Online Professional School CounselingCurriculum

This course covers research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment and program evaluation utilized in counseling, education and human service administration. Emphasis is placed on the use of research to inform evidence-based, ethical practice in decision-making.

Theory and practice related to interpersonal communication, organizational behavior and leadership are addressed. Students analyze the neuroanatomy of leadership on four levels: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship. Leadership skills are developed in the context of mentoring, conflict resolution and work group dynamics.

Loss and grief seem to underlie all life experiences, and culture and gender influence how we grieve and mourn. This course offers students the opportunity to understand the beliefs about loss and grief, blockers and interventions. Students identify the different types of losses. Integration of neurocounseling in the grief process is also discussed.

In this course, students gain an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in multicultural contexts, including common theories, neurobiological behavior, models of resiliency, exceptional abilities, factors that affect normal and abnormal behavior and wellness over the life span. Experiential activities emphasize personal contact and on-site work with people of different ages and stages of physical and psychological development.

Students study theories and etiology of addictions and addictive behaviors, including strategies for prevention, intervention and treatment.

Students are introduced to value systems and diverse groups and the use of theories and models of diversity in establishing effective helping relationships.

Instruction, simulations, demonstrations, practice and evaluation of concepts of the human brain, its functions and its interconnection to the field of counseling based on current efficacy research and practice.

Basic counseling skills for career planning, exploration, and decision-making across the life span. Theories of career development, assessment in career counseling, career guidance programs for primary, secondary, and higher education, and career issues for special populations are addressed. Opportunity for practical experience in interviewing, assessment, and career information gathering and distribution is provided.

Basic counseling skills for career planning, exploration and decision-making. Basic counseling skills for career planning, exploration, and decision-making across the life span. Theories of career development, assessment in career counseling, career guidance programs for primary, secondary, and higher education, and career issues for special populations are addressed. Opportunity for practical experience in interviewing, assessment, and career information gathering and distribution is provided.

This course is a study of ethical standards of professional organizations and credentialing bodies, and the application of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling. Ethical decision-making and critical thinking are emphasized and practiced.

Instruction, demonstration, practice and evaluation in basic interviewing and response skills. Emphasis on practice and skill development. (Area d)

This course is a study of counseling theories and models that facilitate client conceptualization, selection of appropriate interventions and development of a personal model of counseling.

This course teaches group theory and experiential understanding of group counseling dynamics, including group purpose, practices, methods and group leader facilitation skills for a multicultural society. Students receive supervised practice and experience in group counseling as both a leader and participant.

An overview of psychodiagnostics and psychopathology. Basics of psychodiagnostics and psychopathology will be covered. Students will gain a working knowledge of the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as well as a basis of treatments for mental disorders.

An overview of responses to crises of various types including those that are more individual, those that affect families and those that have wider impact for entire communities. When these crises occur, normal problem-solving methods are typically insufficient to address the level of emotional and social difficulties involved. Practical intervention techniques are practiced and opportunities to observe people in the field are offered.

An overview of psychopharmacology in counseling. Basics of psychopharmacology will be covered.

Offers students the opportunity to better understand the supervisory process. Evidenced-based supervision (EBS) will be at the core. Students will learn the different models of supervision and a common factors approach.

Development of a framework for understanding the individual. Methods of data gathering and interpretation, individual and group testing, case study approaches and study of individual differences — ethnic, cultural and sex factors. (Area b)

A conceptual understanding of effective consultation and its relevance to the helping professional. Demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to deliver effective consultative services in schools and clinical mental health agencies.

Theories and techniques of couples and family counseling. Emphasis is on working with couples, families and children to promote human development, including the role of the family counselor within the network of school and clinical mental health settings.

Supervised counseling experience with individuals and groups in student’s area of interest.

Supervised post-practicum work experience appropriate to student’s career goals.

Supervised post-practicum work experience appropriate to student’s career goals.

This course is a combined survey and field observation experience intended for non-teachers seeking state licensure as a school counselor. Students learn about the structure, organization and operation of the U.S. educational system, P-12. Using current neuroscience and neurocounseling research on teaching and learning, students are introduced to concepts in curriculum and instruction to include reading methods and reading in the content area.

Students become skilled in neurocounseling interventions supported by current research findings. Through experiential activities, discussion, research and reflections, students interactively explore interventions designed to support healthy brain plasticity and bridge counseling skills to the brain’s physiology and function. Interventions such as mindfulness, meditation, neurotherapy, neurofeedback and other strategies for self-regulation are demonstrated, discussed and practiced

Students learn about the history and development of elementary and middle school counseling programs, including their administration, financing and accountability. Using current neuroscience and neurocounseling research on teaching and learning, students are introduced to reading methods; reading in the content areas; cognitive, experiential and social-emotional learning skills; methods for group and individual counseling; and methods for counseling students with disabilities and students from diverse populations.

In this course, students study secondary professional school counseling programs, including administration; finance and accountability; and cognitive and experiential skills. Also addressed are the history and development of school counseling; secondary school education and counseling programs (similarities and differences); group and individual counseling, the counselor’s role in school testing; and career planning and exploration. Practical experiences are provided.

This course reviews all disability categories related to special education services and addresses appropriate staffing and instructional methods for students with exceptionalities. Course content provides information on state and federal requirements relative to students for whom English is not the primary language as well as the statutory provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). It also provides an examination of stakeholders and participants in special education services, identification/evaluation of services, appropriate instructional methods, least restrictive environment, related services and free and appropriate education.

Advanced educational or social science research under the guidance of a departmental faculty member. Student will design, develop and present the research proposal, then conduct the approved research study consistent with the Committee for Use of Human Subjects in Research (CUHSR) regulations and university ethical guidelines. Minimum of 3.0 and maximum of 6.0 hours may be taken and applied toward master’s degree.