Required Courses
Core I: Behavioral Foundations (
3 credits each, all are required)
PSY 601 Professional Standards and Ethics| This course will review, discuss, and evaluate situational ethics and issues of professionalism in counseling. We will review the ethical codes of several professional organizations, including those of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and American Psychological Association (APA). Students will practice applying government laws and ethical codes to challenges commonly faced in a counseling profession. 3 credits. |
| This course will examine the characteristics of human development across the lifespan with a particular emphasis placed on the biological, psychological, and social factors that impact risk and resiliency following aversive events. Topics will include the major theories of learning and development, cognitive and biological domains of development, and the impacts of addiction, crisis and trauma on individuals from diverse backgrounds. 3 credits. |
| Students will learn about the impacts of individual differences on the counseling relationship. To prepare students to work with diverse populations, this course will explore a variety of topics including race, gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, mental and physical characteristics, education, and socioeconomic status. These characteristics will be considered in the context of delivering ethical and culturally sensitive assessment and counseling services. 3 credits. |
| This course will provide an overview of typical and atypical development and consider the causes, symptoms, and treatments of common mental disorders. Students will learn to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior patterns as well as demonstrate knowledge of etiology, symptoms, and therapeutic techniques for psychological disorders. This course will also discuss the role of assessment, intake interviews, and reports to develop treatment plans. 3 credits. |
| This course provides students with an introduction to the field of counseling. Students will be provided an overview of theories, models, and strategies for practicing within the field. Students will learn and apply the basics of counseling and collaboration to individuals, families, schools, colleges, and community organizations/agencies. Students will learn about the profession, including the history and roles of counselors, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing. Students will develop skills for basic interviewing, counseling, conceptualizing cases, and developing treatment plans for clients. 3 credits. |
| This course provides an understanding of intellectual, personality, academic achievement, and psychopathology tests and other appraisal methods used in the counseling field. Students will develop skills in the selection, administration and interpretation of assessment tools used to evaluate client issues and functioning. Focus will be given to assessment of different dimensions of functioning (behavioral, emotional, cognitive, psychological, and personality) along with ethical and legal issues related to psychological testing. 3 credits. |
| This course will develop skills in the design, implementation, and interpretation of psychological research, with particular emphasis on evidence-based counseling practices. Students will review a range of research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, single-case designs), along with an introduction to the fundamentals of statistics and statistical analyses within the context of developing and evaluating counseling programs and outcomes. Ethical and legal considerations in research and the importance of research within the counseling profession will be addressed. 3 credits. |
(
3 credits each, all are required)
PSY 711 Group Dynamics| This course provides students with a theoretical and experiential understanding of group development and dynamics. Topics will include theories of group counseling, principles of group dynamics, group member roles and behaviors, leadership styles, types of groups, group formation, and preparation of group leaders. In order to facilitate self-understanding, students will spend 10 hours as members of a group during the course and will reflect upon that experience. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
| This course examines the field of career counseling through examination of the theories of career choice and their influence upon entry into the world of work. Topics include career development theories and decision-making models, understanding connections between work and mental well-being in other life roles, career information resources, career planning and career counseling practices. Ethical standards in career counseling, multicultural issues, gender and age bias, and career trends across the lifespan will also be addressed. 3 credits. |
| This course will examine the following Counseling theories: Psychoanalytic, Adlerian, Existential, Person-Centered, Gestalt, Behavior, Cognitive Behavior, Choice Theory/Reality, Feminist, Postmodern, and Family Systems. Students will learn about the origins, key concepts, historical figures, and techniques that apply to each of these theories. At the end of the course, students will be able to identify their personal theoretical orientation. Prerequisite: PSY 701. 3 credits. |
| This course explores the theoretical assumptions underlying cognitive-behavioral therapy and its application in treating common psychological disorders. Students will review models and specific cognitive, behavioral, and integrative techniques. Additionally, students will review evidence and efficacy research available for implementation of various cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies for specific disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
| This course provides an introduction to applied behavior analysis, which uses techniques based on principles of learning to change behavior. Topics will include the description and measurement of behavior, functional assessment and analysis of behavior, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of protocols to alter behavior in educational, clinical, and social settings. The course will review applications of applied behavior analysis across the lifespan and with individuals with disabilities. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
| This course focuses on identification, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of addictive behaviors and disorders. Students will be introduced to the prevailing theories around addiction as well as treatment modalities that are most often utilized. The focus will be on learning effective treatment practices and building substance abuse counseling skills. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
| In this course, students will develop a foundation for assessing and treating post-trauma reactions, including an understanding of the personal and systemic impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on individuals, families, and communities. Topics will include mechanisms of PTSD development and maintenance, diagnosis of specific trauma-related conditions, clinical interventions including disaster-related mental health, and self-care strategies to prevent compassion fatigue in counselors. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
3 courses from the following Counseling Electives (3 credits each; courses are in development)
PSY 801 Stress Management| This course will provide an overview of the similarities and distinction between stress and anxiety. Etiological contributions toward stress and anxiety will be addressed, including those that are social, situational, neurological, personal, and interpersonal in nature. Additionally, the prevention, impact, and treatment of stress and anxiety will be covered. Prerequisite: PSY 601, 620, 621, 701, 711, 712, 720, 750,
751. 3 credits. |
Stress Management
PSY 802 Health Psychology
PSY 803 Social Problems and Counseling| This course will provide an overview of enduring social problems in society, including but not limited to the following: racism, poverty, sexism, discrimination against the LGBT community, addiction, and mental health. Additionally, the sudden and/or unexpected onset of social problems will be broached. Students will learn strategies for helping their future clients manage these problems and connect with appropriate resources. Prerequisite: PSY 601, 620, 621, 701, 711, 712, 720, 750,
751. 3 credits. |
PSY 804 Crisis Intervention/Prevention
PSY 805 Art Therapy
PSY 806 Family Counseling| This course will introduce students to various family theories (e.g., Bowenian Family Therapy, Human Validation Process Model, Structural Family Therapy, and Strategic Family Therapy). Additionally, students will learn about family systems across the life cycle, understand the systemic impact of various situations like addiction and trauma, and practice treatment skills and interventions. Prerequisite: PSY 601, 620, 621, 701, 711, 712, 720, 750,
751. 3 credits. |
Family Counseling
PSY 807 Child/Adolescent Counseling
PSY 808 Community Psychology
PSY 809 Rehabilitation Counseling
PSY 810 Marriage/Couple's Therapy
PSY 811 Grief Counseling| This course will cover theories for understanding grief, as well as strategies and resources that can be utilized for helping clients who undergo grief and bereavement. Societal, cultural, familial, and personal factors that influence grief will be addressed. Additionally, students will be required to reflect on their personal values, thoughts, and emotions surrounding grief. Prerequisite: PSY 701 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
PSY 812 Spousal/Child Abuse Counseling
PSY 813 School Counseling
PSY 814 Police/Military Counseling
Clinical Engagement (
3 credits each, all are required)
PSY 870 Clinical Practicum| In this course, students complete closely supervised counseling experiences (such as patient observations, shadowing, task assistance, data recording, regulated patient contact, etc.), in mental health care facilities, that total a minimum of 100 clock hours. Practicum students will complete at least 40 clock hours of direct service with actual clients; this includes weekly interactions that average 1 hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision, and averages 1.5 hours per week of group supervision. Practicum students will meet weekly with supervisors from the counselor education program and a student supervisor and site supervisor from the placement location. Prerequisites: PSY 601, PSY 621, PSY 622, PSY 701,
PSY 711 and PSY 720. 3 credits. |
| This course provides supervised field work experiences (in the form of highly independent workplace applications of clinical skills including and beyond the more controlled --and previously acquired-- practicum experiences such as patient observations, shadowing, task assistance, data recording, regulated patient contact, etc.), in an approved mental health care clinical setting. Students will complete 300 clock hours of supervised counseling internships in roles and settings with clients relevant to their specialty area. At least 120 of these clock hours must be direct service. Internship hours will include weekly interactions with supervisors that average 1 hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision, and averages 1.5 hours per week of group supervision. Prerequisites: PSY 870. 3 credits. |
| This course is a continuation of PSY 880, and as such provides supervised field work experiences (in the form of highly independent workplace applications of clinical skills including and beyond the more controlled - and previously - acquired - practicum experiences such as patient observations, shadowing, task assistance, data recording, regulated patient contact, etc.), in an approved mental health care clinical setting. Students will complete 300 clock hours of supervised counseling internships in roles and settings with clients relevant to their specialty area. At least 120 of these clock hours must be direct service. Internship hours will include weekly interactions with supervisors that average 1 hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision, and averages 1.5 hours per week of group supervision. Prerequisites: PSY 880. 3 credits. |