Course Descriptions

Required Courses

PY575
Orientation to the Profession of Counseling (1 cr.)
This course provides an orientation to the profession of counseling. The history and philosophy of the field are covered as well as the roles and settings of professional counselors. Additionally, the developmental process involved with acquiring an identity as a professional counselor will be addressed.

PY576
Social Psychology (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
This course is an introduction to the perspectives, research, and empirical findings of social psychology. Topics covered include self and identity, social influence, attribution theory, attitudes and attitude change, personal relationships, gender, age and race, and their application in mental health.

PY604
Career Counseling: Theory and Procedures (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the history and theories of career development as well as an introduction to the procedures used in career development and lifestyle counseling. Career counseling tools and techniques are examined. The interrelationships of life roles are emphasized in career and lifestyle planning.

PY605
Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
The course examines characteristic changes in behavior and functioning in each stage of life from conception to death. Physical, cognitive, affective, and social bases of behavior are explored.

PY606
Psychophysiology (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
This course examines the basic anatomy of the nervous system, the normal physiological functions of the nervous systems, the biological bases of behavior, behavioral disorders, and brain diseases. The course reviews current research on the role of biological basis of behavior.

PY607
Theories of Personality (3 cr.)
Major theories of personality are covered as represented by the biophysical, intrapsychic, existential, and behavioral approaches.

PY608
Psychopathology (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY607
This course examines the healthy personality, maladjustment, transient disorders, anxiety states, psychosis, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), mood, psychosomatic and personality disorders. The course focuses on the description of the main criteria and associated features of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic groups. In addition, etiology, prognosis, prevention, and treatment of the disorders are considered.

PY613
Counseling Theory and Technique (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY605 and PY607, PY608 (Pre- or co-requisite)
Major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy are analyzed with emphasis on applications in the theoretical relationship. Professional psychological writing style is discussed in this course.

PY620
Statistical Techniques and Research Methods (3 cr.)
The course provides an overview of research methods commonly used in clinical and counseling psychology. Both research methodology and statistical analysis are reviewed. The course focuses on the interpretation and understanding of research and applied statistical procedures.

PY621
Psychological Assessment (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY620
This course investigates the principles and history of psychological testing, both individual and group, and assessment. Theories of measurement and selected psychological tests and inventories are covered.

PY625
Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
Ethical principles and issues underlying the professional practice of psychology are examined. Attention will be focused on the Minnesota Code of Conduct, the Ethical Principles of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and standards of practice and the related State of Minnesota statutes and rules, and current issues of concern to the field.

PY631
Personality Assessment: Adolescent and Adult (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY621
The course examines and compares various methods of personality assessment of adolescents and adults, including standardized tests, behavioral analyses, and interview techniques. Special attention is given to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), and Rorschach.

PY632
Child Assessment (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY621
The course provides a detailed overview of various methods used in assessing social, intellectual, and personality development of children including standardized testing, behavioral ratings, observations, and interview techniques. Practical problems occurring in child assessment are examined.

PY633
Personnel and Vocational Assessment (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY621
This course includes a study of vocational and personnel assessment, including the history, theory, and current utilization of testing. The course covers testing and non-testing approaches to career assessment in a variety of settings.

PY641
Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY605, PY607
This course covers marriage and family therapy theories, their historical and cultural contexts and their application to family therapy process.

PY642
Group Therapy (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
The course covers the history and practice of group therapy grounded in social psychology. Students study the basic tasks and methods of the group therapist, the design of effective therapy groups, and the therapeutic factors and problems commonly encountered in group therapy and counseling.

PY648
Multicultural Counseling (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses
This course provides a comprehensive overview of multicultural counseling. Developmental, social, and cultural contributions of ethnic and minority groups are explored. Ethnocentrism, acculturation, communication patterns, and racial conditioning are discussed. Emphasis is placed on implications of counseling in a culturally diverse society.

PY665
Counseling Skills and Practice (2 cr.)
Prerequisites: PY605 and PY608
Students practice the fundamental skills associated with effective helping relationships. Counseling skill acquisition and application are emphasised. Ethics and diversity are integrated into counseling skills acquisition and application.

• Practicum Approval Forms (PAFs) must be completed by December 15, 2005 to allow for PY695/690 Spring Registration.
• Registration is not processed until a completed PAF is submitted.
• A $75 insurance and supervision fee will be charged.
• Prerequisite: For GCP Students- 34 credits completed, including all required courses and at least 3 restricted electives. For GCP2 Students- Core, 5 cr. Assessment courses, 6 cr. Counseling courses and PY625.
  Fall 2005 PY696/691 (or PY695/690 Concurrent) students must complete Practicum hours by Monday January 30, 2006 or register for PY692.

PY695
Practicum I (2 cr.)
Prerequisites: Completion of core courses, 5 cr. Assessment, 6 cr. Counseling, PY625
Students work in a counseling or mental health setting under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, for a minimum of 20 hours per week for a total of 350 hours. Half of the hours at the practicum site must be in counseling and other direct client services. A practicum seminar must be taken concurrently as part of the practicum requirements. The supervision seminar provides an environment for discussion of case material as well as problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experience are examined. Planning for the integration paper is introduced.

PY696
Practicum II (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY695
Students work in a counseling or mental health setting under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, for a minimum of 20 hours per week for a total of 350 hours. Half of the hours at the practicum site must be in counseling and other direct client services. A practicum seminar must be taken concurrently as part of the practicum requirements. The supervision seminar provides an environment for discussion of case material as well as problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experience are examined. Planning for the integration paper is introduced.

PY692
Practicum Completion (0 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY695 and grade of IP in PY696
This course is a continuation of Practicum II (PY696) for students who require additional time to complete 350 hours for Practicum II and for students whose practicum sites require a time commitment beyond two semesters.

General Elective Courses

PY585/HD585
Meditation (1 cr.)
This course examines the psychology of meditation, and uses of meditation for personal growth, in therapy, and spiritual direction. Emphasis is on understanding and practicing various modes of meditation, mindful action, and meditative reading.

PY586/HD673
Journaling: Life's Companion (1 cr.)
This experimental course gives the participant an opportunity to journal as a means of self-discovery. After outlining a rationale for the process and psychology of journal writing, this course assists participants in learning and employing a wide variety of journaling techniques for their personal growth. Time for discussing reactions to and insights from the practice of journaling is an important element of each session. Finally, participants examine the use of journaling with clients, friends, students, and others we serve.

PY589/HD589
Creativity and Self-Renewal (1 cr.)
The nature of creating is an inherent impulse in all human beings. Course participants explore definitions of creativity, the creative process, the psychological dynamics influencing creativity, and methods of stimulating creativity. This course should be especially useful for potential therapists and spiritual directors.

PY590/HD672
Claiming Our Spirituality (2 cr.)
Participants in this course outline the elements of their spritiuality (creed, code and cult) and evaluate their satisfaction with it. Means of making desired changes in their spirituality are discussed. Elements of spirituality explored are: core beliefs and values, relationships, service, work, care of the earth, leisure, ritual, prayer and meditation, and the body. Planning for spiritual growth concludes the course.

PY599
Professional Psychological Writing (2 cr.)
This course provides students with an introduction to professional psychological writing, and includes (a) an overview of American Psychological Association (APA) format; (b) writing experiences typical of those encountered in the course work in the Counseling and Psychological Services program, organized around typical professional issues, (c) writing necessary for the professional practice of psychology.

PY600
General Psychology (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview of the discipline of psychology including basic psychological processes, concepts, and methods. Major theories and contributors are studied. This course MAY BE REQUIRED for students with minimal undergraduate credit in psychology, but will not count toward total number of credits needed to complete the degree.

PY602/HD674
Religious and Spiritual Development through the Lifespan (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY605
Religious and spiritual development are traced through the lifespan using theoretical models, clinical experience, students' personal histories, and research data as guides. Particular attention is given to the images of God and the sacred, styles of prayer, approaches to ritual, concepts of justice, and service. There are opportunities to practice applying these concepts to students' experiences and the practice of psychotherapy and spiritual direction.

PY603/HD603
The Therapeutic Use of Imagery for Psychological and Spiritual Growth (1 cr.)
The theory and practice of imagery is examined as a technique for psychological and spiritual growth. This theory may be applied in psychotherapy, spiritual direction, and in students' own personal self-explorations. An overview of the therapeutic use of imagery will be presented as well as an explanation of how this approach fits into a transpersonal therapeutic model. Existing imagery approaches are reviewed, with special emphasis on imagery use in psychosynthesis, Progoff's twilight imagery technique, Jungian active imagination, and Sheihk's use of death imagery. Through demonstration and experiential exercises, students observe and experience various imagery techniques and are also given an opportunity to practice being an imagery guide.

PY630
Advanced Research Methods (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY620
Students develop skills in designing, conducting, and analyzing psychological research.

PY643
Humanistic/Existential Counseling Approaches (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY613
The course includes a study of the basic concepts of humanistic and existential psychology, and of well known contributors to this philosophical and therapeutic approach.

PY644
Cognitive/Behavioral Counseling Approaches (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY613
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of cognitive-behavioral counseling. Various forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy are reviewed with emphasis on the approaches of Beck and Ellis.

PY645
Introduction to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY613
This course provides an introduction to the general principles, techniques, theory, and process of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on identifying and understanding psychodynamic principles through presentation of case material and illustrations in the process of psychotherapy.

PY649
Psychology and the Law (2 cr.)
This course presents an introduction and overview of the interface between psychology and the law. Topics such as criminal responsibility, police psychology, and mental health law are addressed.

PY652/HD671
Women's Self-Esteem and Spirituality (2 cr.)
This course focuses on the effects of the religious traditions and contemporary culture on women's self-esteem and spirituality. Issues surrounding women's development of adequate self-esteem and spiritual maturity are addressed. Alternative visions for women's self affirmation, full human development, and spirituality are investigated in theoretical and practical ways.

PY654
Chemical Dependency (2 cr.)
Addiction and recovery are examined from the perspectives of the clinician and the recovering individual, including assessment, intervention, treatment, and recovery.

PY656
Psychopharmacology (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY606 and PY608
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the basic psychiatric conditions for which psychoactive medication represents an appropriate intervention strategy. It is intended to be an introduction to the field and is designed to provide a working knowledge base to enable students to more competently address the experiences of their clients taking prescribed psychiatric medications.

PY657
Aging: A Behavioral Sciences Perspective (2 cr.)
This course presents several theories of adult development and outlines broad issues that the presently old experience. Personal issues regarding aging are identified.

PY658
Human Sexuality (2 cr.)
This course covers theories of sexuality, the role of attitudes and values, and the importance of self-awareness. A variety of perspectives (ethical, psychological, legal, theological) related to clinical and educational settings will be discussed.

PY659
Brief Therapy (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY608
This course provides an introduction to the methods of brief therapy. The focus is on client strengths rather than pathology and on the empowering of clients to develop solutions to problems.

PY660
Introduction to Play Therapy (2 cr.)
Prerequisite: PY613
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of play therapy, the psychotherapeutic modality of choice for many children.

PY668R
Introduction to Correctional Psychology (1 cr.)
This course presents an overview of correctional psychology. Topics range from common psychopathology found among correctional populations to divergent roles that correctional psychologists may undertake.

PY669
Advanced Psychopathology (2 cr.)
Prerequisites: PY613 and PY621
The course includes a detailed study of major areas of psychology to enhance learning from previous courses. Topics include disorders involving mood, anxiety, personality, and psychosis. Etiological theories, differential diagnosis, psychosocial difficulties, treatment issues, and ethical dilemmas are examined.

PY671
Child Sexual Abuse (1 cr.)
This course provides an overview of the current research and practice in the recognition, evaluation, and treatment of sexual abuse of children. Topics to be included are history and prevalence, characteristics, evaluation, treatment, and ethical considerations.

PY672
Employee Assistance Counseling: Theory and Practice (1 cr.)
This course provides an introduction to and an overview of the field of employee assistance. Emphasis is placed on the role of the counselor. Topics include the history, structure, and purpose of employee assistance; an introduction to employee assistance professional organizations; and an introduction to current employee assistance enterprises.

PY673
Clinical Use of Hypnosis (1 cr.)
This class provides an introduction to the basic concepts of hypnosis, corrects misconceptions about hypnosis, and presents the more common uses of hypnosis in the practice of psychology.

PY674
Living with Experiences of Trauma (1 cr.)
This course covers a spectrum of human responses to traumatic experiences. Conceptual understanding of the therapeutic needs of trauma survivors are emphasized. Particular types of traumatic experiences and the impact of trauma on psychological, interpersonal and societal systems are explored.

PY675
Clinical Issues: Bereavement (1 cr.)
This course covers the stages of grieving and the reorganization of self and social systems in the bereavement process. The effects of particular types of losses and factors affecting the bereavement process are examined.

PY677/HD693
Psychological Transformation and the Spiritual Journey (1 cr., P/NC only)
The tradition of depth psychology describes a pattern of individual interior evolution that is reflected in changes in our external life. This course explores the interior process of making significant changes in one's life, direction, career, or relationships and resonance between our exterior lives and interior development.

PY678/HD695
Children of Addiction (1 cr.)
This course introduces and explores issues related to counseling the child of addiction. It seeks to offer a preliminary overview of soe of the current effects experienced by many adults who have been raised in such a setting. Beyond these understandings, this course seeks to consider strategies for fostering a path of recovery for those who find themselves suffering the lingering effects of an addiction-based childhood.

PY679
Psychology of HIV/AIDS (1 cr.)
This course presents information about the biology and clinical course of the illness and the attendant psychosocial, case management, special population, and self-care issues. The course also focuses on working with gay and bisexual men.

PY680
Stress Management (1 cr.)
This course offers participants an opportunity to understand stress and stress management concepts, and to develop skills to assist themselves and others. The focus is on exploring how the mind and body interact to create a stress response and on learning specific tools to regulate this response. Current research, techniques, and applications are considered.

PY683/HD683
Theory and Applications of Sport Psychology (2 cr.)
This course explores the theories and principles of applied sport psychology. Psychological issues surrounding participation in sports including obligatory exercise and addictive behavior, emotional cognitive distress of an athlete, effects of injury, as well as parental pressure on youth sport participants will be explored. Applications of sport psychology, counseling practice, education, or coaching are examined.

PY684/HD629
Pilgrimmage in Mystical Literature (2 cr.)
Mystical union with God is a process, ajourney which transcends communication; yet we must communicate our experience symbolically in order to understand and integrate it. With the help of the concepts of Carl Jung, this course explores the major symbols of the spiritual journey in mystical literature of diverse times and places. The course focuses on several interrelated symbols: the pilgrim/visionary, water and dryness, enlightenment and dark night, demons, wisdom figures, prophets and idiots, self, and the figure of Christ/God, in order to understand the value of taking the spiritual journey and communicating it in the context of any time and place.

PY688/HD633
Many Faces of Art: A Psychological Perspective (2 cr.)
This course focuses on psychological aspects of the visual arts. Topics include the normative development of artistic ability, the impact of developmental and environmental challenges, mental illness, and health related issues on the production of visual art. Relevant theory and artistic production are examined.