Bachelor of Applied Science - Behavioral Health

This course provides an in-depth exploration of substance use disorders, examining both historical perspectives and contemporary implications of addiction in American society, including considerations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students will study the basic pharmacology of alcohol and other drugs while analyzing addiction within broader social, cultural, political, and economic frameworks. The course will emphasize assessment criteria, evidence-based treatment methodologies, and recovery strategies.

This course examines how cultural, biological, and social diversity affect behavioral health and healthcare. It presents current theories and practices for working with diverse populations in the behavioral health field and fosters the understanding and application of cultural diversity, cultural humility, self-awareness, social justice, and advocacy.

This course provides an overview of ethics, legal standards, and professional responsibilities in behavioral healthcare. Students will explore behavioral health professionals’ obligations to clients, colleagues, society and themselves. The course emphasizes ethical standards, ethical decision-making, professional boundaries, confidentiality, and the application of federal and state laws to specific situations and populations in behavioral healthcare.

This course prepares students for practicum and employment. Activities include identifying professional goals, identifying relevant positions, self-assessment, application preparation, and preparation for supervision and consultation. Special attention will be given to wellness and self-care to promote health and longevity personally and professionally.

This course introduces the structures and processes of the human brain. Designed for non-science majors, the course emphasizes the relationships among biology, emotions, thoughts, and behavior.

This course provides an overview of case management within healthcare and human services. Students will develop skills in observation, problem-solving, documentation, and relationship-building through the exploration of the case management process, which includes client engagement and assessment, care planning, resource acquisition, and care coordination.

This course introduces the skills necessary to screen clients for service eligibility, complete intake processes, conduct comprehensive assessments, and collaborate with clients to develop effective plans for achieving client-identified goals. Students are prepared to serve as effective helpers, carefully exploring their clients’ situation to develop insight before taking action.

This course provides a comprehensive survey of the major contemporary theories of counseling, as well as their implications for practice. Core topics such as historical background, key concepts, the counseling process, counseling techniques and procedures, multicultural perspectives, and evaluation are examined for each theory. Students are given the opportunity to conceptualize selected case studies, decide on appropriate counseling interventions, and practice a variety of techniques that are commonly used in counseling practice.

Through supervised clinical experience, students begin hands-on training in a behavioral health/human service field. Skills focused upon may include intake interviewing, case management, assessment of client/consumer needs, intervention strategies to meet those needs, individual and group counseling, outreach activities, documentation, use of community referral and networking resources, collaboration with colleagues, inter-agency communication, and professional growth. Ninety hours of recorded clinical experience are required each quarter.

Students will be introduced to behavioral and social services, including history, philosophy, and current delivery systems to a diverse client population. 

This course investigates the variety of ways we can reduce the impacts of common mental health disorders. Reviewing evidence-based research, students survey the range of effective, promising, and ineffective treatments for common mental health disorders such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and PTSD. Topics include biological, psychological, and social treatments, including professional services and self-help options.

Students will learn to enhance the effectiveness of groups by examining a variety of roles, models, and norms of group work. Students will develop therapeutic group leadership skills through facilitation of simulated group sessions.

This course is a continuation of supervised clinical experience, building on the skills and experience gained in Practicum I. Students will develop skills in the areas of: intake interviewing, case management, assessment of client/consumer needs, and intervention strategies. Emphasis will be placed on individual and group counseling, outreach activities, documentation, use of community referral and networking resources, collaboration with colleagues, inter-agency communication, and professional growth. Ninety hours of recorded clinical experience are required.

This course is a continuation of supervised clinical experience, building on the skills and experience gained in Practicum II. Skills students will focus on include: intake interviewing, case management, assessment of client/consumer needs, and intervention strategies to meet those needs. Additional focus areas include individual and group counseling, outreach activities, documentation, use of community referral and networking resources, collaboration with colleagues, inter-agency communication, and professional growth. Ninety hours of recorded clinical experience are required.