The Master of Science program in Clinical Psychology offers a wide array of courses to meet the various interests and needs of its students. For the most updated information about course offerings, please consult the University course catalog and BenULive course schedule at the Office of the Registrar website, or contact the Program.
Courses listed on this page are organized by Licensure category:
* indicates program core requirement
CPSY 6516 | Group Processes*
Group dynamics and processes are studied experientially and conceptually. Emphasis is on understanding learning processes in groups. Prerequisite: CPSY 6633 and degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6633 | Group Counseling & Psychotherapy
Fundamental concepts and skills of group psychotherapy are examined. Prerequisites: CPSY 6629, degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 1 semester hour.
CPSY 6601 | Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling I*
The course introduces students to professional, legal and ethical responsibilities relating to professional counseling especially as related to Illinois law. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6602 | Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling II*
This course will continue the exploration and discussion of ethical and legal consideration in the practice of counseling. Prerequisite: CPSY 6601. 1 semester hour.
CPSY 6603 | Clinical Interviewing and DSM*
This course introduces the student to the current diagnostic and statistical manual and its use. In addition, students practice doing the clinical interview with the purpose of gathering the specific information needed to diagnose and plan treatment. Prerequisite: undergraduate abnormal and degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6651 | Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology*
The etiology, dynamics and treatment of pathological behavior will be studied with an emphasis on the relationship between DSM, Axis I, and Axis II disorders. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, CPSY 6603, and CPSY 6690 or CPSY 6691 concurrent. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6622 | Dialectical and Behavior Therapy
This course presents a broad-based cognitive behavioral treatment which helps students to acquire therapeutic skills and attitudes. The course will put special emphasis on core mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills, and distress tolerance skills. Students will receive DBT training through in class role plays and targeted exercises for skill building. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6607 | Counseling Laboratory
This course provides empathy training exercises with an emphasis on the therapist's conscious use of the language of emotions and attitudes. Role-play with couples, difficult clients, special situations and therapeutic techniques are practiced. Prerequisite: CPSY 6629. 2 semester hours.
And one of the following:
CPSY 6560 | Principles of Behavior ModificationThe principles of behavior therapy are studied in depth: examination of techniques derived from behavioral principles; application to specific problems. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6665 | Theory and Practice of Play Therapy with Children
This course explores the concept of play as a therapeutic modality and the major theories of psychotherapy and how those theories form the foundation for specific play therapy techniques and interventions. An analysis of appropriate application and strategic utilization of techniques that further the processing of client material will be explored. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, CPSY 6646, and CPSY 6630. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6650 | Introduction to Art TherapyThis class introduces the use of art in counseling clients of all ages. Examines how art links to the varied theoretical perspectives in psychotherapy and explores the use of art as a metaphor for human issues and concerns. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6653 | Behavior Disorders of ChildhoodTheoretical and methodological issues in behavior disorders of childhood are studied in this course using clinical and research data. Readings and discussions will give consideration to assessment and treatment approaches. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6620 | Cognitive Therapy
This course provides a survey of a variety of cognitive behavioral approaches to psychotherapy. Modern techniques will be linked to earlier theories in both cognitive (Adler, Kelly, etc.) and behavioral (Skinner, Pavlov, etc.) psychology. Students will be given the opportunity to apply the various techniques and theories to clinical material and will be expected to present and analyze cases within a cognitive-behavior framework. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. Consent required. 2 semester hours
Students receive training in client-centered therapy, including audiotape and videotape recordings of simulated counseling sessions with individual tape playback consultations. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6630 | Theory and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy*
Theories and techniques of a sampling of major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy are explored. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, undergraduate course “Theories of Personality”. 2 semester hours
Occupational and educational information and issues in career planning and development are studied with consideration of student's own career plan; laboratory practice. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 1 semester hour.
CPSY 6659 | Job Search Strategies*This course will focus on defining job search strategies for a competitive job market. Career development theories will be applied in a practical application. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program and CPSY 6658. 2 semester hours.
This class provides an overview of the Theory of Psychological evaluation, clinical interview processes and utilization of Interpretative data in assessing client needs. Prerequisite: CPSY 6603. 1 semester hour.
CPSY 6665 | Psychological Assessment: Personality Evaluation & Report Writing*This course provides an overview of major assessment instruments, interpretation of reports and report writing. An introduction to projective techniques is included. Prerequisite: CPSY 6603. 2 semester hours
Family systems theory is introduced. The works of major contributors of the field are studied. A skills component is included to enhance learning. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6673 | Workshop in Marital Therapy*
This course explores a range of approaches to brief couple and family therapy. Conceptual and self-observation skills are emphasized in the critique of student-designed, role-played interventions. Part of the course centers on client-centered approaches to working with clients. Prerequisite: CPSY 6629. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6683 | Social and Cultural Foundations*
This course explores issues and trends in a pluralistic society. Areas covered include issues associated with factors such as age, race, religious preference, physical disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity and culture, gender and socioeconomic status. Ethical implications and considerations are examined. Prerequisite: CPSY 6601 and CPSY 6629. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6684 | Workshop in Counseling the Culturally Diverse Populations*
This course explores approaches in working with culturally diverse populations. The therapist's own ethnic and cultural factors are also considered. Conceptual and self-observation skills are practiced in the critique of role-played counseling sessions. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, CPSY 6629, and CPSY 6683. 1 semester hour.
This course presents basic concepts of the developmental perspective and reviews the physical, psychological, and social development of the child from birth to puberty. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6647 | Human Development: AdolescenceThis course examines the range of development that occurs in adolescence. Discussion and reading focus on the major physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes that occur during this phase of life. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6648 | Human Development: Adulthood
Students will examine the developmental issues surrounding early, middle, and late adulthood. The course will focus on the physical, emotional, and intellectual changes that occur as one progresses through adult life. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
This course is an introduction to the family as a dynamic system focusing on the effects of addiction pertaining to family roles, rules and behavior patterns. The impact of mood-altering substances and behaviors and therapeutic alternatives as they relate to the family will be discussed. This course is designed to prepare students to work with family members in the treatment of addiction. Pre-requisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6551 | Alcohol and Other Substances of Abuse*
This course focuses on the examination of substance abuse and dependence disorders along with relevant research, theory assessment and treatment approaches. Major classes of abused drugs will be discussed along with multicultural traditional and non-psychologically based approaches to prevention and treatment. Pre-requisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6606 | Methods of Research*
This course is an overview of research design, collection and reporting of data, interpretation of findings and inferential procedures. Prerequisite: Undergraduate statistics or proficiency exam. 3 quarter hours.
Studies in the field of counseling and psychotherapy, its practitioners, its processes and its efficacy are critically reviewed in terms of both findings and methods and as illustrations of different design approaches to the understanding of psychotherapy. Prerequisite: CPSY 6606. 1 semester hour.
This is the first student internship experience. Students serve their internship at agencies, hospitals, and other social service sites with a focus on providing counseling to clients. Students receive weekly supervision on site. Students enroll in this class to register for their first field placement. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. Consent required. 3-6 semester hours. Course repeatable.
CPSY 6691 | Supervised Field Experience in Mental Health II*
This is the second student internship experience and continues the student's experience in counseling clients. Supervision by the agency staff is provided. Students enroll in this class to register for their second field placement. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. Consent required. 3-6 semester hours. Course repeatable.
This course introduces students to the physiological, pharmacological, and psychological concepts basic to an understanding of the clinical use of psychotherapeutic drugs. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6580 | Psychology of WomenThis course examines theories on the psychology of women and its applications developed through clinical work and research with women. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6585 | Grief and LossThis course examines the process a person experiences as the result of unanticipated or expected life losses. Cultural and cohort differences in grieving styles are explored. A skills component is included to facilitate learning. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6600 | Independent StudyPrerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, department consent. 1-4 semester hours. Course repeatable.
CPSY 6616 | Stress ManagementThis course examines stress theories of disease, beneficial aspects of stress, life change, health behavior change, and techniques of stress management. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 3 quarter hours.
CPSY 6619 | Substance Related Disorders: Application of TheoryThis course is an integration and application course of prior content taught in CPSY 6510, 6550 and 6551. This course will review clinical skills required to function as a Certified Addictions Counselor. Throughout this course the student will be required to provide the rationale for the choice of treatment, examining specific scientific rationales. Research investigations will provide the basis of treatment for hypothetical patients. ASAM criteria will guide assessment choices for placement and treatment
CPSY 6638 | Problems in Counseling and PsychotherapyThis course is designed for individual and group study of selected problems and issues. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program and consent of instructor. 1-4 semester hours. Course repeatable.
CPSY 6649 | Human SexualityThis course examines human sexual development and the nature, assessment, and treatment of sexual problems. Sexual desire disorders will be addressed, and the value of sexual therapy intervention for couples will be explored. Sexual issues will be approached from intrapsychic and interpersonal perspectives. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. Offered fall, yearly. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6650 | Introduction to Art TherapyThis class introduces the use of art in counseling clients of all ages. Examines how art links to the varied theoretical perspectives in psychotherapy and explores the use of art as a metaphor for human issues and concerns. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours
CPSY 6653 | Behavior Disorders of ChildhoodTheoretical and methodological issues in behavior disorders of childhood are studied in this course using clinical and research data. Readings and discussions will give consideration to assessment and treatment approaches. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program. 2 semester hours.
CPSY 6687 | Readings in Counseling PsychologyThis class introduces readings in theories of personality, readings in psychopathology, or readings in psychotherapy research. Individual or group study is carried out in one of the above areas. Prerequisite: degree-seeking student in the Clinical Psychology program, department consent. 1-4 semester hours. Course repeatable.
NOTE: Certain courses offered by Benedictine University's various graduate programs also may qualify as electives. CPSY courses not listed under "required courses" may be used as electives as well.
