Masters Degree Courses: Schedule

The purpose of this course is to enhance the behavioral and mental health literacy of those who support Pre-K through 12th Grade students. Focus will be placed upon common mental health disorders affecting school-age children, such as: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, depression, and other mood disorders. Learners will take a deep look at the needs of the abused child, the grieving child, suicidal students, and those who engage in non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors from the perspective of prevention, intervention, and ongoing support. Learners will closely examine their views and experiences regarding behavioral and mental health, define strategies, and develop tools to create a climate of acceptance, understanding, and change for our youth who are dealing with behavioral and mental health concerns.

This course is designed to help teachers develop students of character using classic pieces of literature, research in social and emotional learning, and character education. Through in-depth mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual study, we will examine the pillars of character education and the great teachers of human history. We will practice and discuss the lessons the wisest of our ancestral scholars have to teach us today. We will read, experience and reflect on the writings (prose, poetry, plays) of some of the greatest hearts and minds of the past centuries. Participants will be asked to be self reflective and involved in all experiential learning.

Education continues to face significant change. The challenges and complexity we face in education ranges from high-tech to high-touch (relationship) responsibilities. We seek to make our classrooms and curriculum relevant and effective. Being effective is no longer optional it is mandatory. The need to thrive, innovate, excel, and lead calls for greatness. We must transform education and tap into new dimensions of human genius and motivation. In this inspiring course, you will be given the tools to explore your voice, your creativity, new mindsets, new skills, and new habits. You will find your voice and inspire your students to find theirs.

This course will prepare participants to balance the ever-increasing responsibilities of educating a continually changing, diverse learning population. Particular emphasis will be placed on the inclusion of various special needs students; including those with physical, emotional, mental, and social differences. Teachers will develop the investigative, decision-making, and reflective teaching skills needed to work with all diverse learners. We will experientially work on increasing engagement and student achievement. The role of assessment and evaluation will also be included. This experiential course will challenge participants physically, socially, mentally, and emotionally.