Coursework
The Bethany Masters program in Clinical Psychology consists of 48 units and 5 non-unit based certificate workshops. The program also requires six units of practicum experience for a minimum of 150 client contact hours for graduation.
Clinical Coursework
Classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as afternoon and evening courses between 3:00pm and 9:30pm, with a dinner break included.
Semesters follow the 15 week academic calendar each Fall and Spring. Graduate classes will meet once a week for 14 class contacts per semester. The Fall semester begins in late August and ends in early December. The Spring semester begins in mid-January and ends in early May. Summer courses and intensives are offered regularly as well.
For more information about the course offerings and academic calendar for the current academic year, see the Psych Calendar for 2006.
Other training components include 5 state required workshops and 150 state required client contact hours. Workshops will be scheduled as needed throughout the year.
Students will have their first opportunity to work with clients during the second semester of the program. All students are required to complete a traineeship, a 9 month supervised clinical placement during the third and fourth semesters (second year) of their graduate training.
Graduate Coursework Requirements
- GP 6103 (3 units) - Clinical Foundations of Psychotherapy
- GP 6113 (3 units) - Human Development & Clinical Practice
- GP 6123 (3 units) - Clinical Psychopathology
- GP 6133 (3 units) - Law & Professional Ethics
- GP 6203 (3 units) - Family Psychotherapy
- GP 6912 (2 units) - Group Psychotherapy
- GP 6213 (3 units) - Psychotherapy w/Children & Adolescents
- GP 6783 (3 units) - Statistical Methods & Research Design
- GP 6242 (2 units) - Clinical Case Formulation I
- GP 7113 (3 units) - Clinical Psychopharmacology
- GP 7123 (3 units) - Premarital & Marital Counseling
- GP 7132 (2 units) - Research Issues In Marriage & Family Th.
- GP 7141 (1 unit) - Domestic Violence
- GP 7916 (6 units) - Clinical Practicum
- GP 7203 (3 units) - Psychological Testing & Clinical Practice
- GP 7213 (3 units) - Psychotherapy & Cultural Diversity
- GP 7942 (2 units) - Clinical Case Formulation II & Defense
- Workshop (7 hours) - Child Abuse Assessment & Reporting
- Workshop (10 hours) - Human Sexuality
- Workshop (10 hours) - Aging & Long Term Care
- Workshop (15 hours) - Alcoholism & Chemical Dependence
- Workshop (15 hours) - Professional & Licensing Issues
Total = 48 units
Recommended 2 Year Course Sequence
First Semester (Fall) - (12) Units
- Clinical Foundations of Psychotherapy (3 units)
- Human Development & Clinical Practice (3 units)
- Clinical Psychopathology (3 units)
- Law & Professional Ethics (3 units)
- Aging & Long Term Care (Workshop)
Second Semester (Spring) - (13) Units
- Family Psychotherapy (3 Units)
- Psychotherapy w/Children & Adolescents (3 units)
- Group Psychotherapy (2 units)
- Foundations of Psychotherapy II (2 units)
- Clinical Case Formulation I (2 units)
- Crisis Assessment and Intervention (1 unit)
- Child Abuse Assessment & Reporting (Workshop)
Third Semester (Fall) - (12) Units
- Clinical Practicum (3 units)
- Research Issues in MFT (3 units)
- Psychological Testing & Clinical Practice (3 units)
- Psychotherapy & Cultural Diversity (3 units)
- Alcoholism & Chemical Dep. (Workshop)
- Domestic Violence (Workshop)
Fourth Semester (Spring) - (11) Units
- Premarital and Marital Counseling (3 units)
- Clinical Practicum (3 units)
- Clinical Psychopharmacology (3 units)
- Clinical Case Formulation II & Defense (2 units)
- Human Sexuality (Workshop)
- Professional & Licensing Issues (Workshop)
Course Descriptions
GP 6103 (3 units) - Clinical Foundations of Psychotherapy
Basic interviewing and counseling techniques, applicable to most psychological theoretical models, are presented. Clinical Foundations places an emphasis on the development and application of a beginning level of interpersonal awareness and communication skills. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6113 (3 units) - Human Development and Clinical Practice
An in-depth exploration is provided of human development through the biological, behavioral, sociocultural, cognitive, and spiritual perspectives across the lifecycle, from conception through death. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6123 (3 units) - Clinical Psychopathology
Cultural, interpersonal, spiritual, emotional, behavioral, and physiological deviations of human behavior are reviewed. Descriptive explanations, patterns of development, assessment, and treatment models are covered. Adult psychopathology is thoroughly examined and child, adolescent and older adult psychopathology is presented. Clinical evaluation using DSM-IV-TR five-axis diagnostic formulation is emphasized. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6133 (3 units) - Law and Professional Ethics
This course explores the legal and ethical issues pertinent to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and the State of California. The roles and responsibilities within the field of psychology for the graduate student, trainee, or intern, and licensed professional are evaluated. Application of ethical duties to clinical work is emphasized, especially concerning crisis situations. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6203 (3 units) - Family Psychotherapy
Examination is made of the intervention techniques and major theories, models, and schools of Marriage and Family Therapy. Overviews of experiential, strategic, structural, multigenerational, behavioral/cognitive, psychodynamic, and postmodern theoretical orientations are included. Ethical and legal issues related to family therapy are explored. Application of each theory is evaluated for cultural appropriateness. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6912 (2 units) - Group Psychotherapy
The development of foundational clinical skills through academic classroom instruction and interactions, experiential learning, and laboratory experience is emphasized. Group psychotherapies, research, and practice will be explored. (Corequisite: GP 6910)
GP 6910 (0 units) - Group Psychotherapy Laboratory
Hands on group psychotherapy experience is gained in the laboratory setting. The group psychotherapy laboratory enables students to participate in a therapeutic milieu for self-exploration and growth. (Corequisite: GP 6912 or Field Training Coordinator Approval)
GP 6213 (3 units) - Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
Understanding and applying theory, assessment, and treatment for children and adolescents is fostered. A variety of therapeutic modalities and techniques are explored with emphasis on developmental, multidimensional, and multidisciplinary approaches. Legal and ethical issues and substance abuse are included. Faith-based and culturally sensitive interventions are examined. (Prerequisites: 12 GP units)
GP 6783 (3 units) - Statistical Methods and Research Design
This course provides exposure to the latest quantitative, qualitative, experimental, and quasi-experimental research methodology. Attention is given to design characteristics of social science research, including epidemiologic and metanalytic methods, program evaluation, case study, and outcome assessment. Development of sufficient skills to interpret and evaluate published research literature in psychology-related fields is emphasized. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 6242 (2 units) - Clinical Case Formulation I
Synthesis of foundational clinical skill areas is promoted, with emphasis on demonstrating adequate knowledge of and facility with fundamental principles of case conceptualization and crisis intervention as applied to various theoretical treatment modalities. Experiential learning is provided and preparation for the Advancement Project is made. (Prerequisites: GP 6103, Faculty Advisor approval)
GP 7113 (3 units) - Clinical Psychopharmacology
Overview of psychotropic medications, physiological etiologies, differential diagnosis, and pharmacological treatment interventions will be addressed. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, and the neurological effects of other treatments will be discussed. Specific attention will be given to the physiological processes related to substance abuse and addictive behaviors. Neurotransmission, structures, and functions will be described. (Prerequisites: GP 6123)
GP 7123 (3 units) - Premarital and Marital Counseling
The theories of premarital and marital therapy are covered, including couple and marital assessment, and specific therapeutic interventions. Discussion of faith-based resources is included. (Prerequisites: 15 GP units)
GP 7132 (2 units) - Research Issues In Marriage and Family Therapy
Literature reviews will be conducted regarding outcome data on various treatment approaches and therapeutic modalities, including faith-based interventions and resources. Students will be encouraged to choose topics related to their areas of clinical interest. Metanalytic, topical investigation, and other approaches to research and will be included. (Prerequisites: GP 6223 and 12 GP units)
GP 7916 (6 units) - Clinical Practicum
Seminar format focuses on in-depth processing of clinical casework for continued development of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills, with emphasis on case conceptualization, ethical consideration, clinical evaluation, treatment planning and treatment. Additional topics related to case management may be included. Concurrent field placement is required for these units. (Prerequisites: 24 GP units, including GP6103, GP6123, GP6133, and GP6242)
GP 7141 (1 unit) - Domestic Violence
Familiarization and sensitization to the problems of domestic violence is provided. Assessment, detection, and interventions of spousal or partner abuse are explored, including the secondary effects of domestic violence on other individuals. Appropriate uses of community referral sources are discussed. (Prerequisites: none)
GP 7203 (3 units) - Psychological Testing and Clinical Practice
Psychological screening, assessment, and measurement skills are developed and psychometric theory is emphasized. Students are introduced to appropriate testing instruments and trained in the administration, scoring, interpretation, and application of resulting data. Report writing skills are developed. Culturally appropriate use of assessment tools is examined. (Prerequisites: 15 GP units)
GP 7213 (3 units) - Psychotherapy and Cultural Diversity
Exposure to the current literature relating to cultural sensitivity in counseling diverse ethnic, gender, and religious populations is provided. The specific theories of, and interventions developed for unique populations are explored, in addition to the ethical considerations of utilizing traditional counseling practices. (Prerequisites: 15 GP units)
GP 7942 (2 units) Clinical Case Formulation II and Defense
Preparation is made for the case presentation that will be given to the faculty Exit Project Committee. This final project should be representative of student?s synthesis of knowledge gained over the span of the graduate program and be reflective of their chosen theoretical counseling approach. Student will present a client by means of videotape, written theoretical paper, written case report, and oral synthesis of material. Presentation should indicate a readiness for internship placement. (Prerequisites: Program Director Approval)
Workshop: Child Abuse Assessment & Reporting (7 hours)
This course meets the requirements of California Assembly Act AB141 for training professionals in child abuse and other forms of child maltreatment. The legal aspects of reporting, theoretical models of abuse, and characteristics of both abusers and of abused children are examined, with special attention given to assessment and treatment. (Prerequisites: none)
Workshop: Human Sexuality (10 hours)
An overview of healthy and dysfunctional sexual functioning is provided. Sexuality is viewed from physiological, sociological, psychological and spiritual perspectives. Assessment and treatment models are presented to assist students in learning the procedures used to help individuals and couples who are experiencing sexual difficulties. The sexual concerns of special populations are addressed. (Prerequisites: none)
Workshop: Alcoholism and Chemical Dependence (15 hours)
An overview is provided of current theoretical and clinical approaches to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of addictive behaviors. The role of personality factors, physiological, psychological and spiritual effects, as well as the role of persons and systems supporting or compounding the addictive behavior is explored. At risk populations, referral sources, and prevention are addressed. (Prerequisites: none)
Workshop: Aging and Long Term Care (10 hours)
Current research on the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging will be reviewed. Emphasis will be given to the management of dementia, issues of care giving, current treatment options, family support issues, and quality of life. (Prerequisites: none)
Workshop: Professional and Licensing Issues (15 hours)
This course explores the major themes of continuing professional development, including pursuit of licensure, evaluation of career options, establishment of a successful private practice, participation in church-based ministry, continuation of graduate work at a doctoral level, and other issues. (Prerequisites: none)