This course is designed to develop beginning practice skills in structural, strategic, systematic family therapies; and assessment and treatment skills necessary to manage specialized problems (e.g., divorce, remarriage, substance abuse, suicidal behavior) encountered in practice.

Focuses on the organization, financing, and delivery of healthcare in the U.S. Contrasts the private and public sectors and examines the effects of market competition and government regulation. Examines the ways that medical providers are paid, and explores the major issues currently facing physicians, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry. Discusses several potential small-scale and large-scale reforms to the healthcare system and evaluates their likely effects on healthcare spending, quality of care, and access to care.

This course examines the evidence developed through the lens of outcomes research relative to clinical care and public/population health initiatives. It explores the development of study design, developing a workable research question and associated proposed study methods. The course explores frequently used study designs, techniques for evaluating/selecting health outcomes measures, and analytical approaches appropriate to conducting health outcomes research. Students will construct an independent research protocol, which will be developed in increments as course evolves.

This course will be designed by the student and the instructor. Course topics and deliverables will be established together and approved by the supervising faculty. Credit hours (not to exceed 6-credit hours) will be determined by the supervising faculty based on the size and scope of the student's intended project.