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Pepperdine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Program Learning Outcomes

GSEP is committed to a learner-centered approach in the programs we offer. Each program has a set of objectives that a student graduating from the program is expected to achieve. The knowledge and skills taught in the program might be introduced in some courses. In other courses, students are asked to apply knowledge by practicing skills and demonstrating their abilities. Within the program, the values and dispositional attributes important for individuals entering the profession are emphasized.

The matrix below lists the program learning objectives and indicates the courses in which each of the objectives is addressed.

Knowledge
  PSY 600 PSY 603 PSY 606 PSY 610 PSY 612 PSY 622 PSY 623 PSY 624 PSY 626 PSY 627 PSY 628
1. Gain understanding of how individual, group, and systemic theories of psychotherapy and recovery oriented principles apply to assessment and intervention with individuals, youth, couples, families, and groups.      X   X            
2. Comprehend concepts regarding the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis and treatment of mental disorders, including severe and persistent mental illness  X X                  
3. Understand ethical standards and relevant legal issues for counseling professionals, including couple and family therapists and counselors, in California             X        
4. Develop familiarity with cross-cultural mores and values, including knowledge of how couple and family therapy relates to persons from diverse backgrounds and the effects of socioeconomic status and poverty in therapy           X          
5. Comprehensively develop understanding of the principles and theories of human and family development from infancy to old age, including their effects upon individuals, couples and family relationships, and comprehend the unique developmental and psychological needs of the aging population                      
6. Develop understanding regarding theories and methods used in assessing and treating alcohol and drug use disorders, employing individual and family treatment models and approaches influenced by recovery orientations               X      
7. Comprehend basic principles of psychological testing and assessment, including a variety of tests relevant to the practice of individual, couple and family therapy                      
8. Develop understanding of theories and methods relevant to detection, assessment and treatment of trauma, including child abuse and spousal or partner abuse    X                  
9. Understand basic concepts of psychopharmacology for the treatment of mental disorders                      
10. Effectively comprehend the physiological-psychological and socio-cultural variables associated with sexual identity, sexual behavior and sexual disorders as encountered in the practice of individual, couple, and family therapy                      
11. Understand basic research and statistics concepts and the use of research to inform clinical practice, including the use of empirically supported treatments                     X
Skills
  PSY 600 PSY 603 PSY 606 PSY 610 PSY 612 PSY 622 PSY 623 PSY 624 PSY 626 PSY 627 PSY 628
1. Demonstrate flexibility in the ability to apply individual, group, couple and family therapy systems models to therapeutic clinical cases with individuals, couples, families, groups      X                
2. Demonstrate ability to conduct a mental status exam, assess and diagnose according to the DSM system, and develop treatment plans  X X                  
3. Demonstrate ability to effectively manage clinical cases while under supervision                      
4. Demonstrate ability to conduct intake interview with peer volunteer, including the ability to demonstrate active listening skills and skills of observing and describing interpersonal processes. Achieve personal goals to enhance interpersonal effectiveness  X   X                
5. Demonstrate ability to administer, score and interpret psychometric instruments appropriate for individual, couple, and family therapy     X                
6. Demonstrate ability to apply relevant ethical standards and legal principles in individual, couple and family therapy             X        
7. Demonstrate (through practice sessions with peers) ability to conduct beginning stages of therapy by demonstrating active listening skills, and skills of observing and describing interpersonal process; effectively present case formulation of practice sessions                      
Attitudes
  PSY 600 PSY 603 PSY 606 PSY 610 PSY 612 PSY 622 PSY 623 PSY 624 PSY 626 PSY 627 PSY 628
1. Develop "...integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion and personal presence" and a professional attitude of competence, acceptance, curiosity, and caring to assist clients in "achieving more adequate and productive marriage and family adjustments" (BBS regulations)                      
2. Appreciate the nature of individual and family problems in the context of their socio-political worlds – culture, gender and class            X          
3. Value collaborative working relationships with clients that not only address management of symptoms, but also attend to overall wellness and quality of life; respect client preferences and decisions regarding treatment goals                      
Knowledge
  PSY 637 PSY 639 PSY 640 PSY 642 PSY 656 PSY 657 PSY 658 PSY 659 PSY 661 PSY 662 PSY 668
1. Gain understanding of how individual, group, and systemic theories of psychotherapy and recovery oriented principles apply to assessment and intervention with individuals, youth, couples, families, and groups.  X X  X            X    X
2. Comprehend concepts regarding the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis and treatment of mental disorders, including severe and persistent mental illness           X          
3. Understand ethical standards and relevant legal issues for counseling professionals, including couple and family therapists and counselors, in California                      
4. Develop familiarity with cross-cultural mores and values, including knowledge of how couple and family therapy relates to persons from diverse backgrounds and the effects of socioeconomic status and poverty in therapy                      
5. Comprehensively develop understanding of the principles and theories of human and family development from infancy to old age, including their effects upon individuals, couples and family relationships, and comprehend the unique developmental and psychological needs of the aging population              X        
6. Develop understanding regarding theories and methods used in assessing and treating alcohol and drug use disorders, employing individual and family treatment models and approaches influenced by recovery orientations                      
7. Comprehend basic principles of psychological testing and assessment, including a variety of tests relevant to the practice of individual, couple and family therapy                      
8. Develop understanding of theories and methods relevant to detection, assessment and treatment of trauma, including child abuse and spousal or partner abuse                      
9. Understand basic concepts of psychopharmacology for the treatment of mental disorders                      
10. Effectively comprehend the physiological-psychological and socio-cultural variables associated with sexual identity, sexual behavior and sexual disorders as encountered in the practice of individual, couple, and family therapy        X              
11. Understand basic research and statistics concepts and the use of research to inform clinical practice, including the use of empirically supported treatments                      
Skills
  PSY 637 PSY 639 PSY 640 PSY 642 PSY 656 PSY 657 PSY 658 PSY 659 PSY 661 PSY 662 PSY 668
1. Demonstrate flexibility in the ability to apply individual, group, couple and family therapy systems models to therapeutic clinical cases with individuals, couples, families, groups X X X               X
2. Demonstrate ability to conduct a mental status exam, assess and diagnose according to the DSM system, and develop treatment plans X                 X  
3. Demonstrate ability to effectively manage clinical cases while under supervision                   X  
4. Demonstrate ability to conduct intake interview with peer volunteer, including the ability to demonstrate active listening skills and skills of observing and describing interpersonal processes. Achieve personal goals to enhance interpersonal effectiveness X                    
5. Demonstrate ability to administer, score and interpret psychometric instruments appropriate for individual, couple, and family therapy                      
6. Demonstrate ability to apply relevant ethical standards and legal principles in individual, couple and family therapy                    X  
7. Demonstrate (through practice sessions with peers) ability to conduct beginning stages of therapy by demonstrating active listening skills, and skills of observing and describing interpersonal process; effectively present case formulation of practice sessions X                    
Attitudes
  PSY 637 PSY 639 PSY 640 PSY 642 PSY 656 PSY 657 PSY 658 PSY 659 PSY 661 PSY 662 PSY 668
1. Develop "...integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion and personal presence" and a professional attitude of competence, acceptance, curiosity, and caring to assist clients in "achieving more adequate and productive marriage and family adjustments" (BBS regulations)                 X  X  
2. Appreciate the nature of individual and family problems in the context of their socio-political worlds – culture, gender and class       X            X  
3. Value collaborative working relationships with clients that not only address management of symptoms, but also attend to overall wellness and quality of life; respect client preferences and decisions regarding treatment goals       X         X