CEFS 620 is Liberty's graduate course on counseling children, adolescents and their families. Its written work is two 3 to 5-page analysis papers, four forums (a 400-word thread with three recent peer-reviewed sources and two 200-word replies), and an integrative project paper built in stages, from topic approval and a 10-source annotated bibliography to a 10 to 12-page final draft. All sources must be no older than five years.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as CEFS 620 Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as CEFS620.
What CEFS 620 covers
The catalog description: This course examines the developmental and psychological needs and problems of children, to include the transition to adolescence. Coursework emphasizes parenting, family, social, spiritual/moral, and physical issues. Counseling theories and evidence-based interventions provide foundational skills for working with children, adolescents, parents, and their families. This course will also address the impact of crisis and trauma events on children and families.
The course examines the developmental and psychological needs and problems of children and the transition to adolescence, emphasizing parenting, family, social, spiritual and moral, and physical issues, with counseling theories and evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents and families, and the impact of crisis and trauma. It uses an ecological model of risk and protective factors. The texts are Cook-Cottone, Kane and Anderson, The Elements of Counseling Children and Adolescents, and McWhirter and others, At-Risk Youth: A Comprehensive Response.
Seven reading quizzes (210 points) have no guide here. Each week runs Monday to Sunday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Cook-Cottone et al., The Elements of Counseling Children and Adolescents (2015). McWhirter et al., At-Risk Youth (2017). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
CEFS 620 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 400 words; replies at least 200 words |
| 2 | IPP Topic Approval | 22 | One paragraph |
| 3 | Analysis Paper 1 | 150 | 3 to 5 pages |
| 3 | IPP Annotated Bibliography | 22 | At least 10 annotated references |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 400 words; replies at least 200 words |
| 4 | IPP First Draft | 22 | An outline with at least 1 paragraph for each section |
| 5 | Analysis Paper 2 | 150 | 3 to 5 pages |
| 6 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Thread at least 400 words; replies at least 200 words |
| 6 | IPP Title Page, Abstract and Reference Page | 24 | Title page, a 150 to 250-word abstract and a reference page |
| 7 | IPP Final Draft | 200 | 10 to 12 pages |
| 8 | Discussion Board Forum 4 | 50 | Thread at least 400 words; replies at least 200 words |
Week 2: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 400-word thread with 3 peer-reviewed sources from the last 5 years, then two 200-word replies with 1 recent source each. How to write CEFS 620 Week 2 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: IPP Topic Approval
A one-paragraph summary of your integrative project topic, chosen from the provided list. How to write CEFS 620 Week 2 IPP Topic Approval.
Week 3: Analysis Paper 1
A 3 to 5-page analysis paper on a topic from the provided list, with 4 peer-reviewed sources from the last 5 years. How to write CEFS 620 Week 3 Analysis Paper 1.
Week 3: IPP Annotated Bibliography
At least 10 annotated references from the last 5 years on your approved topic, each with a summary paragraph. How to write CEFS 620 Week 3 IPP Annotated Bibliography.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 400-word thread with 3 recent peer-reviewed sources, then two 200-word replies with 1 recent source each. How to write CEFS 620 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 4: IPP First Draft
An outline of your integrative project paper using the required content areas, with at least one paragraph per section. How to write CEFS 620 Week 4 IPP First Draft.
Week 5: Analysis Paper 2
A second 3 to 5-page analysis paper on a topic from the list, with 4 recent peer-reviewed sources. How to write CEFS 620 Week 5 Analysis Paper 2.
Week 6: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 400-word thread with 3 recent peer-reviewed sources, then two 200-word replies with 1 recent source each. How to write CEFS 620 Week 6 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 6: IPP Title Page, Abstract and Reference Page
Your project's APA title page, a 150 to 250-word abstract and a reference page with at least 10 recent peer-reviewed sources. How to write CEFS 620 Week 6 IPP Title Page, Abstract and Reference Page.
Week 7: IPP Final Draft
The 10 to 12-page integrative project paper on your approved topic, with at least 10 peer-reviewed articles from the last 5 years. How to write CEFS 620 Week 7 IPP Final Draft.
Week 8: Discussion Board Forum 4
A 400-word thread with 3 recent peer-reviewed sources, then two 200-word replies with 1 recent source each. How to write CEFS 620 Week 8 Discussion Board Forum 4.
How CEFS 620 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The four forums are 50 each (200), the two analysis papers 150 each (300), the integrative project paper topic 22, annotated bibliography 22, first draft 22, title page with abstract and references 24 and final draft 200, quizzes 210 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (4) | 200 |
| Analysis Papers (2) | 300 |
| IPP Topic Approval | 22 |
| IPP Annotated Bibliography | 22 |
| IPP First Draft | 22 |
| IPP Title Page, Abstract and Reference Page | 24 |
| IPP Final Draft | 200 |
| Reading Quizzes (7) | 210 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach CEFS 620
Every source in this course must be peer-reviewed and no older than five years, so set database filters by date from the start.
Choose your integrative project topic from the provided list by Week 2; the annotated bibliography follows in Week 3 and the 10 to 12-page final in Week 7.
Questions students ask
What is the CEFS 620 integrative project paper?
A 10 to 12-page APA paper on a topic from the provided list, integrating knowledge from the course and using at least 10 peer-reviewed journal articles no older than five years, built through a topic approval, annotated bibliography, first draft and title page, abstract and reference page.
How recent must CEFS 620 sources be?
Peer-reviewed sources no older than five years, in forums, analysis papers and the integrative project.
Working through CEFS 620 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.