Master's Degree in Counseling (MSE)

Counseling core courses (36 credits)

• EDU 603 Introduction to Educational Research and Design

  Credits: 3

  Description: Beginning graduate students will develop a practical knowledge and application of basic types of research, as well as basic research tools and skills that will be helpful to them throughout their program. Graduate students will create a research plan and write a review of literature (paper). Students will create appropriate survey and interview questions, develop a beginning understanding of educational statistics, and the process for developing a research proposal including Institutional Review Board requirements and application processes.

• CSL 541 Dual Diagnosis and Addiction Disorders

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is a conceptualization of how mental health disorders relate and exacerbate addictive disorders in the counseling relationship. Topics include: drug/alcohol assessment and diagnosis, level of care placement, record-keeping, treatment planning, clinical case review, discharge planning, case management, program development, cultural impact, treatment intervention and referral strategies, ethical concerns, and overall client experiences.

• CSL 547 Multicultural Counseling and Advocacy

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course explores the special issues involved in working with clients and students who are impacted by cultural influences of minority groups in the United States. Inclusive counseling techniques and adaptations of traditional counseling approaches when working with diverse cultural groups will be studied as well as assurance in advocacy processes including exploration of counselor privilege. Additional consideration is given to technological influence on clients and students in their cultural context.

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 575 Psychopathology and Client Adaptations

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course reviews the risk factors that contribute to mental health and addictive disorders. Attention to adaptive behaviors that contribute to human function are explored. Common problems of infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as well as a broad exposure to the most current diagnostic categories will be explored along with brief evaluation models to assess for concerns across the lifespan as well as common medications for specific concerns. Outcome-based research that clarifies the dynamics of these disorders will be explored.

• CSL 580 Professional Ethical and Legal Standards of Practice

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is designed to encourage reflection on general and professional ethical principles, recognition of ethical issues raised in practice, and use of an ethical decision-making model. Case law and current legal implications of policy are explored as well as technological boundaries and influence in the transmission of protected health information with the review of HIPPA and HITECH acts. Case studies are used for discussion of ethical issues in developing competent, culturally sensitive professionals broadly and within their specific counseling program identity (e.g., clinical mental health, school counseling, addictions, or student affairs/college counseling).

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 600 Theories of Counseling

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is designed to introduce the major theories of counseling with an initial exposure to the counseling relationship and corresponding theoretical techniques. Psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral theories are emphasized with brief discussion of systems theories, brief therapy, and feminist therapy models. Each student begins to integrate quintessential elements from these theories with their experiences and beliefs toward a personal model that will provide a way to conceptualize client needs and choose appropriate interventions. Professional orientation and applicable professional ethical codes are introduced, particularly in reference to training standards.

• CSL 602 Counseling Program Orientation

  Credits: 0

  Description: Accepted students will complete items including, but not limited to, graduate program orientation, program tracking software, and initial background checks, and other valuable information related to the graduate program. Graded S/NC.

• CSL 615 Career Development and Life Planning

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is designed to prepare graduate level counselor trainees to facilitate career and life planning decisions within an applied professional setting. Typical theoretical perspectives associated with career development and life-planning counseling will be highlighted. Career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration, and evaluation will be addressed. Assessment instruments and techniques associated with career planning and decision-making will be explored. Technology-based career development applications and strategies, including computer-assisted career guidance information will be utilized. This class will include such topics as foundations and resources, career-counseling programs for special populations, and techniques for career-counseling interviewing. Career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration, and evaluation will be addressed. Ethical issues associated with career counseling will be considered in detail.

• CSL 625 Theory and Practice of Appraisal

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is designed to prepare graduate level counselor trainees to apply relevant principles of assessment and evaluation within an applied professional setting. Typical topics for discussion will include theoretical and historical bases for assessment techniques; reliability and validity dimensions in testing; appraisal methods associated with standardized tests; psychometric statistics upon which assessment is based; strategies for selecting, administering, interpreting, and using assessment instruments; and typical human qualities involved in the assessment process. The assumptions, implications, and effects of assessment on minorities and on public policy will also be addressed including the impact of technology on appraisal processes. Diverse intervention strategies will be identified to meet the needs of a multicultural society with individual, group, and classroom participants and settings. Ethical issues associated with appraisal counseling will be considered in detail.

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 630 Human Development Across the Lifespan

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course explores human growth and development with emphasis on neurobiological processes relevant to counseling practice. It is designed to prepare graduate level counselor trainees to apply relevant principles of human transformation within an applied professional setting. A presentation of personality dynamics and behavioral manifestations at critical psychosocial stages of development over the lifespan will be provided based on a Neuro-Bio-Psycho-Social perspective. Cultural implications related to human development will be explored in detail as well as outlining impact of diverse systems on human development.

• CSL 660 Professional Foundations and Counseling Skills

  Credits: 3

  Description: Introduction, practice, and mastery of basic skills for structuring a counseling session. Specific attention is applied to skill implementation and function while ensuring effective ethical and culturally appropriate professional demeanor in both in-person and telehealth formats. Professional foundations into the field of counseling are identified as a means to introduce students to professional identity development and self-care strategies. Professional identity is addressed through awareness of our history, professional roles, professional associations, credentialing, licensure/certification, and advocacy.

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 665 Group Counseling

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course is designed to provide theoretical and experiential understanding of group counseling with emphasis on types of groups, planning, orientation, stages of group development, group member roles and behaviors, effective leadership skills, theoretical implications for methodology and leadership style, and ethical issues related to a group environment. This course includes supervised practice and accumulation of 10 hours as a client in a group setting. Students may take CSL 664 to meet their 10-hour requirement of group participation.

  Prerequisites: CSL 600 Theories of Counseling and CSL 660 Professional Foundations and Counseling Skills

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 688 Crisis and Trauma Intervention

  Credits: 3

  Description: This course will identify the immediate and long-term impact of crises, disasters, and trauma on individuals and organizations. The principles of risk assessment and management, crisis intervention, and the role of the counselor in emergency management teams will be described. Interventions for short- and long-term trauma treatment strategies are explored in the neurobiological context of the individual. Guidelines for professional, school, and community responses to suicidal threats and completions, violence, bereavement, substance abuse crises, mandatory reporter expectations, and other trauma will be emphasized. Self-care strategies for counselors working with trauma and crises will also be explored.

  Prerequisites: CSL 600 Theories of Counseling and CSL 660 Professional Foundations and Counseling Skills

  This course is taken in low-residency format.

• CSL 692 Counseling Program Exit Benchmark

  Credits: 0

  Description: Students will complete final graduate program requirements including, but not limited to, graduate and professional exams, all program tracking software requirements, and graduation requirements. Graded S/NC.