Master's in
Psychological and Educational Counseling

The founding course that frames the whole program. It presents education as a reference framework and a way of life rather than a theoretical subject: its meaning, sources, characteristics and dimensions, its role in the family and the school, and its link to purification of the self and to counseling — with the history of the discipline, its pioneers, applied models and a closing field project.

Introduces the foundations of psychology, its origins and major schools, human motives, mental processes, and the concepts of mental health and disorder — with a critical reading of materialist approaches, a grounding in innate human nature (fitrah) and the states of the self in the Qur'an, and training in distinguishing observable behavior from its hidden motives.

Prepares the student to conduct scientific research: the scientific method, quantitative and qualitative studies, measurement instruments and statistical analysis, within a framework of scholarly integrity, honesty, objectivity and research ethics — including building a research plan, analyzing data and critiquing a published study.

Studies the family as the primary educational unit: parenting styles, marital conflict, divorce and its effects, and upbringing within the household, in light of the Islamic construction of the family, guardianship and responsibility, affection and mercy — with case analysis and the design of a family counseling program.

Covers the stages of human development and their characteristics, cognitive and emotional growth, and the problems specific to each stage, tied to gradualism in education, the stages of religious accountability, and age-appropriate treatment — with the diagnosis of a child or adolescent case and the design of a stage-specific educational program.

Studies behavior in its social context: socialization, values and attitudes, social influence, groups and leadership, in light of the concept of the ummah, mutual social responsibility and collective duty — with the study of a school social phenomenon and the design of a group intervention.

Qualifies the counselor to work inside the school and address educational problems: achievement difficulties, academic delay, dropout and discipline, and academic guidance — proceeding from the value of knowledge, responsibility and motivation building, with the design of an achievement program and a simulated school counseling session.

Defines guidance and counseling, its governing rules and the pitfalls to avoid, and presents the counseling theories — behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychoanalytic and eclectic — together with the steps of the counseling process, treating counseling as reform, purification and sincere advice, with role-played sessions and a treatment plan for a case.

Combines values education with behavior modification techniques: reinforcement, punishment, modeling and behavioral guidance, in light of education through values, reward and sanction, and the power of example — with the design of a behavior modification program, the treatment of a behavioral problem and the building of a values plan.

The pivotal professional course. It builds the counselor's skills and the climate a counseling process needs to succeed: the counseling interview, active listening, building the relationship, diagnosis and session management, in light of attentive listening, gentleness and confidentiality — through role-played sessions and performance analysis.

Addresses the building of an effective personality in the face of the contemporary challenges confronting future generations: self-awareness, time management, decision making and planning, within a framework of stewardship of the earth, responsibility and sincerity of intention and purpose — with a personal life plan and practical skills training.