Program of Study - Total Semester Hours: 42

A. Required Courses - Semester Hours: 30-33

FDED 200 - Philosophy Of Education (3) - Consideration of selected issues involving morals and values, knowledge claims and assertions, the uniqueness of being human, and how these issues are all related to schooling and education. Emphasis is on contemporary problems confronting educational personnel.

COUN 223 - Theories and Principles of Counseling (6) -Integrative course experience designed to provide students with an understanding of the therapeutic process and the major theoretical models underpinning counseling and psychotherapy.  Development of counseling microskills will be a primary focus addressed through in-class experiential practice.  Counseling applications for different settings and cultures will be explored.  Students will engage in self-awareness activities as part of their training in intervention strategies and the helping process.

COUN 224 - Counseling Practice in Contemporary Society (6) - Designed to strengthen students' knowledge and skills in a wide array of topics and processes as they relate to counseling individuals in contemporary society. Areas studied include human development, decision-making models, career and life planning, special populations, multicultural competence, school guidance, human sexuality, family systems, substance abuse, crisis intervention, referral, consultation, appraisal, and research and evaluation. Through supervised classroom practice, students are assisted in integrating this knowledge base with continued counseling skills development while applying a problem-management model of counseling intervention.

COUN 253 - Counseling Practicum (3) - Student development counseling and guidance with students in school settings. 100 hours of supervised field work required.

COUN 261 - Understanding Psychopathology in Counseling (3) - This course is designed to provide a conceptual framework for understanding psychopathology and its relationship to treatment, planning and referral in counseling. Students will learn how to recognize various forms of emotional and behavioral disorders and maladjustment in children, adolescents, and adults through the use of the DSM-5. In addition to gaining an understanding of the diagnostic criteria and symptomology of mental disorders, students will discuss the important ethical, multicultural, and gender issues related to counseling, assessment, and practice.

COUN 277 - Group Counseling (3) - This course is designed to provide a theoretical and experiential understanding of the formation, development and dynamics of groups and of the leadership skills involved in group counseling. Students are required to be active participants in the group experience

COUN 290 - Internship: School Counseling (3) - Cooperatively supervised experience in guidance and counseling in selected K-8 schools. Bi-weekly seminar for consideration of work conducted in the field. Required for school counselor certification. 300 hours of supervised fieldwork required.

and

COUN 291 - Internship: School Counseling (3) 

B. Electives - Semester Hours: 9 to 12

COUN 255 - Organization and Conduct of the Guidance Program (3) - This course is intended for counselors and mental health professionals who are concerned about helping others and themselves cope with death, dying and bereavement. Topics include the effects of imminent and sudden death on the person and the family, children and death, attitudes toward death, and the helping person's role in bereavement support. Consideration of other topics depends on the interests and needs of students in the class.

COUN 263 - The School Counselor's Role in Pupil Personnel Services (3) - The role and responsibilities of the school counselor as part of the pupil personnel team will be the focus of this course. This course is designed to help prepare school counselors who will be working in conjunction with school psychologist, social workers, ESL and special education specialists in meeting the social, emotional, academic and career development needs of school students beyond regular education services.  An understanding of these populations and the procedures and support services that guide this area of practice for school counselors will be gained.

COUN 301 - Counseling for Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Response (3) - This course is designed to prepare counselors to respond effectively in critical situations and to help clients who are experiencing crisis situations in their lives, including disasters and other trauma-causing events. In this course, students will learn crisis intervention theory and practice principles and the factors associated with trauma response. Students will learn evidence-based crisis intervention and trauma response strategies to apply in different settings/contexts, ages and cultural groups. Students will be exposed to the tenets of crisis/emergency management systems in agency, school or community based facilities. Students will learn Psychological First Aid (PFA) as the current standard for counselor response to disaster/crisis situations. Ethical best practices in crisis response and counselor self-care principles will also be explored.

C. Comprehensive Examination

D. Educational Law Seminars

Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Fire & Arson Prevention

Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Abuse

School Violence Prevention and Intervention

Highway & Schl Safety/Prevntn of Child Abduction

Harassment, Bullying & Discrim Prevntn & Intervntn