Online Master of Arts in Counseling: Curriculum

Explore major theories and techniques of professional counseling. Evidence-based counseling strategies and techniques will be stressed as you develop your own personal model of counseling.

Explore the process and stages of human intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development from prenatal origins through geriatric maturity including theories of individual and family development, learning, and personality development.

You’ll learn impacts on human development, such as systemic, environmental, crisis, trauma, or differing abilities, as well as ethical and culturally relevant strategies for promoting resilience and optimum development and wellness across the lifespan.

Examine counseling-related research techniques, methodologies, and practices including basic statistical and qualitative analysis, outcome measures, program evaluation, data analysis, application, and evidence-based practices.

The development of knowledge, skills, and approaches for effective cross-cultural counseling such as: cultural identity development, multicultural counseling competencies, social justice and advocacy, including studies of change, ethnic groups, gender studies, family systems, urban and rural societies, population patterns, cultural patterns, spiritual beliefs, the effects of power and privilege, and differing life styles.

Explore career counseling development, theories of career choice, and career counseling issues throughout the lifespan. You’ll also examine use of occupational testing and computer-assisted guidance systems, sources of educational and occupational information, career decision-making processes, and services provided in schools and agencies.

Explore the legal and ethical considerations when making a decision specific to clinical mental health and school counseling, including record keeping, documentation, third-party reimbursement, business law, family law, state education codes, state LPC Board rules, appropriate use of technology, privileged communication, and informed consent processes.

An introduction to measurement theory including standardization of test administration and scoring procedures, assessment of test reliability and validity, norm- and criterion-referenced assessments. Review of commonly used individual and group administered instruments that measure attitudes, aptitudes, achievements, interests, and personal characteristics. Students will also understand ethical and legal issues related to assessment and testing.

Gain an understanding of dysfunction in human behavior or social disorganization, including etiology, nomenclature, treatment, referral, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.

Explore characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of clients at risk for mental health and behavioral disorders, including suicide risk assessment, and the impacts of crisis, trauma, and abuse.

Pre-requisite for COUN 8370.

Be introduced to the history and development of the counseling profession, including its professional standards, codes of ethics, credentials, professional organizations, areas of specialization, and program evaluation. You’ll also review the counselor’s consultative role and identity in multidisciplinary teams and advocacy.

Explore theoretical foundations and skill development for counseling couples and families while providing key concepts, techniques, strengths-based approaches, therapeutic process, and consultation skills with families and parents.

Review mental health service delivery modalities within the continuum of care such as inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment, and aftercare. You’ll explore evidence-based strategies and interventions, including psychopharmacological approaches indicated in the treatment of mental disorders.

Understanding of physiological, emotional, cultural, social, and physical factors related to addictions. Exploration of counseling treatment strategies and biopsychosocial interventions applicable to the issues related to gambling, sexual, eating, alcohol, or drug addictions.

Introduction to the field of professional school counseling and the roles and responsibilities of school counselors regarding comprehensive school counseling programs. Topics include: the history and emergence of school counseling, approaches to school counseling, current issues, advocacy, consultation, collaboration, certification, and ethical and legal standards. Special attention to cultural issues.

Provides a comprehensive study of contemporary practices of leadership, advocacy, and accountability in the school counseling profession. Includes an in-depth study of comprehensive school counseling programs such as the TEA model and the ASCA National model. Students will complete activities for each of the four delivery components: system support, individual planning, responsive services, and guidance curriculum. Accountability measures, leadership qualities and styles, legal and ethical practices, and serving diverse populations in school settings will be examined.

An exploration of child and adolescent counseling with a focus on aspects that are unique to counseling with this population. These aspects include legal and ethical implications, developmental and systemic factors impacting this population, risk-factors and frequently presenting concerns of youth, and application of theories and techniques appropriate to meet the needs of children and adolescents.

Understand the theoretical foundations of group counseling including group dynamics and development, factors contributing to group effectiveness, group leadership characteristics, group formation, types of groups, ethics, and cultural considerations. Participation in online synchronous small group activities for a minimum of 10 hours is required. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates).

Develop methods or techniques used to provide counseling treatment intervention for individual clients, including the practice of counseling skills and guidance curriculum to help clients set and attain challenging educational, career, personal, and social goals.

A closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to clinical mental health counseling at an approved site. Students gain a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical mental health counselor. Required synchronous groups supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). This course requires a minimum of 40 direct service hours and 100 total hours.

A closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to school counseling at an approved site. Students build on the skills they developed in Counseling Practicum and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the school counselor as articulated in state or national models for school counseling programs. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Prerequisite: COUN 8390

A closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to school counseling in an approved site. Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and Internship I and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the school counselor in state or national models for school counseling programs Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Prerequisite: COUN 8325

A closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to school counseling at an approved site. Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and Internship I and Internship II gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the school counselor in state or national models for school counseling programs Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Prerequisite: COUN 8330

Examines the legislative, historical, and philosophical roots of rehabilitation counseling, includes professional organizations, preparation standards, credentials, roles, and settings of rehabilitation counselors; etiology & terminology relevant to rehabilitation; screening and assessment instruments for individuals with disabilities; relationship between clinical rehab counseling and medical and allied health professionals including interdisciplinary treatment teams; theories and models related to rehabilitation counseling; service delivery systems; support services within the continuum of care including family; legal and ethical considerations specific to clinical rehabilitation counseling; professional issues that affect rehabilitation counselors including advocacy.

Examine medical aspects of major disabilities and their effects upon social, vocational, personal, and economic adjustment including the impact of biological and neurological mechanisms on disability, the impact of discrimination and cultural factors relevant to those with disabilities, and more.

You’ll also dig into environmental, attitudinal, and individual barriers, along with assistive technology to reduce and eliminate barriers.

Address the delivery of rehabilitation services across settings such as state/federal vocational rehabilitation, psychiatric rehabilitation, transition from school to work, private for-profit rehabilitation, forensic rehabilitation, substance abuse rehabilitation, and veterans’ rehabilitation. You’ll also learn the roles and functions of rehabilitation counselors in each of the different settings.

Understand the theoretical foundations of group counseling including group dynamics and development, factors contributing to group effectiveness, group leadership characteristics, group formation, types of groups, ethics, and cultural considerations. Participation in online synchronous small group activities for a minimum of 10 hours is required. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates).

Develop methods or techniques used to provide counseling treatment intervention for individual clients, including the practice of counseling skills and guidance curriculum to help clients set and attain challenging educational, career, personal, and social goals.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques at an approved setting where the student will provide rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities (client population served may include physical, learning, developmental, psychiatric disabilities, or substance dependencies).  Students gain a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical rehabilitation counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). This course requires a minimum of 40 direct service hours and a minimum of 100 total hours.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques at an approved setting where the student will provide rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities (client population served may include physical, learning, developmental, psychiatric disabilities, and substance dependencies).  Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical rehabilitation counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Students must complete a minimum of 120 direct service hours and a minimum of 300 total hours.

Students who complete a minimum of 300 total hours internship must repeat the course to complete the required 600 hours of internship.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques at an approved setting where the student will provide rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities (client population served may include physical, learning, developmental, psychiatric disabilities, and substance dependencies).  Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical rehabilitation counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Students must complete a minimum of 240 direct service hours and a minimum of 600 hours in internship.

This course requires approval from the clinical coordinator and is reserved for students at an approved clinical field experience site that requires a 600 hour internship.

An exploration of child and adolescent counseling with a focus on aspects that are unique to counseling with this population. These aspects include legal and ethical implications, developmental and systemic factors impacting this population, risk-factors and frequently presenting concerns of youth, and application of theories and techniques appropriate to meet the needs of children and adolescents.

Understand the theoretical foundations of group counseling including group dynamics and development, factors contributing to group effectiveness, group leadership characteristics, group formation, types of groups, ethics, and cultural considerations. Participation in online synchronous small group activities for a minimum of 10 hours is required. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates).

Develop methods or techniques used to provide counseling treatment intervention for individual clients, including the practice of counseling skills and guidance curriculum to help clients set and attain challenging educational, career, personal, and social goals.

A closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to clinical mental health counseling at an approved site. Students gain a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical mental health counselor. Required synchronous groups supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). This course requires a minimum of 40 direct service hours and 100 total hours.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to student’s specialization in an approved site. Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the professional counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Students must complete a total of 600 hours in internship. If they complete a minimum of 300 hours in both COUN 8390 and COUN 8391, they can take an elective instead of COUN 8393. Students who complete a minimum of 200 hours in each internship course, must take all three internship courses to complete their 600 hours of internship.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to clinical mental health counseling in an approved site. Students build on the skills they developed in practicum and Internship I, and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical mental health counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Students must complete a total of 600 hours in internship. If they complete a minimum of 300 hours in both COUN 8390 and COUN 8391, they can take an elective instead of COUN 8393. Students who complete a minimum of 200 hours in each internship course, must take all three internship courses to complete their 600 hours of internship.

Closely supervised experience in the practical application and integration of principles and techniques specific to clinical mental health counseling in an approved site. Students build on skills developed in practicum, Internship I and Internship II, and gain a more in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the clinical mental health counselor. Required synchronous group supervision supplements the site experience. The course is offered in synchronous format (required virtual class meetings with the instructor and classmates). Students must complete a total of 600 hours in internship. If they complete a minimum of 300 hours in both COUN 8390 and COUN 8391, they can take an elective instead of COUN 8393. Students who complete a minimum of 200 hours in each internship course, must take all three internship courses to complete their 600 hours of internship.

Explore crisis, trauma, and grief counseling in response to natural or man-made crises, disasters, or loss. You’ll also learn crisis counseling theory, multidisciplinary team responses, and the cognitive, effective, and behavioral impacts of trauma, along with different approaches to treatment.

An introduction to the history and basic principles that guide child-centered play therapy sessions using directive and nondirective experiential activities. Major theories of play therapy and the utilization of play modalities will be explored.

Introduction to the field of professional school counseling and the roles and responsibilities of school counselors regarding comprehensive school counseling programs. Topics include: the history and emergence of school counseling, approaches to school counseling, current issues, advocacy, consultation, collaboration, certification, and ethical and legal standards. Special attention to cultural issues.

Provides a comprehensive study of contemporary practices of leadership, advocacy, and accountability in the school counseling profession. Includes an in-depth study of comprehensive school counseling programs such as the TEA model and the ASCA National model. Students will complete activities for each of the four delivery components: system support, individual planning, responsive services, and guidance curriculum. Accountability measures, leadership qualities and styles, legal and ethical practices, and serving diverse populations in school settings will be examined.