Counseling Curriculum

*Can be waived* This course will provide an introduction to abnormal psychology and human development across the lifespan. Therefore, this course will serve as a foundation for future learning occurring throughout the Counseling Master’s Program, as students are expected to have a firm grasp of concepts included in this course in order to build upon this foundational knowledge as they progress in the program. This course will provide preliminary information about development across all lifespan stages, from prenatal development to late adulthood, focusing on the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of humans throughout the life course. This course will also provide information to identify abnormal psychological symptoms, presentations, personalities, and disorders, and respond in a multiculturally competent manner. Information presented will be based on theory, research, and practice related to counseling and counseling psychology.

This course examines the foundations of human development across the life span, including pre-natal issues, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging. Theories that address biological, neurological, behavioral, social, cognitive, cultural, and environmental issues of development will be examined. Structural theories of growth, maturation, and aging will be presented with an emphasis on strategies and interventions used by counselors to deal with developmental processes and transitions.

This course is the initial counseling skills course for the Masters in Counseling. Its format is experiential, with focus on the microskills (i.e., counseling skills) that form the basis of the counseling process, regardless of theoretical orientation. The objective is to acquire a set of core counseling responses and to learn how to use them effectively with clients. You are required to demonstrate an understanding and proficiency in the use of these basic counseling skills.

Methods and procedures of research development, design and analysis related to counseling and behavioral science. Experience in formulating and developing an individual research project. Considers research ethics and protection of human participants.

Addresses the principles and practices of support, task, psycho-educational and therapeutic groups with various populations in a multicultural context. Includes study of professional issues relevant to group processes. Contains focus on existential and interpersonal process theories within a group context. Involves participation and leading group experiences.

An introduction to the psychology of careers and to the practice of career counseling. Career development theories, occupational classification systems, assessment instruments, and the use of occupational information for career education and life planning are included. Career counseling strategies for use with a diverse population are introduced.

This course will focus on the assessment and diagnosis of individual psychiatric disorders as defined by classification systems such as the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (lCD). Understanding of defined diagnostic disorders relative to the helping context will be emphasized. Knowledge of cultural concerns associated with classification systems will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on the following: assessment strategies designed to promote healthy human functioning; prevention strategies that focus on organizational/community/social justice advocacy; and the impact of diagnostic and prevention strategies on human functioning and wellness across the life span.

This experiential lab will focus on students applying acquired diagnostic and counseling and skills in simulated and live role-play sessions. This lab will provide students with the opportunity practice and demonstrate an understanding of symptoms and characteristics associated with mental disorders as well as making culturally-appropriate diagnoses. Additionally, this lab will provide students with an opportunity to practice and demonstrate their abilities to engage in cultural-appropriate counseling skills rooted in a strengthens based and multicultural competencies approach. Students must demonstrate consistent and effect use of these skills in order to receive a satisfactory/passing grade in this lab course.

This course provides an overview of the basic concepts, history, process of psychotherapy, mechanisms of change, and applications of the major schools of counseling and psychotherapy. The course uses a multicultural lens to examine each school of thought or theory. That is, each school of thought or theory is evaluated based on its culture-bound factors and applicability to diverse populations. The connection between developmental, personality, and counseling theory/practice also are highlighted.

This course provides an understanding of the ways in which mental health and counseling are affected by age, ability, ethnicity, gender/gender identity/gender expression, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, etc. intersecting identities and lived experiences across the lifespan. This framework offers greater awareness, sensitivity and richness when providing counseling interventions to all individuals, groups, and communities. Another equally important focus is an understanding of the mechanisms used to maintain institutional privilege and power, as well as the methods used to limit, oppress, marginalize, and restrict members who possess less privilege, while advantaging those with more privilege. This course focuses largely on the facilitated opportunity to explore your own intersecting cultural identities and how these identities impact your attitudes, beliefs, and values towards individuals, groups, and communities. Additionally, this course will identify and discuss the multicultural competencies and worldview orientations necessary to work more effectively with intersectionally diverse individuals and communities.

This course is based on the theory, research, and practice of counseling children, adolescents, couples, and families. Students taking this course will gain an understanding of how to engage in empirically based, multiculturally competent counseling with children, adolescents, couples, and families. Therapeutic concerns related to these populations will be identified and addressed, so that students gain an understanding of how to effectively manage commonly occurring concerns amongst these client populations. Evidence based theory and strategies will be taught to supply students with counseling skills they need to effectively treat children, adolescents, couples, and families in a multiculturally sensitive and ethical manner.

In this course students will study and review the content areas required for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and entry into the practice of professional mental health counseling. Additionally, students will take multiple practice exams as a means of familiarizing themselves with the types of questions on the NCE, experiencing the pace of the actual exam, and working to lower test-taking anxiety.

Focus will be on the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors, and The Association for Addiction (NAADAC) Professionals Code of Ethics. Students will learn to interpret these codes and apply them to professional practice, supervision, research and teaching situations.

The application of principles of psychological measurement to selected instruments in the areas of intellectual functioning and aptitudes; educational and occupational achievements; career interests; and personality. Development of test interpretation skills.

This course provides an introduction to disorders of addiction, the addiction and recovery process, and basic clinical methods of addiction counseling at the graduate level of study. Designed as an introductory course for subsequent study in addictions counseling, students in this course should develop an appreciation for and understanding of the basic factors that underline addictions, as well as principles of addiction counseling and the recovery process.

This course focuses on understanding the ethical, theoretical, and practical applications of treating trauma/trauma-related concerns and managing crisis situations in counseling. Evidenced-based procedures and interventions required for trauma-treatment, and crisis management and intervention will be covered. Students will learn how to engage in ethical and multiculturally competent risk assessment, risk prevention, and safety planning for clients across the lifespan.

Introduction to counseling practice. Emphasis on development, improvement, and evaluation of counseling relationships. Interview skills in counseling practice with live supervision.

This is a 5-credit internship course repeated to 10 credits. Professional practice in counseling, assessment, consultation, teaching, or research in an approved community agency. Supervision must meet criteria established by the department and the Graduate School. Department permission needed for Summer Session enrollment, if summer enrollment is available.

Focus will be on the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors, and The Association for Addiction (NAADAC) Professionals Code of Ethics. Students will learn to interpret these codes and apply them to professional practice, supervision, research and teaching situations.

The application of principles of psychological measurement to selected instruments in the areas of intellectual functioning and aptitudes; educational and occupational achievements; career interests; and personality. Development of test interpretation skills.

This course provides an introduction to disorders of addiction, the addiction and recovery process, and basic clinical methods of addiction counseling at the graduate level of study. Designed as an introductory course for subsequent study in addictions counseling, students in this course should develop an appreciation for and understanding of the basic factors that underline addictions, as well as principles of addiction counseling and the recovery process.

This course focuses on understanding the ethical, theoretical, and practical applications of treating trauma/trauma-related concerns and managing crisis situations in counseling. Evidenced-based procedures and interventions required for trauma-treatment, and crisis management and intervention will be covered. Students will learn how to engage in ethical and multiculturally competent risk assessment, risk prevention, and safety planning for clients across the lifespan.

Introduction to counseling practice. Emphasis on development, improvement, and evaluation of counseling relationships. Interview skills in counseling practice with live supervision.

This is a 5-credit internship course repeated to 10 credits. Professional practice in counseling, assessment, consultation, teaching, or research in an approved community agency. Supervision must meet criteria established by the department and the Graduate School. Department permission needed for Summer Session enrollment, if summer enrollment is available.

Focus will be on the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors, and The Association for Addiction (NAADAC) Professionals Code of Ethics. Students will learn to interpret these codes and apply them to professional practice, supervision, research and teaching situations.

An introduction to assessment and related ethical issues in rehabilitation counseling. Assessment for vocational ability and independent living will be emphasized. Theory and research will be addressed, within a primarily applied framework.

This course provides an introduction to disorders of addiction, the addiction and recovery process, and basic clinical methods of addiction counseling at the graduate level of study. Designed as an introductory course for subsequent study in addictions counseling, students in this course should develop an appreciation for and understanding of the basic factors that underline addictions, as well as principles of addiction counseling and the recovery process.

This course focuses on medical and psychosocial information regarding chronic illnesses and disabilities in clinical rehabilitation counseling practice.  Students will develop an understanding of functional implication of physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities.  Information on disability-related demographics, onset, severity, progression and expected duration, etiology, prognosis, treatment procedures, and rehabilitation and vocational implications will be covered for each disabling condition. This course will also cover medical specialties, therapeutic services, restorative techniques, medical terminology, and medical examinations.

This course focuses on examining procedures and techniques related to individualized case management and caseload management. This course explores case management with various disabilities group in both an educational and vocational community resource setting. This course also provides an understanding of delivery systems that encompass public, private for-profit, and private not-for-profit settings. All of these skills are aimed at assisting the rehabilitation practitioner to develop and implement rehabilitation and return-to-work plans with their clients.

Introduction to counseling practice. Emphasis on development, improvement, and evaluation of counseling relationships. Interview skills in counseling practice with live supervision.

This is a 3-credit internship course repeated to 6 credits. Professional practice in counseling, assessment, consultation, teaching, or research in an approved community agency. Supervision must meet criteria established by the department and the Graduate School. Department permission needed for Summer Session enrollment, if summer enrollment is available.

Focus will be on the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counselors, and The Association for Addiction (NAADAC) Professionals Code of Ethics. Students will learn to interpret these codes and apply them to professional practice, supervision, research and teaching situations.

The application of principles of psychological measurement to selected instruments in the areas of intellectual functioning and aptitudes; educational and occupational achievements; career interests; and personality. Development of test interpretation skills.

The course focuses on the historical and contemporary field of school counseling. The American School Counseling Association National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs is taught and applied to intersectionally diverse school communities. A culturally responsive, data and evidence-based, and social justice-oriented application of this model is a course theme. Additional K – 12 school counseling and school counseling program management theory, research, and practices are reviewed.

This course focuses on understanding the ethical, theoretical, and practical applications of treating trauma/trauma-related concerns and managing crisis situations in counseling. Evidenced-based procedures and interventions required for trauma-treatment, and crisis management and intervention will be covered. Students will learn how to engage in ethical and multiculturally competent risk assessment, risk prevention, and safety planning for clients across the lifespan.

Introduction to counseling practice in a school setting. Emphasis on improvement and evaluation of individual and group counseling relationships. Development of skills in applying the role of counselor to the school environment. Prerequisites: COUN 501, COUN 510 and COUN 530, or permission of the instructor; 10 completed COUN credits. S/U grading.

This is a 5-credit internship course repeated to 10 credits. Prerequisite: COUN 581. This is a supervised internship in a school setting. The emphasis is on observing and performing guidance and counseling methods techniques. Knowledge and performance of discharged roles and duties of professional school counselors is necessary. Supervision must meet criteria established by the department and graduate school. S/U grading only. Department permission needed for enrollment.