BIRCHAM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Psychology

MODULE: Counseling Psychology

Program delivered by distance learning higher education up to a maximum of 39 credits. This module may be combined or completed with other online university courses from this faculty.

DESCRIPTION:

This program brings together contributions from many leading counseling psychologists to show how practitioners are already working. The program bridges the divide between academic psychology and counseling practice and encourages professionals to bring awareness and cultural sensitivity into the consulting room. It provides a secure grounding for trainees and an excellent resource for experienced practitioners.

Courses list (each subject accounts for 3 credits):

1 BIU Earned Credit = 1 USA Semester Credit (15 hours of learning) = 2 ECTS Credit (30 hours of study).

Counseling Psychology

Marriage & Family Relations

Academic Supervisor: Francisco Chelos Lopez

More information about this supervisor and online university course instructors at BIU Human Network.

This module is applicable to Specialist, Expert, Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. (Doctor) Programs. This distance learning degree program is designed at the postgraduate level – Master’s or Doctoral. This module may be easily adapted to complete the Specialist, Expert or Bachelor’s adult degree program requirements. A further option is the enrollment into the online university courses listed in this module.

* University Course (3 credits): Select 1 subject from this module.

* Specialist Diploma (15 credits): First 5 subjects or select 5 subjects from this module.

* Expert Diploma (21 credits): First 7 subjects or select 7 subjects from this module.

* Bachelor's Degree (130 credits): The Admission certificate issued after submission of the application for admission will show the amount of credit transferred and validated from previous education and experience, and the amount of credits required to complete this undergraduate program's major. Additional courses from other modules of this faculty will be assigned in case that the credits displayed on this module are not enough to complete the bachelor's required credits.

* Master's Degree (35 credits): Select from 3 to 9 subjects from this module depending on the amount of credits transferred from previous education and experience. Add 13 credits corresponding to a final project to the selected subjects.

* Ph.D. (Doctor) (45 credits): Select from 3 to 9 subjects from this module depending on the amount of credits transferred from previous education and experience. Add 18 credits corresponding to a final thesis to the selected subjects.

BIU issues an admission certificate after receiving your complete application for admission. This document will show the amount of credits transferred and validated from previous education and experience, and the amount of credits required to complete the degree program's major. BIU can not perform this evaluation without the complete application for admission.

Courses Description (each subject accounts for 3 credits):

Counseling Psychology

This course integrates counseling with the fields of psychology, education, and sociology. It shows the intervention strategies and techniques used in counseling, and explains how to manage the interview with a patient through listening, focusing and inquiring; how to assess the problems, wellness status and growth areas; and how to develop a goal-oriented change process with the patient.

Instructor: Sarel Francois Ackermann

Marriage & Family Relations

This course examines the impact of modern society upon the family as it relates to courtship, size of family, member relationships, economic problems, and marital stability. It compares alternative life styles, marriage and family relations throughout the life span. It examines family development across generations.

Instructor: Sarel Francois Ackermann

Marriage & Family Counseling

This course reviews theory and practice of marital therapies with emphasis on family systems, communications in intimate relationships, and other specific marital and family problems. It discusses family systems approaches to etiology and treatment, and family dysfunctions that result from drug and alcohol usage and other causes.

Instructor: Sarel Francois Ackermann

Child & Adolescent Counseling

This course develops knowledge and skills in the counseling of children and adolescents. It explores verbal-based approaches to psychotherapy, as well as nonverbal approaches such as play therapy. It also examines the characteristics and needs of gifted student in order to assist them develop social and interpersonal skills, and positive self-concepts.

Instructor: Sarel Francois Ackermann

Analysis of Social Problems

This course examines social problems from three perspectives. Systemic problems: racial and sexual discrimination, inequality and poverty, militarization and war, ecological problems, overpopulation, urban and rural problems, life cycle problems. Problems of specific institutions: government, economy, family, education, religion, social services. Personal pathologies: mental illness, suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction.

Instructor: Joseph Kibugi Gitau

Social Problems & Deviance

This course examines social problems and behavior that departs from a group’s or society’s norms. It considers delinquency and crime; sexual, religious and lifestyle deviance; deviant sub-cultures; and the society’s reaction to deviance. It explains the causes of deviance and the tracing of its effects on individuals and society.

Instructor: Joseph Kibugi Gitau

Personality & Social Development

This course explores the processes of social and personality development. It focuses on four key areas of research: cognition, attachment theory, language development, and moral development. It also addresses issues and debates about the role of genes, gender, socialization, and neurological development as interacting forces that affect how infants and children acquire self/other awareness, identity, and social competence.

Instructor: Shelley-Ann Meihuizen

Alcohol & Drug Counseling

This course reviews diagnostic and assessment practices, goal setting, treatment planning, multicultural, legal, and ethical issues in alcohol and drug abuse counseling. A systematic approach to treatment is emphasized along with various theoretical perspectives. It discusses special treatment needs of alcohol and drug dependent persons, and the use of support systems for family members and children of alcoholics.

Instructor: Sarel Francois Ackermann

Multicultural Diversity

The course shows how to deal with a different culture. It covers identity development, acculturation, class, prejudice and discrimination, demographics, and verbal and non-verbal communication in the context of different cultures and values. It examines the impact of different cultural backgrounds on managerial decisions and highlights the complexities of management in a global environment.

Instructor: Oscar Juan Hernando Carbajo

Cross Cultural Social Perspectives

This course focuses on the study of the similarities and differences of different cultures. It will enable students to learn the skills of communication, negotiation and managing cultural differences. It provides a cross cultural social perspective to deal effectively with individuals from varied cultures in different situations.

Instructor: Oscar Juan Hernando Carbajo

Social Counseling

This course surveys the major concepts and practices of the contemporary psychotherapeutic systems, and addresses some ethical and professional issues in social counseling practice. The goal is to allow students to select wisely from the various theories and techniques to develop a personal style of social counseling.

Instructor: Francis Wambua Mulwa

Crisis Counseling

This course provides knowledge and training in crisis counseling, with emphasis on psychological crisis assessment techniques and crisis intervention strategies. Various types of crises encountered will be reviewed: emergencies, overdose, relapse, violence, suicide, abuse, anxiety and phobias.

Instructor: Francisco Chelos Lopez

Therapeutic Practice

This course covers the basics of law and ethics as it applies to health and counseling related practice. Informed consent, confidentiality, licensing laws, regulations and customs, and professional liability are considered.

Instructor: Francisco Chelos Lopez

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Professionally recognized and validated degrees.

Accredited (Non USA CHEA). International legalization available.

Non formal and independent education.