Curriculum

Our Counseling curriculum covers a wide range of themes including:

Advanced counseling skills techniques –Individual, group, family, substance abuse and crisis counseling
Case conceptualization and treatment planning
Assessment and diagnosis
Evidence-based practice

Students complete 60 credits required for a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in five terms.

Students typically have classes two days a week each term. The following schedule of classes is subject to change:

Fall and Spring Year 1: Mondays and Wednesdays

Summer Year 1: Tuesdays and Wednesday + Practicum

Fall and Spring Year 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays + Internship

Given that we emphasize experiential teaching and learning, attendance is a crucial component of graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Regular attendance at classes is required and is built into the grading system for each course.

The degree requires a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship in a professional clinical mental health counseling setting.

Curriculum and Course Descriptions

Clinical Capstone Examination

Fall Term - Year 1

COUN 2720 - FOUNDATIONS OF COUNSELING
COUN 2721 - CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN COUNSELING
COUN 2734 - COUNSELING THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES
COUN 2737 - CLINICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT IN COUNSELING
COUN 2765 - CLINICAL COUNSELING MENTORSHIP

Spring Term - Year 1

COUN 2732 - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
COUN 2733 - COUNSELING SKILLS & TECHNIQUES
COUN 2736 - CRISIS COUNSELING, RISK MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
COUN 2738 - DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
COUN 2739 - GROUP COUNSELING
COUN 2765 - CLINICAL COUNSELING MENTORSHIP

Summer Term - Year 1

COUN 2740 - CLINICAL APPLICATIONS IN COUNSELING
COUN 2742 - LEGAL, ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING
COUN 2746 - COUNSELING PRACTICUM
COUN 2765 - CLINICAL COUNSELING MENTORSHIP

Choice of 1 of the following option:

COUN 2714 - MEDICAL, PSYCHOSOCIAL, AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS IN DISABILITY
COUN 2766 - INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
COUN 2767 - TRAUMA AND GRIEF COUNSELING

Fall Term - Year 2

COUN 2743 - FAMILY AND COUPLES COUNSELING
COUN 2747 - CONCEPTUALIZATION, TREATMENT PLANNING, & CASE MANAGEMENT
COUN 2748 - EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND RESEARCH METHODS IN COUNSELING
COUN 2749 - CLINICAL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP
COUN 2765 - CLINICAL COUNSELING MENTORSHIP

Spring Term - Year 2

COUN 2724 - CAREER COUNSELING & VOCATIONAL ISSUES
COUN 2726 - SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTIONS COUNSELING
COUN 2749 - CLINICAL COUNSELING INTERNSHIP
COUN 2751 - CLINICAL COUNSELING CAPSTONE EXAM

All Counseling students are required to pass a clinical competency examination. The Clinical Counseling Capstone Exam requires student demonstration of knowledge and skills that reflect entry-level competencies of a mental health counselor. Students are assessed on knowledge and skills accumulated through coursework and clinical experiences. The Capstone requires students to synthesize and apply advanced concepts into clinical practice.

The Capstone employs a clinical case study approach. Students are charged with researching and completing a written review on a client issue or population with the expectation of demonstrating expertise. Students are provided a case study in their area of expertise to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize case materials for case conceptualization and then develop appropriate, realistic, and evidence-based intervention plans. Students are expected to apply appropriate counseling techniques included in their intervention plan via role-play simulations. Successful completion of the Capstone is needed for the student to demonstrate mastery of graduate study.