Master of Clinical Psychology

The Master of Clinical Psychology is offered academically by the College of Medicine in collaboration with King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) for the clinical aspect of the degree. The courses of the Master program of Clinical Psychology are designed as a practical program and includes a research/capstone project. Most of the courses have a practical element which will be applied at the Mental Health Department of the National Neuroscience Institute in King Fahad Medical City. 

Classes

MCP-C 507: Child & Adolescent Psychology Unit

Interaction with children and adolescence is much more challenging than when engaging with and adult. Clinicians will be taught how to approach children and how to evaluate and access the psyche of a child. Moreover, they will engage on a face-to-face interaction with individuals suffering from mental retardation apply diagnostics as well as formulate treatment plans for children with ADHD, mood and stress disorders.

MCP-C 508: Neuropsychology Unit

After passing the Neuropsychology course, students will visit the Neurology and Neuro-surgery unit. Students will interact with patients that experiences different kinds of neurological problems, such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s and stroke. They will learn to apply the skills that they have learned in class in a clinical setting.

MCP-C 509: Adult Psychology Unit

During this phase of the internship students will go through the process of interviewing patients and conceptualizing a clinical case of mental complains that relate to different forms of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc., offering psychological intervention based on evident-based approach.

MCP 500: Neuropsychology

The purpose of this course is to equip clinical psychology practitioners with the knowledge of how biological factors affect behavior. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to explain how neurons communicate between them and the function of synapses. Higher order brain functions are going to be covered such as future planning, the frontal lobe and behavioral inhibition (e.g. criminal offending in adolescence), emotion centers in the brain as well as reward pathways (e.g. drug addiction). The course will close on sleep cycles and stages of sleep along with variables that may be influencing disturbances in the circadian rhythm.

MCP 501: Clinical Psychology

At the end of this course, students will acquire knowledge on the development of clinical psychology from an Islamic perspective and its shift to western sciences. Furthermore, they will be able to understand what mental illness and its definition is. The reason behind each mental illness will be discussed and analyzed, considering biological and psychologically theories. Identify symptoms and what are the guidelines for pharmacological treatment and different method of psychotherapy that is been used. Finally, the prognosis of each illness and an understanding of the mental illness classification, in particular to DSM-5 classification system.

MCP 502: Schools of Psychotherapies

This course has been developed to equip the students with the major evidence-base psychotherapies. Student will learn about the four waves of psychotherapy in addition to their critical forms of analysis. Students will need to develop an understanding in relation to the values of these schools, beliefs, assumptions about human nature, and the common worldview trend.

MCP 503: Case Formulation

In this course, students will be taught the leading psychological theories in explaining human behaviors and sickness. They will be taught how to formulate a case based on certain theories and how to diagnose based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (5th Ed). Consequently, they will be also taught the evident base of psychological therapy. In other words, how to explain the client's symptoms, personality characteristics, cognitions, feelings, and behaviors in light of a particular theory or integration of theories.

MCP 504: Assessment and Clinical Interview

Equip clinical psychologists with the knowledge of appropriate methods for psychological assessment and their application as well as appropriateness to different groups and ages. In addition to the ethical course running in parallel, understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding test administration and interpretation. This course includes some historical background of the developments of psychological assessment in clinical psychology practice as well as the theoretical foundations of the assessment tools. By the end of this course, the psychologist should be able to choose the appropriate assessment tool to be applied for a certain age range and according to the specific symptoms described. Furthermore, the psychologist should be able to score and interpret the results as well as write a detailed report about the client.

MCP 505: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This course has been developed to equip the students with the major evident-base psychotherapies with an emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Student will learn about the four waves of psychotherapy with its critical analysis as well as self-reflection in relation to values, beliefs, assumptions about human nature, and worldview.

MCP 520: Introduction to child life theory and practice

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the Child Life profession. The course will support students in the application of knowledge of child development to educate, prepare, and support children and their families through the processes of hospitalization and changes in family dynamics due to illness. The course will cover the scope of child life practice, impact of illness, family centered care, therapeutic play, and child life preparation within the context of healthcare settings. Additionally, the course will review essential documents and standards of the child life profession. The course is taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist who meets the requirements set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals. 

MCP 521: Growth and development: Early childhood (0 to 8 years)

This course is designed to cover child development from birth to 8 years and to study the physical, language, cognitive, and social/emotional growth, and development of the child from birth to young adult in the contexts of family, school, peer, and community. In the course there is an emphasis on translation of theory to child life practice.

MCP 522: Growth & development: Middle childhood to adolescence (9-18 years)

This course is designed to explore physical, social, behavioral development in all stages of adolescence (preadolescence, early adolescence, and late adolescence) in the context of family, school, peers, and community. In the course there is an emphasis on translation of theory to child life practice.

MCP 523: Family systems

This course designed to study the historical and contemporary theories related to family structure and functions, family dynamics including broader societal perspectives of diversity and cultural variance, family relationships and the dynamics of family life, adaptations in family structure and interaction patterns during times of transition, adult-child interactions and family roles, and exploration of current research and theory as it applies to family systems

MCP 524: Therapeutic play for child life specialists in hospitals

This course is designed to study the classical and contemporary theories of play, play as an essential element for children’s growth, development, and learning, and influence of play environments on children’s play. An understanding of expressive therapies: music, play, art and drama will also be incorporated into the course content.   

MCP 525: Grief, loss, and bereavement

This course is designed to study the historical, current, cultural, spiritual, and religious perspectives. Additionally, various theories and practice specific interventions that assist children/youth or family members when they encounter issues of death, loss, and or grief. The topics of the course will include loss, transition, palliative care, self-awareness, and self-care. 

MCP 526: Introduction to anatomy & physiology & medical terminology

This course is designed as an introduction to the structure and function of human body systems, such as the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, nervous, digestive, renal, reproductive, and endocrine systems, including metabolism and homeostasis. This course is also a basic study of the professional language of medicine. It is designed to include word construction, pronunciation, spelling, definition, and use of terms related to all areas of medical science, hospital service and health related professions.    

MCP 527: Culturally sensitive & diverse child life practice & emotional safety

This course is designed to study and examine the practice of child life and child life programs/services within the context of the Middle East, especially the Gulf region. Additionally, this course will cover the clinical components of emotional safety and the adoption of specialized strategies including atraumatic, patient and family-centered, trauma-informed, culture-centered, and developmentally appropriate care to create a new standard of emotionally safe care. 

MCP 528: Pediatric palliative care and hospice care

This course is designed to introduce pediatric palliative care and hospice services. It identifies the broad spectrum of palliative care and hospice care, explains multidisciplinary team members’ roles working with chronically and terminally ill children, and gives examples of pediatric palliative care and hospice program frameworks. The course also explores the different aspects of holistic approach to care for end of life and palliative care. These aspects include pain and symptom management, communication techniques, education, child life services, spiritual care, and grief and bereavement support to support the patient, sibling, and their parents/carers. 

MCP 529: Child life program development, administration, & leadership

This course is designed to explore the topics for advancing the profession of child life as well as the ethical responsibilities and considerations for emerging leaders within the field.  Students will gain information on leadership styles, theories, and explore other relevant and vital topics such as diversity, inclusion, communication, feedback, change management, and clinical supervision techniques.

MCP 600 A&B: Thesis

Master’s degree students expected to write a report, referred to as a thesis, on the results of an original investigation, in conjunction with a Master’s Advisory Committee. Length and style of the thesis vary by college/department. All these are filed with the Office of Graduate Studies. A Master’s Advisory Committee will be formed for each student and will consist of three members; an Alfaisal faculty member as the Major Advisor and Chair, and two other members, one of whom may be from an organization outside of the University. The Chair of the Committee must have research and graduate student advising experience. This Committee will assist the student in the formulation of the Thesis Project Proposal, and later advise the student in the execution of the research project, the Thesis write-up, and help the student to prepare for the oral defense.

MCP 601-A: Research/Capstone Project

This intent of this project is to enable to the student to learn to pursue a chosen topic through a literature search on atopic approved by the graduate advisor, collection and analysis of data, project report preparation and defense. Although this course officially begins in second year the trainees are encouraged to identify a project topic and supervisor in their first year so that they are able to begin their research project in the fall of their second year.

MCP 601-B: Research/Capstone Project

This intent of this project is to enable to the student to learn to pursue a chosen topic through a literature search on atopic approved by the graduate advisor, collection and analysis of data, project report preparation and defense. Although this course officially begins in second year the trainees are encouraged to identify a project topic and supervisor in their first year so that they are able to begin their research project in the fall of their second year.

MCP 602 A: Internship A

After being taught about the biology of the brain students will visit the neurorehabilitation unit. Students will interact with patients that experience both psychological and physical changes as a result of brain injury. During this three-month phase students will learn the cognitive therapies applied to evaluate as well as restore motor and cognitive function in patients that have suffered a head injury, or stroke.

MCP 602 A: Internship A

During this internship, students delve into the intricacies of mood disorders, psychoses, and various mental health conditions. Throughout this immersive experience, future clinical psychologists will transition from theoretical understanding to practical application, gaining invaluable experience in clinical settings. Participants will actively engage in the process of gathering patient information by engaging in face-to-face interactions, conducting psychometric tests for accurate diagnoses and assessment, and ultimately selecting the most appropriate therapeutic interventions based on individual case formulations. This hands-on approach allows interns to witness the real-life application of classroom teachings, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence.

MCP 602 A: Internship A

During this internship, students delve into the intricacies of mood disorders, psychoses, and various mental health conditions. Throughout this immersive experience, future clinical psychologists will transition from theoretical understanding to practical application, gaining invaluable experience in clinical settings.

Participants will actively engage in the process of gathering patient information by engaging in face-to-face interactions, conducting psychometric tests for accurate diagnoses and assessment, and ultimately selecting the most appropriate therapeutic interventions based on individual case formulations. This hands-on approach allows interns to witness the real-life application of classroom teachings, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence.

MCP 602 B: Internship B

During this internship, students delve into the intricacies of mood disorders, psychoses, and various mental health conditions. Throughout this immersive experience, future clinical psychologists will transition from theoretical understanding to practical application, gaining invaluable experience in clinical settings. Participants will actively engage in the process of gathering patient information by engaging in face-to-face interactions, conducting psychometric tests for accurate diagnoses and assessment, and ultimately selecting the most appropriate therapeutic interventions based on individual case formulations. This hands-on approach allows interns to witness the real-life application of classroom teachings, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence.

MCP 602 B: Internship B

During this internship, students delve into the intricacies of mood disorders, psychoses, and various mental health conditions. Throughout this immersive experience, future clinical psychologists will transition from theoretical understanding to practical application, gaining invaluable experience in clinical settings.

Participants will actively engage in the process of gathering patient information by engaging in face-to-face interactions, conducting psychometric tests for accurate diagnoses and assessment, and ultimately selecting the most appropriate therapeutic interventions based on individual case formulations. This hands-on approach allows interns to witness the real-life application of classroom teachings, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence.