RP 400 Essentials of Distance Education

This course is often the student’s first opportunity to try a distance learning format. It is designed to aid the student through his or her distance education journey. It will help the student know what is expected for distance learning and aid the student in finding the answers needed to accomplish this goal. Finally, this course will prepare the student on how to begin college writing.

MP 410 Psychodynamics of Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem may be at the root of most of our troubles. Positive self-esteem is the force that drives the successful personality. When parts of the self are rejected, the psychological structures that literally keep a person alive are greatly damaged. This course is about stopping the judgments, healing old wounds, and learning practical techniques for changing behavior patterns. Students will learn to affirm their worth, face their pain, and work toward freeing the self so that they may get more joy out of living.

CP 440 Introduction to the Field of Psychology

This course will review the history of psychology with emphasis on the psychologists who helped shape it into a science. The student will also become acquainted with the sub-fields of psychology. The goals of psychology and relationships to other sciences will be explained, thus helping to place psychology in the proper perspective. The student will be acquainted with research methods used in psychology and will be given an understanding of the naturalistic, observation, experimental, and correlational methods. Ethical issues are thoroughly covered so that the student will achieve a good grasp of the controversial issues in research.

PT 402 Human Service in the Community

This course will discuss multicultural issues in providing human services in a community setting. The student will consider historical perspectives and professional issues regarding special populations. The student will learn to create a community-based approach to education, prevention, or treatment.

CP 451 Psychology of Human Development I

Students will learn a variety of development theories that are applicable to everyday situations. The course will cover the following major areas: the study of human development over the life span, the beginnings of human life, child development, adolescent development, adult development, the biological foundations and development of the infant. The prenatal influences of the infant and how they affect the life span will be discussed. The development of perception, cognition and language, including an introduction to the nature and measurement of intelligence will be explored. The student will learn about personality, social development, how the world is perceived, and acquire an understanding of emotional development of people.

AD 442 Chemical Dependency: Theoretical Approaches and Strategies Working with Individuals and Families

This course underscores the importance of working with both the individual and family as part of a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach in assessment, intervention, and treatment of chemical addiction.

MP 400 Understanding the Character and Temperament of Clients

People are different in many ways. They desire different things. The have different motives, aims, needs, drives, impulses, and urges. Each one of us is unique, but we do share similar characteristics and behavior. The student will also learn how to assess these differences in the client’s character and how this information can help the therapist to work with the client to reach a more positive outcome during therapy.

PC 405 Individual Counseling I

In this course, the student will examine the field of modern Psychology and Counseling, including current theories specific to Pastoral Counseling. The student must present their own comprehensive understanding of Clinical Pastoral Counseling.

MP 411 Putting Joy into Stress

It has been estimated that 95% of all illness, both mental and physical, are directly caused by stress. This includes migraines, high blood pressure, ulcers, strokes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. This course will help the student learn to help the client realize what they are doing in their life that is helping or hurting them. Learn how to re-channel stress to achieve more positive outcomes, increase life expectancy, and live happier, more productive lives.

MP 412 The Art of Communication

The student will learn that as a metaphysical therapist, the quality of communication with others determines his or her success. In studying the material contained in this course, the student will develop important knowledge and skills in communication. As a teacher, counselor, guide and coach, the student will need as much information as possible about relating in a meaningful way to the clients. The student will learn how to help the clients in their perception of their personal world. The greater the understanding of how humans communicate, the greater the ability will be to reach the client’s inner personal world.

CP 446 Mastering Communication Skills

Working with people in a therapeutic relationship requires sensitivity as well as knowledge of how to listen, how to disclose thoughts and feelings and how to determine what is really true. Students will sharpen their skills in understanding body language, uncovering hidden meanings, applying the basic transactional analysis in their communications, while remaining aware of their own language. Fair fighting, negotiation and assertiveness, as well as other social skills will be learned. Students will be given wider scope of becoming sensitized to communications within a family and small groups. Students will be encouraged to adopt those concepts as part of their research paper.

MP 401 How to Conduct the Clinical Interview

This course is designed to help the student prepare for the initial client interview. It will help the inexperienced practitioner to be more attuned to the client’s needs and to be successful in gathering the necessary data for assessment. This course will show the student how to properly organize and approach the initial phase of therapy. It also provides a framework for thinking about the information obtained during the interview so that the therapist can formulate a thorough assessment.

CP 453 Abnormal Psychology I

The student will be acquainted with an understanding of abnormal psychology as related to modern life. The student will be introduced to patterns of maladaptive behavior, which will lead to stress and adjustment disorders, anxiety-based disorders, personality disorders, and substance abuse disorders.

FL 401 The Family

This course will cover the family as a system. Students will become acquainted with both a functional and dysfunctional family system. The most common pathologies of family illness will be explored, such as co-dependency and how one copes as an adult child of a dysfunctional family. The mind-body-spiritual aspects are integrated in this course.

MP 407 Jungian Psychology

This course is designed to give the student knowledge of the elementary terms and themes of Jung’s psychology. Carl Jung was not just a medical man, but a scholar whose research, particularly in comparative mythology, alchemy, and the psychology of religion, have inspired and augmented the findings of leading creative scholars of our time.

CP 468 Issues and Ethics in Helping Professions

All students in the field of counseling must learn to deal with professional and ethical issues that affect their profession as well as other health related professions. This course will explore how the therapist’s values and life experiences affect the mutual therapeutic process. Ethical issues facing practitioners are explored.

AD 447 Cognitive Therapy of Substance Abuse

Comprehensive and accessible, this course clearly details the cognitive model of substance abuse, the specifics of case formulation, management of the therapeutic relationship, and the structure of therapy sessions. It discusses how to educate patients in the treatment model and procedures and in managing their cravings and urges for drugs and alcohol. Specific cognitive and behavioral strategies and techniques are described in detail. Methods for understanding and working with such patients, who present concomitant problems of depression, anxiety, low frustration tolerance, anger, and personality disorders, are spelled out in detail. Also addressed are such significant issues as relapse prevention and the management of relapse when it occurs.

CP 462 The Art of Listening

The most important skill in counseling is listening. This course is as important to the beginner in the field as it is to the seasoned professional. While we think we listen, this course is an excellent reminder of how frequently we have the illusion of listening.

PT 408 Social Context

This course will focus on sociological and cultural trends and aspects of contemporary American society and expression of personal social awareness.

MP 402 Humor and Psychotherapy

This course is about the role humor plays in psychotherapy. Humor has begun to receive recognition and acceptance as a valuable adjunctive force in the important segment of our culture, which is dedicated to the healing of the body and mind. The student will learn how to incorporate humor in the psychotherapeutic process. Humor and spirituality will be discussed and the author will demonstrate how humorous spirituality can elegantly enrich the therapeutic process.

CP 444 Health Psychology

This course examines the contributions of psychology to the treatment, prevention, and assessment of physical distress and disease. This course is geared to the student who has a personal interest and curiosity related to today’s health news or to his own experiences dealing with a family member or close friend. The course will review areas ranging from health enhancing and health endangering behaviors to major disease entities such as cancer. Relatively common health problems, such as heart disease and headaches, receive special attention, although other diseases such as Raynaud’s Disease, gastroesophageal reflex, are also discussed. The relationship of health psychology to pediatric and geriatric populations are covered and opportunities in the field are presented.

CP 445 Psychology and Work Today

The student will learn how industrial / organizational psychology directly influences their lives as job applicants, trainees, employees, managers and consumers. Current work situations and on-the-job problems provide the context for this course’s coverage. The student will gain a thorough knowledge of the theoretical framework of actual work and problems of the profession presented in a practical way. The major parts to be covered are the practice of industrial / organizational psychology and the development of human resources including employee selection, principles and techniques, psychological testing, training, and development.

BA 405 Starting a Business

This course is designed to expose the student to real world requirements of how to create a successful business including management and marketing techniques.

AD 430 Addiction and Grace

This course will include a classic exploration of the psychology and physiology of addiction. It offers an inspiring and hope-filled vision for those who desire to explore the mystery of who and what they really are. The text examines the “process of attachment” that lead to addictions and describes the relationship between addiction and spiritual awareness. It also discusses the various addictions from which we suffer (i.e., to substances like alcohol and drugs, work, sex, performance, responsibility, and intimacy).

AD 438 Cultural and Sociological Aspects of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

Experts explore the relationship of such factors as ethnicity, family, religion, and gender to chemical abuse.

AD 435 Alcohol in Employment Setting

This course provides valuable insights into the attitudes about alcohol and the effects of its use with courses of action for educating and treating employees who need help with alcohol problems.

RP 401 Research Project: Basics for Research

Students will become familiar with basic research techniques through study and hands on activities such as conducting interviews and writing abstracts. This course will cover topics such as strategies and storage of data collected, ethics and confidentiality, interviewing, and analysis. This course is designed to guide and assist the student with the basics needed to conduct a research project prior to the completion of a formal thesis.

AD 490 Clinical Training – 1,000 Hour Externship

The student will be required to document 1,000 hours of applied clinical observations and experiences to demonstrate knowledge in the field of addictions counseling at the Bachelor Degree level.

TH 410 BS Thesis – 10,000 word minimum

Upon completion of the required credit hours of course work, the student will submit a 10,000-word thesis, demonstrating his or her understanding of the field of their choice. Students will have to demonstrate their grasp of the basic concepts in their fields and are encouraged to do a comparative study of techniques or philosophies. Students will be able to apply some of their homework towards their thesis, if relevant to the proposal.