Graduate Counseling Course Descriptions
501. Introduction to the Counseling Profession. Three semester hours.
Recommended as initial course in a student's program to serve as an introduction to the counseling profession. Roles of counselors and related professionals in various settings are presented. Professional goals and objectives, trends, professional associations, ethical and legal issues, history, credentials, and preparation standards for counselors are explored.
510. Counseling Theories and Techniques. Three semester hours.
A study of the philosophical and theoretical bases of the helping process. Includes study of major counseling theories, basic helping skills, and applications to diverse populations. Also includes professional issues related specifically to the counseling process.
512. Career Development. Three semester hours.
Interrelationships among lifestyle, work place, and career planning are explored. Career development theories; occupational, educational, and personal/social information sources and delivery systems; and organization of career development programs are studied.
513. Communication in Marriage. Three semester hours.
Theories and techniques of verbal, and nonverbal communication in marriage relationship are studied.
514. School Counseling and Development. Three semester hours.
As the foundation course for those planning to enter school counseling, this course covers organization, planning, management, and evaluation of comprehensive school counseling programs. Appropriate roles and functions of school counselors at various school levels, coordination of professional services; and professional issues such as ethics and associations as they specifically relate to school counseling are included. Recommended for non-counselor educational professionals as well as counselors. Prerequisites: Coun 501 and 510 or consent of instructor
516. Pre-Practicum. Three semester hours.
Provides the foundation for all practicum and internship experiences. Students learn communication and interpersonal skills under faculty supervision. Demonstration of these skills is a prerequisite for enrollment in practicum (Coun 551). Students will examine their intrapersonal issues and interpersonal styles and will follow ACA Ethical Standards. Prerequisites: Application form returned to department several months before actual enrollment in this course (check department for availability and due dates), Coun 501, 510, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in Coun 528.
517. Assessment in Counseling. Three semester hours.
Includes group and individual appraisal techniques to be used to support career, educational, and personal planning and development. Standardized and non-standardized data information gathering methods, validity, reliability, psychometric statistics, factors influencing appraisals, and use and interpretation of appraisal results with a variety of populations are explored.
522. Counseling Diverse Populations. Three semester hours.
Emphasis on developing knowledge, skills and attitudes for more effective counseling with persons different from the counselor regarding characteristics such as culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, and religious preference. Substantial attention is given to developing awareness of one’s own values, attitudes and beliefs as they relate to counseling in a diverse society. Provides an understanding of how diverse values and mores, interaction patterns, social conditions, and trends related to diversity affect counseling.
528. Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures. Three semester hours.
A study of group development, dynamics, and theories in relation to group guidance, group counseling, and group therapy. Leadership styles, techniques and roles are explored, and ethical and legal issues related to group interventions are discussed. Prerequisite: Coun 510 or consent of instructor with concurrent enrollment in 510.
530. Community Counseling. Three semester hours.
As the foundation course for those planning to be counselors in community/agency settings, this course includes theoretical and applied information regarding community counseling services in the context of the larger social services system. A variety of delivery systems, staffing procedures, case management procedures, emergency services, treatment paradigms, and the need for consultation and collaboration among mental health professionals in community counseling setting are discussed. Prerequisite: Coun 501 and 510 or consent of instructor.
534. Counseling Children and Adolescents. Three semester hours.
Prepares counselors to address the specific needs of children and adolescents, with emphasis on developmental needs, specific therapeutic interventions, and common emotional issues. Group and individual counseling techniques and treatment planning are included. Prerequisite: Coun 501 and 510.
539. Introduction to Play Therapy. Three semester hours.
Students will develop an effective philosophy of and approach to play therapy and an increased understanding of children and of children's world views. Through an experiential component, the student will learn to communicate with children at an affective level, to promote children's self-exploration and understanding, and to increase children's sensitivity to and acceptance of others. Prerequisite: Coun 501 and 510.
545. Developmental Issues and Strategies in Counseling. Three semester hours.
This course provides an overview of theory and research related to human growth and development over the lifespan. In addition to meeting the core curricula objectives required for accreditation, the course provides specific developmentally appropriate interventions and culturally sensitive developmental assessments supported by research that are designed to enhance the growth and development of clients who seek counseling services. Students also will engage in experiential activities designed to enhance their own growth and development.
549. Ethics in Professional Counseling. One semester hour.
Examines ethical and legal issues in counseling and the behavioral sciences. Includes theories of moral philosophy and the development and application of professional codes. Prerequisite: Admission to Graduate School
551. Practicum. Three semester hours.
Provides for continued development and practice of skills learned in Coun 516. Students develop conceptual and professional skills related to their practice at a field site and practice various specified counseling and related activities during a minimum of 100 hours at an agency or educational setting. Satisfactory performance at the field placement and during on-campus class meetings must be demonstrated before students can proceed to internship (Coun 552) Prerequisites: Application submitted to department several months before actual enrollment in this course (check with department for availability and due dates), a grade of “B” or better in 516, and successful completion of Admission to Candidacy requirements within the Department of Counseling.
552. Internship. Three semester hours.
Primary interest is on integration of process, conceptual, professional, and personal skills. Provides extensive supervised experience in a setting closely aligned with student's chosen program. Course is repeated for two three-credit hour courses, each requiring approximately 20 weekly hours (300 total in each) of field experience, to meet master’s degree requirement of six hours of internship. Prerequisites: Application submitted to department several months before actual enrollment in this course (check department for availability and due dates); grade of "B" or better in Coun 516 and a grade of "S" in 551. Students must receive a grade of "S" in first semester of 552 to progress to second semester of 552, and "S" in second semester of 552 to graduate.
560. Crisis Intervention: Theory and Practice. Three semester hours.
An overview of crisis intervention. Major theoretical models of situational crises are described and operationalized across a variety of service delivery systems. Students will develop conceptual competency necessary for professionals engaged in crisis intervention. Special emphasis is given to contemporary research in suicidology, disaster psychology, and crisis management for schools.
564. Family Crises and Resources. Three semester hours.
Crises and special problems encountered in family living with individual and community resources pertinent to them.
580. Chemical Dependency in Perspective. Three semester hours.
Covers a broad range of topics related to chemical dependency that school, community, student affairs, marriage/family, career, and other counselors should know. Topics include prevention, abused substances and their effects, symptoms of chemical dependency, an introduction to various chemical dependency treatment models, applications in a multicultural society, chemical dependency counseling with children and families, twelve-step and other support groups, employee assistance programs, relapse prevention, HIV/AIDS and other current issues.
581. Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency. Three semester hours.
Provides in-depth information regarding the assessment and treatment of chemical dependency. Topics include coping skills; motivation for change; management of stress, anxiety, and anger; screening for chemical dependency in health care settings; various chemical dependency interventions; and planning specific treatments to match individual clients.
589. Independent Study. One to three semester hours.
Individualized instruction/research at an advanced level in a specialized content area under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated when the topic varies. Prerequisites: Consent of department head.
590. Legal Issues in College Student Affairs. Three semester hours.
Provides information about the legal issues common to college student affairs administrators. Includes student-university relationship, risk management techniques, civil rights, contracts and federal regulations.
595. Research Literature and Techniques. Three semester hours.
Emphasizes research in the student's major field, basic statistics, literature review, proposal and report development, research implementation, needs assessment, program development, and ethical and legal considerations regarding research through the presentation of a formal research proposal and/or completion of presentation of a research report.
597. Special Topics. One to three semester hours.
Organized class. May be repeated when topics vary.
606. Student Affairs Services in Higher Education. Three semester hours.
As the foundation course for those planning to enter student affairs work in higher education, this course offers students opportunities to examine the historical and contemporary role and scope of college student personnel services. Provides students with in-depth understanding of major theories of student development and the application of these theories to student development practice.
607. The Contemporary College Student. Three semester hours.
Examines various aspects of contemporary college student life and characteristics of present and future college students. Presented as a seminar to identify and examine salient issues facing college students including, but not limited to, sources of motivation, learning styles, development of values, relationship development, mental-health/psychosocial development and issues related to gender, health, and intercultural concerns.
610. Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques. Three semester hours.
In-depth study of various counseling approaches with opportunities for demonstration and evaluation of each student's counseling skills. Prerequisite: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
611. Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy. Three semester hours.
A survey of the historical development and principal conceptualizations of marital and family counseling/therapy. Goals include an initial examination and comparison of various theories currently employed in the field with an emphasis on interview techniques. Subject areas to be covered include the various schools of family counseling/ therapy, along with current trends and issues in marriage and family counseling/therapy.
612. Advanced Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy. Three semester hours.
A didactic and experiential seminar course in marital and family counseling/therapy for advanced students. Emphasis is on the development of the student's therapeutic expertise in structural and strategic family intervention techniques. Prerequisites: Coun 611 and doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
613. Advanced Statistical Techniques. Three semester hours.
Includes a review of introductory statistics, presentation of basic concepts of analyses of variance, advanced correlational methods, and multiple regression, as well as other advanced statistical methods. Focuses on use of the computer for data. Meets requirements for a Level III research tool course. Prerequisites: Level I and Level II research tools or equivalent or permission of the instructor.
614. Counseling Strategies for Parent-Child Relationships. Three semester hours.
A didactic and experiential course dealing with counseling techniques applied to the improvement of parent-child relationships. The course focuses on intervention skills of transgenerational family therapy, play therapy, and parenting education based on an understanding of the family life cycle and family structure. Prerequisites: Coun 510 or consent of instructor.
615. Marital Counseling/Therapy. Three semester hours.
A study of counseling theories applied to marital and other dyadic relationships. Emphasis will be placed on the assimilation, integration, and application of information pertaining to such topics as marital/divorce developmental tasks theory, object relations theory, systemic family of origin theory, interaction patterns in marriage, divorce process, and post-divorce adjustment. Techniques and historical development of marriage enrichment, marital counseling/therapy, and divorce counseling/therapy interventions will be included. Prerequisites: Coun 611 and doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
620. Supervision in Counseling and Human Development. Three semester hours.
A didactic and experiential course for post-graduate and doctoral students who wish to assume the role of supervisor. Goals include the assimilation and application of major theoretical/conceptual models and supervision approaches in counseling and human development. Prerequisite: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
621. Psychoeducational Counsulting and Program Evaluation. Three semester hours.
Psychological, educational, and sociological theories, models, and processes applied to human and organizational systems of change. Special attention is directed to applying theory to practice and to differentiating between human and structural problems and interventions.
622. Advanced Seminar in Counseling Diverse Populations. Three semester hours.
This course provides students with a variety of opportunities to increase their level of personal (self-reflective) awareness, and clinical awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with diverse populations. This increased level of cultural competence better prepares students to teach, supervise, and mentor counseling trainees and novice practitioners, to conduct culturally sensitive research, and to provide direct services to culturally diverse clients. Prerequisite: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
623. Race, Class, and Gender Issues in Counseling. Three semester hours.
The primary purpose of this course is to explore the interconnections of race, class, and gender; including how they shape the structure of U. S. society, and in turn, the experiences of client and counselor. A conceptual framework for understanding race, class, and gender, and their intersection provides students with increased understanding of contemporary issues that impact their clients’ lives, and provides a foundation for social justice consciousness that leads to client empowerment and advocacy. Prerequisite: COUN 522: Counseling Diverse Populations, or equivalent graduate level multicultural counseling course.
625. Research Application. Three semester hours.
A doctoral course which focuses on the development of research skills and inquiry methods. The student is exposed to various quantitative and qualitative approaches. In addition, the course provides students with an understanding of scientific inquiry, purpose and benefits of research, research-related ethical and legal issues, and sampling procedures. Prerequisite: Doctoral status.
650. Instructional Theory and Methods in Counselor Education. Three semester hours.
This course is designed to develop/improve counselor educator skills including planning units or courses, delivering instruction, and assessing learner outcomes. The course also addresses ethical standards for counselor educators. Although the primary focus is on teaching counselors-in-preparation, students will acquire knowledge and develop skills that are applicable to other situations such as presenting at professional conferences and conducting staff development. Prerequisite: Doctoral standing or consent of instructor.
660. Doctoral Field Experience. Three semester hours.
The doctoral field experience includes a minimum of nine semester hours, during which time students are involved in various supervised experiences. The first three semester hours include 300 clock hours of supervised clinical work in the department based training facility where students provide direct counseling to individuals, families, couples, and groups, and refine advanced counseling skills. The remaining six semester hours (600 clock hours) include 300 clock hours of clinical experience in an approved site, plus 300 clock hours of supervised teaching and clinical supervision. During this time students are expected to expand their counseling, teaching, and supervision skills. Prerequisites: Coun 610 and 620; consent of Doctoral Internship Coordinator.
689. Independent Study. One to three semester hours.
Individualized instruction/research at an advanced level in a specialized content area under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated when the topic varies. Prerequisites: Consent of department head.
690. Practicum in Qualitative Research. Three semester hours.
This practicum experience is a level IV research tools course designed to compliment and build upon knowledge gained in HiEd 696 or EdAd 698. The course is intended for advanced doctoral students who plan to do a qualitative study for their dissertations and/or seek in-depth practical experience in the use of qualitative research methods used in educational research (e.g., interview strategies, participant observation, and case studies). Students will engage in practice and skill development in analyzing and interpreting qualitative data, communicating results, and evaluating qualitative research. Each student will complete a qualitative research project and write a journal length article based on the research. Prerequisite: HiEd 696 or EdAd 698.
695. Research Methodology. Three semester hours.
An overview of research methodology including basic concepts employed in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Includes computer applications for research. Meets requirements for a Level I research tool course. Prerequisites: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.
717. Ethics and Professional Development. Three semester hours.
Examines ethical and professional development issues in counseling and the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite: Doctoral status.
718. Doctoral Dissertation. Three to nine semester hours.
A candidate must present a dissertation acceptable to the student's advisory committee and the Dean for Graduate Studies and Research on a problem in the area of his specialization. To be acceptable, the dissertation must give evidence that the candidate has pursued a program of research, the results of which reveal superior academic competence and significant contribution to knowledge. Graded on a (S) satisfactory or (U) unsatisfactory basis.
