COUN 507 Professional Identity, Function & Ethics 3

A process of self examination and professional development of one’s gifts and skills, ethical base, philosophical perspective and the integration of one’s faith with the role of counselor. A beginning study of the ACA code of ethics, professional identity, counselor role and the counseling process. A beginning experience of supervision and skill development.

COUN 508 Counseling Techniques 3

An intensive practical experience in counseling techniques designed to prepare the student to enter the field placement/practicum phase of the degree program. Audio, video, personal supervision, and feedback are used to help the student attain competency in the application of theory in the counseling interview and the counseling relationship. Students are involved in a supervised practicum assignment in which they enter a counseling relationship with another person. Prerequisite: COUN 507; co-requisite COUN 528.

COUN 517 Human Growth and Developmental 3

A study of life span learning and personality development with application to counseling. Both individual and family development are studied. Covers topics related to the physical, cognitive, social and emotional aspects of growth. Change processes, stresses accompanying change, and strategies for facilitating development will be explored. Implications of multicultural and pluralistic trends are examined.

COUN 518 Integrated Counseling Process: Skills, Techniques, & Intervention 3

This course provides an opportunity to apply counseling techniques in working with clients. Class sessions and readings will explore various ways to implement counseling techniques and utilize apropriate client interventions in clinical work. Theoretical models will provide a context from which to apply each counseling technique. Students will engage in experiential exercises, techniques based role-plays and skill enhancement group praxis. Students are encouraged to take risks and develop their personal style in applying experiential methods in treatment.

COUN 527 Psychopathology I: 3

An in-depth examination of primary mental/behavioral disorders, including considerations of their origin, treatment, and prevention. Includes an introduction to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the primary guide to diagnosis used by mental health professionals, and its use in the diagnostic process.

COUN 528 Practicum 3

An intensively supervised practical experience in a setting consistent with the student’s area of interest/specialization. The student assumes the professional role and responsibilities of a counselor under supervision by an approved professional. Minimum of 100 counseling hours. Prerequisite: COUN 507; co-requisite COUN 508.

COUN 537 Counseling Research and Program Evaluation 4

A review of the research methods used in counseling. Included are experiences in searching research literature databases, understanding basic statistics and using statistical software, planning research, and communicating research findings. The application of research strategies to program evaluation is emphasized.

COUN 542 Psychology of Religious Experience 3

A focus on the dialogue between psychology and theology as it relates to religious experience. Various religious realities such as childhood religious experience, conversion, mysticism, adult religious experience and prayer are addressed. The academic discipline of the psychology of religion is explored for relevant insights. There is also an examination of various developmental theories with respect to their application to religious experience. Students focus on a particular topic or issue for in-depth exploration.

COUN 547 Counseling Theories 3

An examination of the various contemporary theories and techniques of counseling. These approaches are examined critically from a faith perspective. Opportunity also is given to develop a personal counseling theoretical statement with incorporation of ethics and professional identity. Co-requisite: COUN 507.

COUN 557 Assessment and Evaluation Procedures 3

Students achieve basic understanding of assessment and evaluation procedures. Special emphasis is given to counseling decision making and treatment planning. Theoretical and applied material will be integrated so as to provide the student with an understanding of the context of assessment and evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on equipping students to understand technical terms in professional journals, test manuals, and test reports.

COUN 567 Group Counseling 3

This course will focus on the theories, dynamics, process, and practice of group counseling. Leadership styles and approaches, and a variety of types of groupwork, are studied. Experiential learning is emphasized. Prerequisite: COUN 507.

COUN 587 Crisis Intervention and Trauma Healing 3

Students gain education and limited experience in effectively dealing with clients in crisis. Specific attention will be given to assessment, identification, treatment methods, and available resources for clients in crisis. Theoretical and applied information is presented. Student’s personal response to crisis is also explored.

COUN 607 Multicultural Counseling 3

Explores theories and techniques useful to multicultural counseling. Identifies new approaches to diversity incorporating cultural dynamics of the individual and groups. The course will include self-exploration, identification of skills and study of models which expand attention to cross-cultural issues of congregations and community.

COUN 617 Child & Adolescent Counseling 3

A study of the dynamics shaping the development and behavior of children, adolescents, and families. Emphasis is on diagnosis with a framework for systematic observation and interview techniques.

COUN 618 Professional Seminar 3

This seminar course is offered in the last semester of student training in conjunction with internship. It provides an opportunity to integrate academic and applied learning in a consulatation conversation with peers and all full-time faculty. Various counseling topics will be addressed emphasizing counselor identity, professionalism and ethics. This unique context provides a bridge between academic training and professional life.

COUN 627 Marriage and Family Counseling 3

An introduction to family systems counseling as a means of providing counseling to couples and families. A variety of family systems theories and techniques are explored from a faith perspective. Students develop a genogram covering their own family experience. Various issues such as sexuality, gender, abuse, divorce, culture and ethnicity, and blended family experience will be discussed. Practical experience is a requirement for the course and ethical issues are integrated in the study.

COUN 628 Psychopathology II 2, 3

A continuation of Psychopathology I with emphasis on disorders less frequently encountered in the general practice of professional counseling. Includes an in-depth study of Axis II (Personality) Disorder and development of the integration of case-report writing, case-conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention skills integrated with generation of clinical diagnosis.

COUN 637 Career Development 3

Students will recognize the importance and uniqueness of career counseling. Emphasis is given to developmental consideration and the role of testing. Career development counseling considers the issues of personal faith and values, Christian calling, and ethics.

COUN 677 Independent Studies Arr.

This refers to studies of specific issues or areas not covered by any of the standard offerings. These studies may be requested by the student or suggested by an instructor. Approval by the instructor and the director is required. Methodology may involve assigned readings, written reports or any other methods the supervising instructor chooses. A student should have credit for three courses, and must qualify academically for independent study in the judgment of the director before approval is granted. A limited number of hours in independent study will be applied toward a degree.

COUN 688 Internship 3

The internship experience is designed to give advanced students in counseling the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout their counseling program. The student may select from a variety of supervised field experiences in mental health related settings. Minimum of 600 counseling hours. Prerequisite: Admission to Candidacy.

COUN 697 Addictions Counseling 3

This includes related personal, social, emotional and physiological factors in addictions. Various aspects and difficulties in the diagnosis of addiction will be studied. Treatment methods will be studied and ethical principles unique to this work will be covered.

PAX 533 Analysis: Understanding Conflict 3

This course will provide a broad introduction to the field of conflict transformation. We will be reviewing skills and concepts for responding to conflict in a variety of settings. Through readings, lecture, class discussion, and papers the course will develop awareness of individual styles of responding to conflict and increase personal skills for responding effectively to others in situations of interpersonal conflict. The student will become familiar with the basic literature available in the field and the particular understanding of conflict transformation found at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). In today’s world the skills developed are instrumental for peacebuilding venues of many types.