Course Descriptions

Courses numbered 1000-1999 are open to freshmen; 2000-2999 to sophomores; 3000-3999 to juniors; 4000-4999 to seniors. It is recommended that students elect courses in the years for which they are listed. Freshmen will be admitted to courses above the 2000 level only with the consent of the instructor and the student’s advisor. Juniors and seniors taking freshman courses may be expected to do additional work. Any course above 4999 is a graduate course.

NOTE:
The number in parentheses following the course title indicates the semester hours of credit assigned to the course.
An H following the course number indicates an honors level course.

GEDC 5030
Clinical Foundations of Intervention [Course] (3)
This interactive course focuses on the training and practice of interpersonal skills, which are vital to functioning as a professional psychologist or counselor. The course will be centered on a three- stage helping model which assists individuals in exploring their problems, gaining insights, and taking action. In developing this helping model, three counseling theories will be explored: person-centered therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and behavior therapy. The course will largely focus on the skill development necessary to initiate helping relationships with diverse populations.

GEDC 5040
Clinical Foundations of Intervention II [Course] (3)
This course is designed to build upon the basic interpersonal and counseling skills developed in GEDC 5030. Emphasis will be placed on the development of further enhancement of challenging and guidance skills requisite for therapeutic intervention in established counseling relationships. In addition, several psychotherapy approaches and their intervention techniques will be presented and analyzed. Theoretical applications will be considered for both adults and children. The focus will be on developing interpersonal and therapeutic interventions which will foster change and growth in individual clients.

GEDC 5070
Career Development and Guidance [Course] (3)
This course introduces the student to some of the philosophical issues and sociological patterns of career development. Students will explore both theory and practice of career counseling and education. The focus upon development from childhood through adulthood provides examination of career counseling strategies in both schools and community agencies.

GEDC 5140
Professional, Legal, and Ethical Practice in School Counseling [Course] (3)
This course is designed as an introduction to the profession of school counselor. Areas explored include professional roles, settings, functions, goals and objectives, organizations, history, ethics, and credentialing. Special attention will be given to the practical applications of the job while examining various academic disciplines pertinent to the development of the school counselor. Key pieces of educational law will be reviewed such as Section 504 of the American Disabilities Act as well as ethical guidelines for school practitioners.

GEDC 5160
Practicum-School Counseling [Practicum] (3)
This supervised practicum experience will provide students with the opportunity to work with pre-K-12 students within the school setting for the purpose of applying and developing counseling skills (individual, group and lesson delivery) with students. In addition, they will gain a broad exposure to the educational and community environment of the school site. The practicum experience in conjunction with weekly class meetings for on campus supervision will occur on a weekly basis throughout the semester.

GEDC 5200
Assessment I:Psychological Measurement [Course] (3)
This course is designed as an introduction to testing and measurement. Primary emphasis will be placed on building a general understanding of elementary statistics and analysis of test scores in relation to the normal curve. An understanding of reliability, validity, and normative samples will be explored through an application process using a variety of standardized instruments, which are currently used. Students will gain a general understanding of both the purpose and practice of assessment through exposure to a wide variety instruments and procedures which are both traditional and non-traditional methods. It is important to note that this course only serves as an introduction to testing and assessment and that further courses/skills training are needed for students interested in specializing in assessment.

GEDC 5300
Advanced Developmental Psychology [Course] (3)
This course provides a broad understanding of individual development from a lifespan perspective. Study will focus on the major themes and issues of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development, with particular emphasis placed on foundational research and theory in these areas. Course content will reflect the contemporary view that life span development is a developmental process deeply intertwined and indistinguishable from the familial, societal, and cultural contexts. Developmental theories and research highlighted in the course will be discussed in relation to the useful application of the concepts for individuals working in the helping professions including school counselors, school psychologists, and clinicians. The course is designed to show how presented information can be translated into professional best practice applications.

GEDC 5650
Child & Adolescent Psychopathology [Course] (3)
This course is designed to explore the complexities of child and adolescent psychopathology, with a specific emphasis on the school setting. The content will focus on the epidemiology, symptomatology, etiology, comorbidity, and treatment of different psychopathologies experienced by children and adolescents. Common assessment strategies and classification systems, such as the DSM-IV, will be examined, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Intervention and prevention approaches for specific disorders will be discussed, including a particular focus on school-based intervention programs.

GEDC 6010
Research Methods and Statistics I [Course] (3)
This course is designed to help students gain an understanding of and appreciation for the use of research as a tool for professional evidence-based practice with and on behalf of school populations and to evaluate educational programs and practices. Students in this course are introduced to the concepts and skills underlying a systematic approach to educational research, including basic research terminology, the scientific method in education, the value of research in education, research ethics, problem formulation and conceptualization, measurement, research designs, sampling, and alternative quantitative and qualitative data gathering techniques.

GEDC 6030
Multicultural Diversity & Prof Practice [Course] (3)
This course is designed to develop multicultural competency in professional mental health practice. The focus will be on increasing students’ awareness of their cultural values and biases, while also developing knowledge about how race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social class have an impact on self and the counseling relationship. Additional emphasis will be placed on surveying culturally responsive skills that are necessary to evaluate and intervene with diverse client systems.

GEDC 6040
Evidence-Based Treatments & Interventions [Course] (3)
This course is designed to foster the integration of clinical science and practice by examining the history, nature, and process of evidence-based practice. The course will emphasize evidence-based intervention strategies and programs designed to improve the emotional, behavioral, and social functioning of children, adolescents, and adults. Service delivery at the individual, group, and systems level will be addressed. Implementation issues specific to school and clinical settings will be examined.

GEDC 6080
Methods in Planning, Instruction & Assessment for School Counselors [Course] (3)
In this course students will be introduced to the role of the school counselor emphasizing planning, delivering, managing, and evaluating counseling services through instructional delivery with the goal of promoting academic, career and personal/social development of all students. Students will be prepared to serve as change agents to reduce barriers that impede student development. Students will focus on teaching skills of assessment, lesson planning, and classroom management while utilizing various teaching models. Students will also develop goals and objectives for students with disabilities.

GEDC 6550
Consultation for Prevention & Intervention [Course] (3)
Students will be exposed to the theory behind and practice of consultation as an indirect service delivery model for children, families, and schools. Although the class will utilize a lecture format, applied work will be provided via the students field and internship placements. Thus, as a pre-requisite, all students must also be enrolled in a Field or Internship class as well.

GEDC 6640
Group Dynamics and Group Counseling [Course] (2)
This course explores the rationale, goals, and fundamental dynamics of the individual in group situations. Group process will be explored in its entirety including initiation, maintenance, and termination of therapeutic group interactions. Methods of group leadership with people from diverse backgrounds, and both facilitative and non-facilitative roles will be explored.

GEDC 7000
Adv Integration of Counseling & Theology [Course] (3)
A study of basic concepts of evangelical Christian theology and its relationships to counseling theory and helping, within the social contexts of both individuals and families. Parallel relationships will be drawn between both disciplines with practical applications offered for the helping professional.

GEDC 7100
Internship in School Counseling [Practicum] (3)
This course allows students to practice skills learned through course material in supervised, approved field placements over the course of one full academic year. Students are required to spend 2 full days per week through the first semester and 3 full days per week through the second semester. Placements may also be split into two separate placements to offer the student a greater latitude of diversity. Prerequisite: Students must have completed all coursework in addition to their qualifying examination for graduation.

GEDC 7110
Internship in School Counseling [Practicum] (5)
This course allows students to practice skills learned through course material in supervised, approved field placements over the course of one full academic year. Students are required to spend 2 full days per week through the first semester and 3 full days per week through the second semester. Placements may also be split into two separate placements to offer the student a greater latitude of diversity. Prerequisite: Students must have completed all coursework in addition to their qualifying examination for graduation.

GEDC 7150
Counseling Supervision [Course] (3)
This course includes the study of the process of supervision and various models of supervision within schools and clinical settings. Students will gain experience with supervision by supervising students enrolled in the 1st year practicum experience. This course will receive a Pass or Fail grade.

GEDC 7160
Exceptionality & Diversity [Course] (3)
Inclusion of exceptional children and youth in unrestricted learning environments, and their academic success and social adjustment, requires school personnel to develop expertise in the recognition of special needs and a broad knowledge of appropriate school-based strategies for ensuring academic success and social development. This course is designed as a graduate-level introduction to the history, major issues, and contemporary practices defining exceptionalities, their categorization, and demographic characteristics.

GEDC 7340
Play Therapy [Course] (3)
This course is a practice elective. The purpose of this course is to provide students with exposure to and an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in using play therapy with individuals, families and groups in diverse settings. Students will become familiar with various theoretical practice models and learn to apply those models with children experiencing a variety of problems across diverse populations. This course will expose the student to basic knowledge about play therapy as a component of services to children, including in mental health, child welfare, health and community based settings.

GEDC 7350
Conflict Management [Course] (3)
Conflict is an inevitable and ubiquitous phenomenon that can be either constructive or destructive. In this course, the causes and dynamics of conflict as well as ways to transform conflict into a constructive force in a school setting will be explored. This interactive course focuses on the development of school-based conflict transformation skills, with primary emphasis given to mediation and Life Space Crisis Intervention.

GEDC 7950
Independent Study [Course] (1 - 3)
This course is an elective in the curriculum that allows students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and/or skills in an in-depth and individualized manner. The independent study is arranged with and supervised by a graduate faculty member. No prerequisites.