations for change.
SC 654 - Topics in Educational Psychology
The course provides a detailed analysis of modern learning theories and practices as they relate to the k-12 environment. The course investigates the major research in educational psychology focusing on cognition and further explores emotional and behavioral perspectives.
SC 656 - Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services
This course covers a range of issues involved in managing a school counseling program, from writing student assessments and dealing with school crises to setting budgets and running effective meetings. The course addresses the transformed role of school counselor as it pertains to the American School Counselor Association's National Model for Counseling Programs. The course further provides the necessary knowledge for developing a comprehensive school-counseling program by working through the planning, designing, implementing and evaluating stages.
SC 658 - Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling
The course explores the legal and ethical issues involved in School Counseling and the research relevant to ethical behavior of counselors in mental health, career, and school settings. The course further explores the study of important legal developments related to confidentiality, testing, and supervision.
SC 676 - School and Community Relations
This course provides an examination of the role and importance of the community in the school system. It also provides an important look at the significance of community relations within the school system and its impact on the students, teachers and administration. This course is meant as an introduction to the principles of the community collaboration in school-student-parent relations.
SC 682 - Contemporary Issues in School Counseling I
This course provides a solid understanding of the process of counseling in K-12 environment through experiential exposure.
SC 683 - Contemporary Issues in School Counseling II
Through the latest evidence-based research and as a continuation to SC 682, this course furthers students’ understanding of the process of counseling in K-12 environment through experiential exposure.
SC 687 - Internship
The purpose of this practicum experience is to provide opportunities for students to work with diverse clients and client situations, affording students a structured and supportive environment in which to apply counseling theories, techniques and skills learned in previous course work. Focusing on the school environment (K-12), students also develop skills in observations, feedback, case preparation, interview analysis and reporting as well as become aware of a variety of professional resources and community referral agencies.