Counseling (COUN)

COUN 503. Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavior Disorders. 3 Hours.

This class prepares students to diagnose psychological disorders using the current diagnostic manual. Videotape cases will be used to illustrate the various types of disorders. Attention will also be given to gathering relevant information from the clinical interview, psychometrics, and other sources to assist in the diagnostic process. Prerequisite: PSY 316 or equivalent.

COUN 510. Counseling Theories. 3 Hours.

This course surveys the major theories of counseling and psychotherapy with emphasis on the application of these theories to counseling situations.

COUN 511. Introduction to Counseling Services. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the scope and purposes of the counseling profession. Standards of preparation, codes of ethics, professional organizations, and licensure and certification requirements will be studied. The importance of the essential characteristics of effective therapists will be examined. Prerequisite: Admitted into the Educator Preparation Program or by instructor permission.

COUN 512. Career Development and Information. 3 Hours.

This course combines the use of current career information and career development theories in career counseling. It provides an overview of evaluating educational, occupational, and personal social information for career development. The course will cover the nature of work, the dynamics of vocational choice and development, psychological and sociological factors in job selection, manpower trends, occupational surveys, job analysis, and recent publications dealing with these topics. The course may be taken concurrently with COUN 525 for Elementary School emphasis.

COUN 516. Pre-Practicum. 3 Hours.

Supervised experience in individual counseling will be provided in a laboratory setting. Demonstration of professional standards, counseling, skills, and personal characteristics appropriate to the counseling relationship is expected. This course must be taken within the first 12 hours of the program. Prerequisite: Admitted into the Educator Preparation Program or by instructor permission.

COUN 517. Assessment in Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course integrates theory and practice related to the use of standardized aptitude, achievement, and interest tests. The utilization of appraisal data for educational and vocational advising, placement, and follow up will be covered. Experience will be gained in the administration and interpretation of selected aptitude, achievement, and interest assessments.

COUN 520. Counseling Diverse Populations. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the multicultural issues that may arise within the context of counseling clients. The course is designed to raise students' awareness of their own values and their clients' values, how these values may differ in the areas of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and socio-economic class, and how these differences may impact the therapeutic relationship.

COUN 523. School Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of school and vocational counseling programs. An in-depth study of the functions of school counselors will be provided, which includes counseling, consulting, coordinating, and assessment services. Students will learn how to develop a comprehensive school counseling program, working with and serving students, teachers, staff, and administration.

COUN 525. Practicum. 3 Hours.

This course provides experience in applying counseling skills and techniques under supervision in placement settings. Instructors grade this course on a (S) satisfactory or (U) unsatisfactory basis. NOTE: Students who are working a full-time job are only allowed to register for one other course when taking Practicum. Prerequisite for School Counselor Option: COUN 510, COUN 511, COUN 516, COUN 528, PSY 575, and PSY 543 all with a grade of B or better. Prerequisite for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Option: COUN 510, COUN 511, COUN 516, COUN 528, PSY 503, PSY 543, and PSY 575 all with a grade of B or better. Students may take COUN 512, PSY 560, COUN 585, and COUN 541 concurrently with Practicum and must have prior approval of Practicum/Internship Coordinator prior to enrolling.

COUN 526. Internship. 3-6 Hours.

This course entails advanced field experience in applying counseling skills and techniques under supervision in placement settings. Instructors grade on a (S) satisfactory or (U) unsatisfactory basis. NOTE: Students who are working a full-time job are only allowed to register for one other course when taking Internship. Prerequisite: COUN 512 with a grade of B or better and a satisfactory grade in COUN 525. Students must have prior permission of Practicum/Internship Coordinator in order to enroll in the course. Students are required to take 6 SCH of internship within a time period of two semesters and may not take more than 3 SCH of internship each semester.

COUN 527. Internship II. 3 Hours.

COUN 528. Group Procedures in Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course examines the dynamics of group process and practice with emphasis on theory and techniques of group leadership. A research paper on theory, procedure, or issues in group counseling is required. Prerequisite: COUN 511 and COUN 516 with grades of B or better, plus permission of the instructor.

COUN 530. Bereavement Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course is an in-depth study in counseling individuals who are coping with significant losses, dying, and death. Counseling theories and approaches, which assist people through the grief process, will be highlighted. Prerequisite: COUN 516.

COUN 534. Counseling Children and Adolescents. 3 Hours.

This course is a didactic and experiential course that prepares students to work with the special needs of children and adolescents. This course will focus on developmental needs, specific therapeutic interventions, and common emotional issues of children and adolescents. Group and individual counseling techniques will be practiced, and treatment options will be covered. Prerequisite: COUN 516.

COUN 536. Introduction to Trauma Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course provides an introduction to working with populations who have experienced trauma. The focus of the course is to assist counselors in training to become familiar with the symptoms, evaluation, and treatment processes associated with trauma. The course requires basic knowledge of crisis intervention, assessment, and counseling skills.

COUN 538. Advanced Counseling. 3 Hours.

This course is based on the skills necessary to work within the field of counseling. The focus of the course is to expand on current theories and methods of advanced therapy techniques required in the mental health professions. The course extends specific counseling skills and explores specific specialties within the field of counseling. Prerequisite: COUN 510.

COUN 540. Introduction to Play Therapy. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to (1) assist those who work with children in understanding the fundamental tenets of play therapy, (2) help participants develop an effective philosophy of and approach to play therapy, (3) increase participants' understanding of the inner world and behavior of children, (4) help students connect with children on a feeling level, (5) promote self-awareness and self-understanding, (6) increase participants' understanding of child development, particularly with children ages three to nine, (7) enhance participants' sensitivity to and acceptance of others, and (8) equip students with beginning level play therapy skills. Prerequisite: COUN 516.

COUN 541. Counseling the Substance Abuser: Prevention, Intervention and Treatment. 3 Hours.

This course is based on the fundamental assumption that substance abusers and their families are a heterogeneous group and must be treated from an individualized perspective. Clients dealing with substance abuse issues vary in their behavior patterns, the physical effects of drugs on them, and the life consequences of their drinking or other drug use, their personality, their social environment, gender, culture, and other life-span variables. Counseling strategies need to fit the goals and needs of the individual client. The counselor must develop the skills needed to work either as a substance abuse specialist or as a generalist who must sometimes address substance abuse problems/issues. Each student will be able to describe the history and scope of drug use in the United States, developmental correlates, and cultural differences affecting drug and substance abuse. Students will be able to document their understanding of drugs and addictions, recovery, and social problems with citations from current research.

COUN 542. Assessment and Treatment of Addictive Disorders. 3 Hours.

This is an advanced course in addictions treatment with emphasis on the practical application of knowledge of addictions to help develop skills and attitudes expected of addiction professionals. Emphasis will be placed on the core functions of addiction counselors and the competencies modes of addiction. Prerequisite: COUN 541.

COUN 543. Core Functions and Competencies of Addiction Counseling. 3 Hours.

COUN 560. Clinical Assessment. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with historical perspective concerning the nature and meaning of assessment. It addresses basic concepts of standardized and non standardized methods of clinical assessment for a variety of clinical settings. Also addressed are the statistical and psychometric concepts of reliability and validity. The student will learn how the Mental Status Exam, Clinical Interview and MMPI-2 are used in clinical settings and how to perform these assessments complete to report writing. The student will learn how to evaluate the quality of testing instruments. Issues of diversity and ethical strategies for selecting, administering and interpreting assessment and evaluation instruments are addressed. Prerequisite: PSYC 2317.

COUN 575. Ethics in Counseling. 3 Hours.

Students explore the range of ethical issues that professionals may encounter within the field of Counseling. Through lecture, discussion, reading, and role-plays, students will explore such issues as ethical codes and ethical decision-making, boundaries of competence, confidentiality, dual relationships, insurance/third party payments, advertising, assessment, teaching, therapy, and research.

COUN 578. Marriage and Family Therapy. 3 Hours.

This is an examination of the application of relationship counseling theory to the study of marital systems and the application of family systems theory to the study of family dynamics. The focus will be on structural, strategic and system approaches. A combination of didactic and experiential methods is employed. Students are expected to be involved in role-playing and strategic exercises.

COUN 579. Psychopharmacology for Counselors. 3 Hours.

The course is a basic introduction to psychopharmacology non-medical counselors. Basic neuropsychological principles will be discussed and applied to relevant diagnostic groups involving various classes of psychopharmacological medications. The course will help counselors to understand client issues that pertain to psychopharmacology. It will equip the counselor-in-training to better understand psychopharmacology and to interact with medical personnel who prescribe psychotherapeutic medications. This training will allow counselors to understand how medications are used and how the application of various psychopharmacological medications can affect the counseling process.

COUN 585. Crisis Intervention: Theory and Practice. 3 Hours.

This course is an overview of crisis intervention. Major theoretical models of situational crises are examined and operationalized across a variety of service delivery systems. Students will develop conceptual competency necessary for professionals engaged in crisis interventions. Special emphasis is given to contemporary research in suicidology, disaster psychology, and crisis management for public schools. Topics of discussion include emergency situations such as natural disasters, terrorism, school violence, abuse, and crisis interventions with diverse populations. Prerequisite: COUN 516.

COUN 589. Individual Study. 1-3 Hours.

This course provides individual instruction. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.

COUN 597. Special Topics. 3 Hours.

Instructors will provide an organized class designed to cover areas of specific interest. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.