Supporting and Enhancing Children’s Mental Health

Supporting and Enhancing Children’s Mental Health

Program/Degree

Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma (4 course program) towards the MEd Interdisciplinary

Delivery

Fully Online

Duration

One year (4 consecutive terms)

Contacts

Graduate Program Administrator:
Lisa Dale
Email

Academic Coordinator:
Dr. Emma Climie
Email

Program Overview

Any given classroom likely contains students with mental health concerns. These concerns often impact their ability to learn, to form appropriate relationships with peers and adults, and to develop healthy coping strategies. Children with mental health difficulties are often misunderstood and may be identified as problematic.  Many individuals working with these children have a limited understanding of what the children are experiencing and how to best support them.

Program Details

Courses in this program are offered fully online. Courses are held in both an asynchronous environment (D2L) and a synchronous (real-time) environment (Zoom) which allows instructors to virtually meet and talk with students and experience a live exchange of ideas, hear class presentations and do group work with access to a whiteboard. For additional information regarding online delivery, refer to the eLearn website.

This four-course topic is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the issues surrounding children’s mental health and how these issues may impact children’s lives. As well, classes devoted to intervention will allow for the exploration of case studies and practical suggestions for working with these children.

A registration package will be sent to new students after they have been admitted. Registration for the summer term will be available in late winter. Fall and Winter registration opens in the spring. Your Graduate Program Administrator will send more information about registration to you.

Fee details are available through the University Calendar. An explanation of fees is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies' website.

The University of Calgary offers multiple ways to meet the cost of your education. Please refer to the Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries page to learn more about options available to students. For additional information, please contact Student Financial Support.


Program Schedule & Course Descriptions

  • Program begins each Summer term (refer to the Academic Schedule for specific dates)
  • Outlines are normally available 1-2 weeks prior to the start of term in D2L
  • 3 units per course

Term 1 - Summer

Understanding Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

This course focuses on understanding the range of mental health concerns that may be present in children and adolescents.  Discussion will focus primarily on the development and prevalence of mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, etc.), as well as description and diagnosis, epidemiology, co-morbidity, and associated characteristics of the disorders across preschool, early and middle childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

Registration Info:
EDPS 693.02 S02 

 

Term 2 - Fall

Trauma and Resilience in Children

This course will expand students’ knowledge base of the impact of trauma on children.  Specifically, the course will examine how trauma affects brain development and learning and the educational implications for traumatized children.  Possible topics to be covered include the neurobiology of trauma, strength-based interventions, building school-community partnerships, and resiliency factors.

Registration Info:
EDPS 693.09 S01

 

Term 3 - Winter

Interventions for Working with Elementary School Students with Mental Health Concerns

This course will examine mental health concerns that are most prevalent for elementary school aged children (ages 5-11).  Possible topics may include self-esteem, anxiety and stress, divorce/separation, sibling rivalry, bullying, home/school collaboration, working with parents with mental health concerns, classroom management strategies, and school-based interventions.

Registration Info:
EDPS 693.10 S01

Term 4 - Spring

Interventions for Working with Middle & Senior High School Students With Mental Health Concerns

This course focuses on the complex difficulties that adolescents in the middle and senior high school years (ages 12+) with mental health concerns deal with, including peer pressure, drug/alcohol use, educational demands, and societal issues.  This course provides an understanding of how these adolescents can be supported within the home, school and community.

Registration Info:
EDPS 693.15 S03