PC-CPE Professional Counseling Comprehensive ExaminationCredits: None
Prerequisite(s): Forty-eight credits in Professional Counseling including PC-505, PC-506, PC-512, PC-515, PC-523, PC-525, PC-529, PC-550, PC-570, PC-595, and PC-603
Co-requisite(s): PC-680
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination required to graduate from the Professional Counseling Program. Must be taken during the final term of study in the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Limited to Professional Counseling majors. This is a pass/fail course.
PC-502 Ecotherapy: Counseling and the Natural WorldCredits: 3
Term Offered: Fall Term
Course Type(s): None
Ecotherapy is defined as contact with nature as a method or element of counseling and addresses the critical fact that as humans we are interwoven with the natural world. Ecotherapists seek to develop and understand ways of expanding the emotional connection between clients and the natural world within the counseling context, thereby assisting individuals with developing sustainable lifestyles and remedying alienation from nature. Ecotherapy includes a wide range of techniques such as wilderness therapy, forest bathing, equine therapy, animal-assisted therapy, horticultural therapy, biophilic design and green therapy. Students in this course will obtain a firm understanding of the theoretical constructs of Ecosychology, demonstrate a model of EcoWellness, and obtain applicable skills in Ecotherapy.
PC-504 Adventure Based EcotherapyCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-502 or instructor approval
Term Offered: Summer Term
Course Type(s): None
Ecotherapy is defined as contact with the natural world as a method or element of therapy and addresses the critical fact that as humans we are interwoven with the natural world. Based upon the tenets of ecotherapy, this class explores adventure based counseling (ABC). Adventure therapy is a type of experiential therapy that uses challenging adventure activities to aid the therapeutic healing process. Adventure therapy helps promote healthy identity development, self-efficacy, and a growth mindset. The class will be conducted outside and include experiences such as low and high ropes courses, rock-climbing and an immersive overnight outdoor expedition (rafting and/or backpacking). Preference will be given to students in the Ecotherapy certification.
PC-505 Mental Health CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course is an overview of the profession of counseling, its ethical standards, literature and professional organizations. It allows the student to understand the knowledge, skills, personal development and abilities required for success in the mental health counseling field. This class will assist students in formulating a concept of the profession that will allow them to enhance their growth and professional identity as a counselor. The students will learn about the current local, state and national opportunities in the field. This course must be taken during the first term of study.
PC-506 Testing and Assessment in CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course provides students an overview of many facets of assessments for individuals, couples, families, and community. Students will learn the skills of administering, evaluating, and reporting many types of assessments. Statistical concepts including the essentialness for reliability and validity will be examined. Throughout the course, students will learn to implement ethical and culturally relevant strategies with counseling assessments.
PC-510 Community Mental Health & Social AdvocacyCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course is an overview of mental health counseling and addiction resources within the community. This social advocacy course reviews the spectrum of prevention, mental health and addiction intervention resources, overall community needs assessments, as well as, program implementation and evaluation for mental health and addiction services. Client and social advocacy, governmental policies, obtaining funding, and other aspects of the delivery of human services are explored. There is a particular focus on the management, social advocacy and ethical standards of administrative systems and clinical counseling services related to mental health and addiction programs.
PC-512 Psychopathology & PsychopharmacologyCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course offers an intensive exploration of current thinking regarding development, etiology, biological basis, classifications and diagnosis of atypical behavior. Areas of study include clinical presentations, differential diagnoses, and pharmacological treatments as well as evidence-based practices.
PC-515 Human Development Through the Life SpanCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course provides students with an overview of human development, with comprehensive coverage of all major developmental stages (prenatal period and infancy, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood) and focuses on both normal and abnormal physical, mental health and social development. Emphasis on the interaction of biological, psychological and sociological forces that influence human development.
PC-516 Counseling and SexualityCredits: 3
Term Offered: Spring Term
Course Type(s): None
Introduction to human sexuality and related issues that counselors may encounter in their work. Students will learn about normal and abnormal sexual functioning. Aims to desensitize students and provide introspection about diverse expression of sexuality; not designed to train students as sex therapists.
PC-517 Counseling and ReligionCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Counseling and Religion will explore the world religions with a focus on the religions as they function in the U.S. in a multi-cultural context. This will give the student a basic understanding and respect for religious differences when counseling clients who have different religious values than the counselor. A historical perspective on the relationship between psychology and religion will be traced to contemporary practice. The student will be given the opportunity to develop a theory of how he or she would like to integrate his or her knowledge into his or her work as a counselor. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-521 Spirituality and CounselingCredits: 3
Course Type(s): None
Students are given a basic understanding of philosophical and practical ways to integrate existential, mystical, or other inexplicable issues into the counseling process. The student will look at different spiritual practices with a respectful, multicultural lens. Spiritual practices will be viewed as possible psychological techniques, pathology and/or cognitive distortions. The student will be given the opportunity to develop a personal spiritual theory of how he or she would like to integrate or not integrate, spirituality into his or her work as a counselor. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-522 Self-Exploration: Body, Mind, SpiritCredits: 3
Course Type(s): None
This experiential course will take the student through a self-exploration that will allow the student to explore the motivation, unconscious drives, anxieties, and spiritual and existential meaning that led him or her to be a counselor. It will explore many aspects of the personality, such as need for power/control and compassion, which will allow the student to become more fully aware. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-523 Introduction to Counseling SkillsCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course is designed for students to learn and practice basic interviewing and counseling skills, learn the process of mental health counseling from intake to termination, evaluate risk assessments, and conduct mental status examinations. The importance of the therapeutic relationship, the influence of power and privilege with clients, and the counselor's self-development will also be emphasized.
PC-524 Counseling Children and Adolescents: Theories and TechniquesCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
An exploration of psychotherapeutic counseling theories and techniques used with children and adolescents within the developmental psychopathological framework. Focus on applications in counseling agencies as well as residential and educational settings. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-525 Theories of CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course offers the mental health counseling student an understanding of historical and current core theoretical knowledge in counseling theories to inform conceptualization and best practices. The course includes a comprehensive exploration of affective, behavioral, and cognitive theories. Students will be expected to begin to develop a personal model of counseling based in theory that will be used in their field placements and to inform their future careers.
PC-526 Case Conceptualization & Advanced TechniquesCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-505, PC-512, PC-523, and PC-525
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course allows the student to practice all aspects of case conceptualization while also developing advanced counseling techniques. Students will enter this class with the basic understanding of counseling theories, assessment, and psychopathology. Advanced techniques and approaches for counseling theories and differential diagnosis will be reviewed and practiced. With cultural sensitivity, students will be able to identify why and how an intervention is chosen based in theory. Students will demonstrate use of skills in person as well as telehealth.
PC-528 Family Counseling: Theory and TechniqueCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-525
Course Type(s): None
Enables students to examine the historical development, theoretical foundations, and contemporary conceptual directions in the field of family counseling. Clinical concerns are interwoven with theoretical literature and counseling techniques. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-529 Multicultural CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course will examine the impact of culture, societal norms, and the influence that power and privilege have on the client and the therapeutic process. Theories and models of multicultural counseling and social justice will be studied. The counseling students will examine their own cultural identity development, worldviews and biases in order to to raise personal awareness and understand potential impact on clients. Methods of advocacy will also be emphasized.
PC-530 Crisis Intervention & TraumaCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course reviews crisis intervention theories, techniques, and applications, as well most current trauma theories and best practice.
PC-532 Counseling for Grief and LossCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-525
Course Type(s): None
Reviews the relevant knowledge and skill base needed to counsel individuals and families coping with a range of loss experiences including death, dying and bereavement. The grief process and factors relevant to work with grieving children, adolescents and adults are covered, and the assessment of complicated grief reactions and counselor's roles and tasks in facilitating the grief process are considered.
PC-533 Couples CounselingCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-525
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Students are provided with an overview of the historical development, theoretical framework, and conceptual directions in the field of marriage and couples counseling. Also provides students with methods of marital/couples assessment and counseling techniques related to various clinical issues that are often encountered in counseling settings. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-535 Courageous ConnectionsCredits: 3
Course Type(s): None
An elective course designed to facilitate self-discovery, authenticity, and courageous dialogue in the classroom. Throughout the course, students will learn about research conducted by Dr. Brené Brown and consider its application to various client populations. Students are expected to continue to examine their own values and remain open to giving and receiving feedback to peers. Assignments will include a group facilitation experience, reflective journaling activities, and a research paper in which students will apply the concepts of Dr. Brown's research to a population of professional interest.
PC-540 Introduction to Alcohol and Drug AbuseCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course will offer an overview of historical and current models of addiction: medical, socio-cultural, familial, and psychological. The student will learn the definitions and descriptions associated with addictions and be able to give diagnostic impressions and understand their implications. There will also be an overview of best practices and evidence-based treatment approaches.
PC-542 Treatment of Alcohol and Drug AbuseCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-540
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
An examination of various treatment models within the alcohol and drug treatment field. The basics of individual, group, family, and couples counseling with alcoholic and addicted patients. Provides specific counseling techniques. This course can be used toward the Substance Awareness Coordinator Certificate.
PC-544 Advanced Alcohol and Drug CounselingCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-540 and PC-542
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Covers advanced topics that are introduced in PC-542 and is therefore dedicated to addiction counselor skill building. Advanced topics include skill building in areas of counselor ethics, motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement skills, group counseling skills, community and professional skills, counseling skills needed to work effectively with individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS, and counseling skills needed to work with those impacted by gambling addictions and clinical supervision skills. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-546 Substance Awareness in the SchoolsCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-540
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
A comprehensive study of the role of the Substance Awareness Coordinator in the schools K-12. The areas that will be included for study will be a review of research-based awareness and prevention programs as related to Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) as seen in the school systems. School law, regulations, and policies, as it relates to substance abuse in the schools, as well as how well/consistent it is followed based on the school culture and the dynamics in a particular district. Prevention and advocacy will be emphasized as a large part of the SAC position, as well as learning to work within the school culture. Curriculum planning and staff education and development in chemical health will be an essential part of the course. Negotiating the systems to maximize potential of the SAC position will be the main focus. Limited to Professional Counseling majors.
PC-550 Group CounselingCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-505 and PC-523
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This didactic and experiential course introduces students to group dynamics and theories/techniques of group counseling. Didactic component reviews, group counseling theories/techniques, stages in group development, and salient characteristics of effective group facilitators. Experiential component facilitates understanding of one's own personality, biases and impact upon others in professional interactions. Legal and ethical issues relevant to group counseling are also examined.
PC-570 Career CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course instructs students about the influence of career counseling and the counseling profession and forms the historical basis of the profession's emphasis on human development, decision-making, and assessment. Career theories, life-span development, and assessment instruments used in career counseling are reviewed. Strategies for assisting clients in finding satisfactory interrelationship between work and other aspects of their life is emphasized with gender and cultural sensitivity.
PC-595 Professional Counseling PracticumCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-505, PC-512, PC-525, PC-526, PC-540, and PC-550 all passed with a grade of C+ or higher and PC-523 passed with a grade of B or higher
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course will allow students to integrate theory and practice in the counseling profession through a field placement practicum. In addition to the requirement of 100 hours of supervised field service in an approved counseling agency, students also attend class each week which consists of group supervision. During class the students also review relevant professional, ethical and legal issues in counseling (for example assessment procedures, treatment planning, best empirically proven interventions, confidentiality, etc.).
PC-598 Special Topics in Professional CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
The subject matter varies with the interest of the students and the professor teaching the course. The exact nature of the topic covered in any given semester is indicated in the student's transcript. Limited to Professional Counseling majors only. If a prerequisite is required it will be announced in the course schedule.
PC-599 Independent Study in Professional CounselingCredits: 1-3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Reading and research leading to significant written work under the direction of a faculty member. Limited to Professional Counseling majors only. Prior permission of the directing professor and department chair is required to take this course.
PC-603 Research Methods in CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
This course includes techniques for assessing quality research and evidence-based practices in mental health counseling. Course topics include reviewing academic and other literature, hypothesis generation, naturalistic observation, survey, interview procedures, and experimental methods. Students learn to identify and conduct different types of research that will inform their future careers as professional counselors.
PC-650 Transformational Travel for CounselorsCredits: 3
Course Type(s): None
This course will allow the graduate professional counseling student to grow through an international experience personally and professionally. These various cultural experiences will allow the student to develop through service learning, multicultural immersion, and spiritual contemplations. The student will understand the political, religious, and traditional cultural values that interact with the human condition of psychic suffering and healing. This course intends to be a transformational experience to aid students decide their future worldviews and professional posture moving forward in their counseling careers. Students must apply to be in this elective class. Application process includes: 1) Attending information session; 2) Application through Global Education; 3) Essay of intention; 4) Possible interview. Students will be picked from this application process.
PC-651 International Multicultural ExperienceCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): Take PC-650
Course Type(s): None
This course will allow the graduate professional counseling student to further grow on a personal, professional, and existential level during a 2nd international experience. While experiencing this culture for a second time, the counseling student will be able to take their understanding of different cultures to another level by adding a leadership role to their experience and counseling skills. These various cultural leadership experiences will allow the student to grow through service learning, multicultural involvements, and spiritual journeys. The student will have international leadership experiences with peers while leading the students from the Transformational Travel in their growth processes. This course will require an application that will include: 1) Meeting with Professor to understand requirements; 2) application through Global Education; 3)Essay to discuss intention of the trip. The students will be picked through this application process.
PC-672 Advanced Theory in Play TherapyCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): OL
Provides an in-depth understanding of the history and theories of play therapy. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the roles of therapists and parents through the play process. Diversity and multicultural considerations for theoretical perspectives are highlighted. Also listed as EDC-672 and SW-672.
PC-673 Advanced Techniques in Play TherapyCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): HY
Provides students with the opportunity to develop techniques and methods of play therapy. Emphasis is placed on working with children, adolescents, and adults through individual, group, and family play therapy. Major topics include group play therapy, family play therapy, short-term play therapy, and sand tray/sand play therapy. Additionally, diversity and multicultural considerations are highlighted. Also listes as EDC-673 and SW-673.
PC-674 Play Therapy for Children at RiskCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): OL
Focus is on play therapy with vulnerable and high-risk children. Emphasis on working with children, adolescents, and adults using play therapy in trauma and crisis situations are highlighted. Special attention is given to social issues that can lead to or exacerbate trauma or crisis. Also listed as EDC-674 and SW-674.
PC-680 Clinical Internship in Professional CounselingCredits: 3
Prerequisite(s): PC-540 and PC-595
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Designed to provide students intensive experience where they can integrate their academic learning during clinical experience. In addition to the requirement of 300 hours of supervised field service in an approved counseling agency, they also attend class each week. The weekly class consists of group supervision and a review of relevant professional, ethical and legal issues in counseling (for example assessment procedures, treatment planning, best empirically proven interventions, confidentiality, etc.). Limited to Professional Counseling majors who have completed at least thirty graduate credits. This is a pass/fail course. Registration is by special application, requiring the signature of the advisor and the Field Placement Coordinator.
PC-699 Independent Study in Professional CounselingCredits: 3
Term Offered: All Terms
Course Type(s): None
Provides students with the opportunity to develop techniques and methods of play therapy. Emphasis is placed on working with children, adolescents, and adults through individual, group, and family play therapy. Major topics include group play therapy, family play therapy, short term play therapy, and sand tray/sand play therapy. Additionally, diversity and multicultural considerations are highlighted.
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