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BHS150: Introduction to Behavioral Health and Social Services – 3 credits

Survey of the behavioral health and social services professions, including scope of practice and training requirements. Exploration of employment opportunities in the field and self-assessment/academic planning for a career in mental health. Overview of mental health disorders and first responder skills in a mental health crisis situation. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Historical Awareness [H], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB], Social and Behavioral Sciences [SCB]

BHS155: Professional Resiliency and Well-Being – 3 credits

Exploration of building human resilience and well-being to prevent burnout, traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue for social services and mental health professionals, healthcare providers, emergency first responders, and other relationship-intense occupations. Causes, symptoms, and effects of traumatic stress, burnout compassion fatigue and other work-related stress. Focus on enhancing quality of life and improving a healthy lifestyle by incorporating evidenced-based practices in psychological and emotional resilience training, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, positive psychology, prevention, peer support, and self-care, including nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB], Social and Behavioral Sciences [SCB]

BHS160: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling Services – 3 credits

Explores relevant ethical, legal, and professional issues inherent in the behavioral health and social services field, including expectations of and limitations on providers. Key areas of inquiry include boundaries and dual relationships, mandated reporting, confidentiality, scope of practice, beneficence and non-maleficence, rights and responsibilities, professional relationships, and credentialing/regulating agencies.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS165: Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills – 3 credits

Theory and practice of communication skills to establish and maintain effective helping relationships and enhance the therapeutic alliance. Emphasis on verbal communication, nonverbal communication, paraverbal communication, rapport building, empathetic and active listening skills, resolving interpersonal conflicts, appropriate feedback, and developing and maintaining personal and professional relationships.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS170: Case Management and Clinical Documentation – 3 credits

Overview and application of the principles, practices, and function of case management in human services. Case management service delivery and coordination for clients with psychological, developmental, and psychiatric and comorbid medical conditions. Documentation techniques necessary to maintain clinical records in a variety of behavioral healthcare settings. Prerequisites: None.

BHS175: Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment – 3 credits

Comprehensive overview of various types of trauma, neurobiological effects of traumatic stress, and ethics associated in working with a trauma survivor. Concepts and skills needed to become a fully functioning trauma-informed caregiver professional in the mental health and primary care setting.
Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB], Social and Behavioral Sciences [SCB]

BHS180: Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy – 3 credits

The role of advocacy in relation to multiple systems affecting children, families, and adults. Emphasis on identifying appropriate supports, community resources, and "wrap-around" services to help foster healthy family and child development, adult recovery, and social welfare.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS185: Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health – 3 credits

Exploration of cultural diversity and its potential impact on behaviors, emotions, cognitions and perceptions, relationships, and values. Intercultural communication skills through the examination of cultural and racial diversity, sexual and gender identity, social justice, and religious and spiritual diversity. Consideration of its implications for the therapeutic process and the importance of self-awareness and effective communication skills for professionals in the behavioral health and social sciences.
Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C]

BHS190: Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services – 1 credit

Supervised, entry-level work-based experience in mental health, social service, or a related behavioral health care provider setting. 80 hours of designated volunteer or paid work-based learning. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BHS150, or BHS155, or BHS160, or permission of Department or Division.

BHS205: Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories – 3 credits

Introduction to the major evidence-based therapeutic models and interventions in social and behavioral sciences. Defines the key concepts, techniques and procedures of each theoretical model.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS210: Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery – 3 credits

Introduction to the historical and current developments in the field of addiction, as well as sociological, psychological, and physiological aspects of addictive behaviors and substance use. Introduces contemporary treatment methods within addiction practice, including self-help groups, levels of care, symptom identification, and models of prevention, and intervention. Examines factors that predict relapse and support recovery.
Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB], Social and Behavioral Sciences [SCB]

BHS215: Introduction to Group Therapy – 3 credits

Overview of the methods and techniques for influencing change in group settings. Examination of theories and concepts essential to provision of group counseling in behavioral health and addiction settings.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS230: Crisis and Trauma Stabilization – 3 credits

Theoretical and applied foundation designed for behavioral health service providers working with people in crisis. Examines the phenomena and dynamics of crises and emergencies, as well as the related strategies/modalities. Prerequisites: None.

BHS235: Emergency Mental Health Crisis Response and Recovery – 3 credits

Comprehensive study of natural and human-caused disasters and their effects on the trauma survivor. Introduction to basic emergency mental health interventions to help stabilize those experiencing crisis following critical incident disasters. Prerequisites: None.

BHS251: Harm Reduction in Addiction, Substance Use, and Social Services – 3 credits

Introduction to harm reduction principles, policies, programs, and practices that aim to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of the use of legal and illegal drugs. This course will introduce behavioral health and social service providers as well as paraprofessional counselors to the theory and practice of harm reduction strategies in addiction, social service, and community settings.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS272: Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Interventions – 3 credits

Strategies for training and reinforcing positive interaction with children. Covers behavior management strategies and techniques to prevent behavioral problems, replace behaviors and manage consequences.
Prerequisites: None.

BHS275: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health – 3 credits

Foundational knowledge of mental health during infancy and early childhood. Exploration of social-emotional development and relational influences on mental health. Emphasis on identifying early warning signs, making appropriate referrals, and employing a multidisciplinary child and family team approach to services. Prerequisites: None.

BHS300: Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice – 4 credits

Overview of the uses, limitations, and ethics of research methodology in the behavioral sciences, and the qualitative and quantitative methods associated with common research designs. Prepares students to conduct evaluations of literature published research, use empirical evidence as the basis for interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of their own interventions. Focuses on applications of descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical software. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT206, or PSY230, or (PSY230 and PSY231), or PSY230WL, or SWU225, or GBS221.

BHS310: Fundamentals of Family Systems Counseling – 3 credits

Study of the family as a system and the concepts and principles applicable to helping individuals from a systemic perspective. Examines family processes, including functional and dysfunctional patterns, difficulties that families may experience as they move through their developmental stages, and the family's interactions with individuals and communities. Introduction to family systems theory as it applies to the predominant models of family therapy. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BHS205, or permission of Instructor or Department.

BHS320: Behavioral Development Across the Lifespan – 3 credits

Critical analysis of human development throughout the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Prepares students in the behavioral sciences to conceptualize clients through a developmental perspective. Overview of both normal human development and developmental psychopathology. Focus on child, adolescent, and adult development through the study of major theories and models, with implications for helping professionals. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PSY101.

BHS340: Psychopathology Across Cultures – 3 credits

Overview of the scientific study of mental illness and substance use disorders (psychopathology). Evaluates theories of psychopathology from sociological, psychological, and behavioral perspectives. Examines the most prevalent categories of mental disorders from several different theoretical and treatment perspectives. Focus on diagnostic features, etiology, epidemiology, prognosis, and treatment issues related to various psychiatric disorders. Legal, ethical, and cultural issues pertaining to psychopathology also discussed, in addition to prevention and intervention strategies. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BHS150 and BHS185), or permission of Instructor.

BHS385: Multicultural Approaches to Behavioral Health Care – 3 credits

Advanced application of multicultural competencies, focusing on necessary awareness, knowledge, and skills needed in behavioral health settings. Examination of the dimensions of personal identities and intersectionality in the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of interventions in human services fields. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BHS185, or permission of Instructor.

BHS400: Biological and Environmental Bases of Behavior – 3 credits

Examination of human behavior from biophysiological, psychosocial-cognitive, and social-cultural perspectives using relevant theories. Focuses on the nervous system, brain function, and cognition, as well as the role of psychopharmacology in behavioral healthcare. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO160, or (BIO201 and BIO202).

BHS410: Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders – 3 credits

Advanced instruction in co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders from the bio-psycho-social model for application in the behavioral health field. Includes philosophies and practices of empirically supported models. Emphasis on causes, consequences, assessment, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BHS210 and BHS340), or permission of Instructor.

BHS420: Relational Approach to Trauma – 3 credits

Exploration of the science of trauma and recovery within the family context. Includes the dynamic elements of trauma treatment with the integration of systemic and family treatment models. Examines the lifelong impact of traumatic stress and complex trauma during the early years of life. Focus on evidence-based treatment and interventions from a family theory perspective for individual, relational, and systematic traumatization. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BHS175, or permission of Instructor or Department.

BHS430: Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis – 3 credits

An in-depth consideration of the scientific theories, concepts, and principles of understanding and modifying behavior. Focus on applying behavior analysis for data-based decisions to resolve challenging behaviors and foster prosocial behaviors. Students will learn basic principles and procedures, such as functional behavior assessment, assessment of reinforcers, and implementation of a behavior intervention plan to reach socially meaningful outcomes. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BHS205 and BHS320), or permission of Instructor or Department.

BHS490: Advanced Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services – 2 credits

Advanced, supervised work experience in mental health, social service, or a related behavioral health care provider setting. 160 hours of designated volunteer or paid work-based learning. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BHS410 and BHS430.