Degree Options and Requirements

This course is an advanced theoretical examination of physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personal development during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The process and stages of development throughout the lifespan form the context for the study of human behavior. Theories and models of human development will be reviewed from a historical and modern-day perspective.

This course reviews counseling theory and approach as it pertains to the treatment and intervention with various multicultural populations, included but not limited to race, ethnicity, age, disability, and gender.

Reading and discussion with emphasis on current research concerning learning personality, attitudes, perceptions, abilities, and adjustment of multicultural populations in a variety of counseling contexts. Examination of self and other awareness will be highlighted.

This course examines the theory, administration, interpretation, and reporting of tests and assessments. Students will become familiar with the administration of various assessments for diagnostic purposes and career counseling.

Students will review information on the intake process, appropriate selection of assessment with considerations towards cultural sensitivity, behavioral observation techniques, and the integration of test data for report writing.

In this course, students will learn the basic principles of play therapy, the most developmentally appropriate intervention for young children. The major theories of play therapy and the utilization of play to facilitate the child’s self-exploration, self-expression, self-understanding, and personal growth will be explored.

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This course reviews evidenced-based practices in mindfulness and meditation. Students will learn how effective mindfulness and meditation practices can support healthy functioning in specific demographics for counseling prevention, intervention, and postvention. Mindfulness and meditation practices will be highlighted in relation to counselor self-care as well as professional counselor identity development.

This course focuses on the different types, stages, and symptoms of grief, bereavement, and loss. Students will review high-risk behaviors for prolonged grief/bereavement, learn coping strategies, and understand best practices in counseling. Pathology in relation to grief, bereavement, and loss will be explored as well as grief and loss through the lens of divorce, disability, and infertility. Community resources and support systems for grief and loss will be emphasized from a cultural perspective and students will assess their own self-awareness towards their experience of grief and loss.

This course introduces students to central questions and research in the field of victimology. Emphasis is placed on the role of victims in the criminal process, problems of adjustment to victimization, offender relationships, victim compensation, restorative justice, and victim's rights.

Several victim typologies also will be addressed. Students will be given the tools necessary for critical evaluation and understanding of the often-neglected role of the victim before, during and after the criminal event.

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This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of counseling techniques and the relationships with adult offenders in our society. Major topics to be covered include mental health issues common with adult offenders, assessment and diagnosis of adult offenders, role of counselors working with adult offenders, and current treatment approaches. The role of political ideology and social context in generating and supporting different correctional strategies will be reviewed.

The course is designed to prepare students to effectively provide academic, behavioral, and emotional guidance to the exceptional learner in individual and group counseling settings.

A historical overview of special education, including legislation and litigation issues will be explored as well as an examination of current practices in the field of special education.

Student will review evidence-based strategies for exceptional learners and competencies to be culturally sensitive to the identified populations.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the specific academic, behavioral, and emotional challenges a student may experience in acquiring English as another language. Areas of emphasis will focus on counseling strategies, interventions and techniques most appropriate for guiding and supporting the ESOL population. Academic readiness, closing the achievement gap and culturally sensitive and diverse strategies are covered.

This course functions to support the development and application of knowledge and skills for clinical mental health counselors through practical experience at hospitals, private practices, community mental health facilities, and other clinical settings.

The course requires the accrual of 50 direct service hours and 50 indirect service hours (100 total hours) in addition to the review of recorded counseling sessions to assess skills and techniques.

This course functions to support the development and application of knowledge and skills for clinical mental health counselors through practical experience at hospitals, private practices, community mental health facilities, and other clinical settings. The course requires the accrual of 120 direct service hours, 120 indirect service hours, and 60 instructional hours (300 total hours) in addition to the review of recorded counseling sessions to assess skills and techniques.

This course functions to support the development and application of knowledge and skills for clinical mental health counselors through practical experience at hospitals, private practices, community mental health facilities, and other clinical settings. The course requires the accrual of 120 direct service hours, 120 indirect service hours, and 60 instructional hours (300 total hours) in addition to the review of recorded counseling sessions to assess skills and techniques.

This course examines how to establish, facilitate, and terminate various counseling groups in an effective manner. Group counseling theories and specialized techniques for enhancing interpersonal communication skills are presented. Students will actively participate in group sessions to better comprehend group dynamics, stages of the group development, and the role of the facilitator in group counseling sessions.

This course focuses on the development of counseling skills through instruction and experiential exercises including videotaped practice sessions. Techniques and skills including developing a treatment alliance, active listening, reflection, formulation of questions, and addressing issues of resistance to treatment and personal biases will be examined.

The course provides students with an understanding of the various roles of school counselors to promote a strong professional identity in alignment with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Topics for review will highlight an approach to connect school counselor competencies for building and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program.

Current issues in school counseling will be examined through national publications, scholarly research, and the professional experiences of school counseling within the field of practice.

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