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CCMH/547

Basic Clinical Assessment and Psychometrics

3 credits

Total credits

8 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Graduate

This course introduces students to models and tools of clinical assessment and diagnosis techniques, including tests and test reports used in counseling and behavioral analysis. Students use the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to practice writing clear, accurate, and useful intake assessments, mental status examinations, and outcome-based treatment planning. Special focus is placed on psychometric properties of tests, test selection criteria, administration, interpretation, and reporting of test results. Multicultural and ethical issues in assessment and psychometrics are also explored.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Describe the purpose of the clinical interview.
  • Describe the appropriate setting for interviewing and assessment.
  • Identify basic listening skills, attending behaviors, and rapport-building strategies that assist in the clinical interview.
  • Describe the appropriate use of basic interviewing skills.
  • Describe the role of case conceptualization in diagnosis and treatment planning.

  • Describe statistical concepts, including scales of measurement, measures of central tendency, variability, types of distributions, and correlations.
  • Identify the concepts of reliability and validity in testing.
  • Explain the relationship between reliability and validity.
  • Describe the various types of scores used in testing.
  • Describe the major application of psychometric testing and the use of the DSM in the counseling field and diagnostic assessment.

  • Demonstrate the key components of the clinical interview.
  • Demonstrate the key components of the mental status exam.
  • Describe the key components and importance of a suicide assessment.
  • Identify specific interventions needed following a positive suicide assessment.
  • Explain the need to adapt the clinical interview to address cultural, linguistic, and regional differences.
  • Analyze the special considerations when evaluating and assessing children and adolescents.
  • Demonstrate basic interviewing techniques for a special population.

  • Describe the most commonly used tests for evaluating intelligence.
  • Describe the most commonly used tests for evaluating academic achievement and ability.
  • Describe the impact of testing bias in the private and school-based settings.
  • Identify the diagnostic criteria of neurodevelopmental disorders.

  • Describe the most commonly used tests evaluating psychopathology that are related to depressive, bipolar and anxiety disorders.
  • Describe the impact of bias as it relates to testing of personality and psychopathology.
  • Identify the diagnostic criteria for depressive, bipolar and related, and anxiety disorders.
  • Demonstrate clinical assessment procedures through application to a case study.

  • Describe the most commonly used tests evaluating personality.
  • Examine the use of psychometric personality assessments in evaluating psychopathology and personality.
  • Identify the diagnostic criteria for disorders related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders.
  • Demonstrate clinical assessment procedures through application to a case study.

  • Describe the most commonly used tests evaluating vocational interest and ability.
  • Describe the most commonly used tests evaluating substance abuse and dependency.
  • Identify the diagnostic criteria for substance-related disorders.
  • Identify the main components of a treatment plan.

  • Explore methods for providing information to clients regarding testing results, how their results apply to their diagnosis, and treatment planning.
  • Demonstrate basic treatment planning following the results of the interview and/or assessment.
  • Examine ethics related to administration, interpretation, and application of testing in the fields of counseling.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.