COU601 - Lifespan Development (3 cr.)
This course focuses on exploring issues in various stages of human life over the life span, which include biological, cognitive, and psychosocial domains; the role of theory in relation to human development; and the impact of culture on various domains of human development.
COU603 - Counseling Skills and Strategies (3 cr.)
This course familiarizes students with the predominant modes of empirically-based behavioral treatments, moving from basic helping skills to advanced techniques. Emphasis is learning the psychotherapy/counseling process, skills, and intervention techniques in relation to underlying theories. Issues related to faith integration and the treatment of diverse client populations are also discussed.
COU605 - Foundations of and Orientation to Counseling Profession (3 cr.)
This course focuses on the historical, philosophical, physiological, and experimental influences on the founding and development of counseling psychology, with a specific emphasis on issues related to mental health treatment, including prevention, intervention, consultation, education, advocacy, and networks that promote mental health and wellness. Major schools of thought and influential figures are discussed.
COU607 - Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues (3 cr.)
This course is a graduate-level course that focuses on the ethical, legal, and professional standards and principles that govern the practice of behavioral health treatment. Topics include the ACA Code of Ethics, APA Ethical Principles, practitioner roles, state regulations, and credentialing, professional organizations and objectives, historical trends, and issues related to professional practice and delivery of services.
COU609 - Counseling Theories (3 cr.)
This course familiarizes students with the predominant theories, principles, and techniques of counseling and psychotherapy. This course includes an emphasis on bias embedded in theory, evidenced-based status, and cultural diversity.
COU613 - Models and Application of Christian Integrative Counseling (3 cr.)
This course will examine best practices associated with integrating Christian values, principles, and resources with evidence-based psychotherapy.
COU615 - Career and Vocational Development (3 cr.)
This course reviews major career development theories and commonly used occupational and educational guidance resources (traditional and electronic). Readings and case studies are used to generate discussions to demonstrate the competencies needed to engage and counsel, using a developmental model that spans elementary through college students, displaced workers, and a variety of diverse populations.
COU617 - Crisis and Trauma Informed Practices (3 cr.)
This course focuses on crisis and trauma counseling, addressing the psychological, physiological, and neurobiological impact of trauma and crisis. An overview of skills and techniques for assessing and intervening in specific crisis or trauma situations, including suicide assessment and intervention, is presented.
COU619 - Dual Diagnosis and Addiction Counseling (3 cr.)
This course is on the diagnosis, conceptualization, and treatment of substance-related disorders. There will be a primary focus on exploring how substance use and addiction processes develop and are maintained. Biological, cultural, and behavioral theories related to these disorders will be explored, with an emphasis on using motivational interviewing techniques in therapy.
COU621 - Theory and Practice of Group Counseling (3 cr.)
This course focuses on group therapeutic strategies using discussion of theory and experiential learning in the classroom. Group dynamics, leadership, family therapy, mental health consultation and education, and community psychology are covered.
COU623 - Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling (3 cr.)
This course is designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of diverse cultures and their relevance to clinical research and practice. Theory and research are examined so as to provide an understanding of the interplay between cultural stereotyping, oppression, and racism, and concepts of pathology and treatment. Culturally responsive clinical strategies are emphasized.
COU625 - Foundations of Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
This course familiarizes students with the foundations, contextual dimensions, and clinical practice of counseling and psychotherapy with families and couples. Emphasis is on understanding the theory of family and couples counseling, the impact of environmental and multicultural systems on the therapy relationship, as well as conceptualizing and implementing treatment plans and intervention strategies with dysfunctional partners, couples, and families.
COU627 - Methods and Evaluation of Research (3 cr.)
This course focuses on the methods used by behavioral scientists to study and understand behavior. Emphasis is placed on research design, execution, and statistical analysis of data. Ethical and legal issues will be addressed.
COU629 - Theory and Practice of Assessment (3 cr.)
This course is designed to provide students with general principles of assessment and appraisal, including data gathering, validity and reliability, influential factors, and population-specific concerns. Administration, scoring, and interpretation of verbal and nonverbal cognitive tests are covered. Rationale, theory, and standardization of intelligence tests, as well as the role of culture in assessment and testing, are also discussed.
COU631 - Clinical Psychopathology and Diagnosis (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview of theoretical, practical, and empirical information relevant to psychopathology and abnormal behavior, including primary and personality disorders, across the lifespan. Approaches to diagnosis and treatment, with an emphasis on the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the role of cultural, social, and developmental factors will be discussed.
COU633 - Treatment Planning and Intervention (3 cr.)
This course focuses on a broad assessment of the individual in a diagnostic context. Topics included mental status testing, interviewing, report writing, diagnostic formulation, and treatment planning. Psychological testing techniques and knowledge from Assessment I are extended to non-cognitive tests, including the use of objective personality tests and symptom inventories.
COU681 - Practicum (3 cr.)
The clinical practicum provides students with their first clinical field experiences under the direction of licensed supervisors. A wide variety of field placement sites are available and group supervision is simultaneously provided by university faculty. Students learn to apply knowledge from previous coursework to real-world clinical situations and face-to-face client interactions. The practicum starts with clinical shadowing and gradually works to more autonomous levels of practice as the student progresses to the clinical internship class. This includes 100 total hours of supervised experience with at least 40 hours of direct client contact. Students also received 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision with the site supervisor and 2 hours of group supervision by a faculty member each week.
COU691 - Internship I (3 cr.)
The internship extends the clinical field experiences of the practicum to greater levels of independence in delivering behavioral health services. A wide variety of field placement sites are available under the direction of licensed supervisors. Students learn to apply knowledge from previous coursework to real-world clinical situations and face-to-face client interaction. This includes 300 hours of supervised internship experience with at least 120 hours of direct client contact. Students also receive 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision with the site supervisor and 2 hours of group supervision by a faculty member each week.
COU692 - Internship II (3 cr.)
The internship extends the clinical field experiences to greater levels of independence in delivering behavioral health services. A wide variety of field placement sites are available under the direction of licensed supervisors. Students learn to apply knowledge from previous coursework to real-world clinical situations and face-to-face client interactions. This includes 300 hours of supervised internship experience with at least 120 hours of direct client contact. Students also receive 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision with the site supervisor and 2 hours of group supervision by a faculty member each week.
