PCP 531 Play Therapy and Childhood Intervention
The major theoretical approaches and techniques used in the practice of play therapy and childhood intervention shall be the focus of this course. Special emphasis is placed on identifying techniques used for various treatment considerations, setting up the play therapy room, and working with parents and the community in the treatment of the child.

PCP 544 Counseling Theories
An overview and biblical evaluation of major approaches practiced in the counseling field, including historical antecedents and significant theorists representing these approaches. In addition, particular emphasis will be placed on how these approaches interpret the nature of human personality in interpersonal relationships and their relevance for the practicing counselor or pastor.

PCP 550 Interpersonal Techniques in Helping Relationships
A study of the techniques and relationships which serve to promote healthy adult growth and functioning. The course begins with an exploration of motivations for working in the helping fields. The course previews basic counseling skills such as warmth, empathy, concreteness, confrontation, interviewing, and treatment planning. The emphasis is on training helping professionals to help others. Personal cognitive-emotional awareness and theological-psychological balance is promoted through a study of individual functioning in interpersonal relationships.

PCP 551 Addictive Behaviors and Family Systems
An introduction to the assessment and treatment of varied forms of addiction including alcohol and drug abuse, gambling, sports, work, food, sexual addiction, internet addiction and fantasy. This course will have special emphasis on understanding, assessing, and treating addictions within the family systems and community context. Class participants will be involved in learning intervention strategies and techniques and developing church and community educational programs.

PCP 564 Applied Human Development
This advanced course surveys development from a lifespan perspective.  Emphasis will be on key issues of human development from conception to death.  Significant theories of physical, psychological, social and spiritual development will be studied with emphasis on prominent theorists.  Students will utilize human development as a framework for conceptualizing the human condition and providing effective interventions.  The course will assist Christian ministers and practitioners with a deeper understanding of those whom they serve.

PCP 565 Psychopharmacology
This course will examine the field of clinical psychopharmacology with specific attention given to the effects of psychotropic medications upon persons with various mental disorders.  Additionally, students will consider the ramifications of the implementation of psychoactive substances on the course of counseling/therapy and will explore ways to effectively operate within an integrated, multifaceted mental healthcare setting.  Ethical and theological aspects of psychopharmacologic employment will be addressed.

PCP/MCS 622 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is an advanced level study of trauma and its ramifications on the victim and family system.   Emphasis is placed on various techniques and treatment modalities used in the field of dealing with traumatized individuals.   Special emphasis will be placed on practical skills of intervention as well as developing and implementing an effective therapeutic treatment approach.   Cultural implications and existential issues will be of special interest.

PCP 623 Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues
A focus on the ethical and legal issues facing today’s helping professional. Attention will be given to identifying effective methods for addressing ethical dilemmas and current ethical issues. Students will also learn the ethical guidelines of the ACA, APA, and AAMFT for individual and marriage/family therapy.

PCP 624 Family Studies: Human Sexuality
An overview, assessment, and treatment course for helping professionals. This course also contains a Christian investigation of sexuality within the larger context of human experience and individual development. Emphasis is placed on physical and psychosexual development; health related issues; and the application of scientific information to sexual issues and problems. Issues to be addressed are deviation, inadequacy, and treatment of sexual problems.

PCP 625 Research Methods for Helping Professionals
A review of behavioral science research designs and methods appropriate for counselors and marriage/family therapists. Topics include philosophy of science, ethical issues in research with human subjects, hypothesis formulation, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, measurement, descriptive designs, and the analysis and interpretation of data. The application of these research methods to professional settings will be emphasized. Lab fee applies

PCP 626 Dying, Grief, and Crisis Counseling
A focus on the theory and practice of helping persons in crisis or grief. Emphasis is on maximizing pastoral effectiveness in brief grief and crisis counseling. Specific skills of intervention are identified and studied. This course also encourages coming to grips with one’s own mortality to enrich one’s life. It helps the student offer pastoral care and counseling to the terminally ill and to those involved in sudden tragedy.

PCP 628 Career Development Counseling
Psychosocial and spiritual factors that influence career choice and progression are identified. Additional emphasis will be placed on the changing nature of the employment environment and the need for integrating work and family roles. Lab fee applies

PCP/MCS 629 Counseling Diverse Populations
This course is designed to investigate important issues in cross-cultural psychology. A wide definition of cross-cultural counseling is used to include counseling to any cultural minority. Barriers to effective cross-cultural counseling will be studied along with cross-cultural communication and counseling styles. Differences in ethnic, racial, cultural, and sexual orientation will be studied along with different worldviews. Counseling issues involving African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans and other sub-cultures and groups will be considered. The counseling needs of other special populations will also be dealt with since the theory applies equally to them. These populations include people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA’s), the physically and mentally disabled, gays and lesbians, physically and sexually abused persons and persons who are dealing with abortion.

PCP 632 Tests and Measurements
This course is a study of psychometric and sociometric products that are available on the market for counseling practice today. Although students will be exposed to a wide variety of projective and objective psychodiagnostic instruments that are used in clinical practice, it does not necessarily qualify them to purchase, administer, score or interpret these tests professionally. The course will also cover test construction and provide students with firsthand experience in scoring and interpreting test profiles in some commonly used instruments. Prereq: Admission to counseling program or approval of counseling program director. Lab fee applies

PCP 637 Group Counseling
A study of the essentials of group counseling processes. These are related to church history, general group phenomena, and current counseling procedures. The course also studies methods of enabling church groups to become more creative and growth-facilitating.

PCP 639 Practicum in Hospital Ministry
An introduction to hospital pastoral care. Theory and method in pastoral care are integrated within a clinical setting. Students are exposed to critically ill patients, pre- and post-surgical patients, crisis situations, and patients’ families. Prereq: Counseling Essentials I (PCP 548) and enrollment/completion of Dying, Grief, and Crisis Counseling (PCP 626) or equivalent.

PCP 640, 641, 642 Counseling Practicum I, II, III
Participation in organized, weekly clinical and practical therapeutic intervention with individuals, couples and families under the supervision of an approved and appropriately licensed/credentialed supervisor.  Students should give attention to specific state guidelines to ensure licensure requirements are met for the state wherein they wish to practice.  A minimum of 500 cumulative practicum hours are required.  Students will attend weekly practicum lab on campus.  Prereq:  Admission to the counseling program and 18 hours of PCP courses, including Counseling Theories (PCP 544), Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues (PCP 623), and Psychopathology (PCP 663).

PCP 643 Specialized Studies in Counseling
A course offered, as the need arises, to deal with a specific topic or issue in the area of counseling.

PCP 652, 653, 654 Practicum in Marital and Family Therapy
Participation in organized, weekly clinical and practical therapeutic intervention with an emphasis on the treatment of couples and families under the supervision of an approved and appropriately licensed/credentialed supervisor.  A minimum of 500 cumulative practicum hours are required.  Students should give attention to specific state and/or AAMFT guidelines to ensure licensure requirements are met for the state wherein they wish to practice.  Students will attend weekly practicum lab on campus.  Prereq: Admission to the counseling program and 18 hours of PCP courses, including Counseling Theories (PCP 544), Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues (PCP 623), and Psychopathology (PCP 663).

PCP 656 Specialized Studies in Family Relationships
A course offered, as the need arises, to deal with a specific topic or issue in the area of family relationships.

PCP 657 Marriage and Family Therapy I: Theories and Foundations
The major theoretical approaches used in the practice of marital and family therapy are the focus of this course. Special emphasis is placed on identifying the similarities, distinctives, and major assumptions of each classical theory. The historical foundations of the development of family therapy will also be investigated. This course provides a foundation of essential theoretical and historical information relevant to the professional practice of marital and family therapy.

PCP 658 Marriage and Family Therapy II: Assessment and Treatment Planning
A study of the practice of marital and family therapy with specific emphasis in the clinical assessment of family systems. Assessment information will be used in the development and implementation of the therapeutic treatment plan. Assessment methods of classical as well as cutting edge marriage and family models will be explored. Lab fee applies

PCP 659 Marriage and Family Therapy III: Interventions, Strategies, and Techniques
A study of the literature from a broad range of mental health disciplines emphasizing therapeutic nterventions, strategies, and techniques. Techniques from marriage and family therapy and additional information supplied from group counseling, individual counseling, and psychotherapy models will be investigated. This course will equip the family therapist with specific tools for practical use in doing therapy with the marriage and family unit.

PCP 661 Behavioral Sciences College Teaching Practicum
This elective practicum provides the counseling student an opportunity to experience the role of an undergraduate behavioral sciences teacher and to develop a relationship with a professor in the ield. It does not prepare one for licensing, nor is it applicable to the core course requirements for graduation.

PCP 662 Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
This course is a survey of psychopathology with a special focus on the disorders of childhood and adolescence. The etiology, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders will be studied. Emphasis will be placed upon helping counselors understand and treat disorders, as well as learning to utilize the latest edition of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Lab fee applies

PCP 663 Psychopathology
This course is a survey of psychopathology with a special focus on adult disorders. This course will cover all of the major adult diagnostic categories of psychopathology. The etiology, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders will be studied. Emphasis will be placed upon helping counselors understand and treat disorders, as well as learning to utilize the latest edition of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual).

PCP 760 Clinical Pastoral Education (6 hours)
A basic CPE course designed for approval by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. It provides the student with supervised ministerial experience in a variety of pastoral situations. The student gains adviser approval and registers at AGTS for CPE credit. The actual didactic portions and practical experiences take place at one of the local cooperating hospitals. The student prepares and submits brief written reports on acts of ministry, meets regularly with peers, and establishes a learning contract with the CPE supervisor at the hospital. The student’s individual progress and training records will be submitted to the AGTS adviser and kept on file to aid in future certification. The student may be required to adjust to hospital training schedules, and training may involve as much as 40 hours per week for a period of three months. Recommended Prereq: Counseling Essentials I (PCP 548) and Dying, Grief, and Crisis Counseling (PCP 626) or equivalent.

Updated: Friday, December 4, 2009 12:41 PM