Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSC)

Students are introduced to the field of professional counseling and the ethics involved in working with clients, colleagues, organizations, and society. Emphasis is on professional preparation standards, and person and professional identity development. Codes of ethics and the law are used to assist in making ethical judgments. Must be taken during the Fall semester of the first year of enrollment in the MSC program.

This course will examine the similarities and differences between spirituality and religion, including the basic beliefs of various spiritual systems, major world religions, agnosticism, and atheism. The role of religion and spirituality on individual worldviews and psychological functioning will be considered. As a part of the course, students will explore their own attitudes, beliefs, and values about spirituality and religion, and how these views may influence clients and the counseling process. Students will identify the limits of their own understanding, and will develop a conceptual framework for responding sensitively to client communications about religion/spirituality and identifying spiritual and religious themes in client communications.

This course is an introductory course to the rehabilitation and mental health counseling profession that provides a broad overview of the foundations, principles, and practices of rehabilitation counseling and the interdisciplinary collaboration with related professions. Content covered in this course includes professionalism, language and disability, credentialing/certifications, professional competencies, history and disability policy, service delivery models personal and family experiences of living with a disability, professional issues and areas of expertise, philosophy of rehabilitation/professional counseling, and essential functions of a rehabilitation and mental health counselor.

A comprehensive overview of abnormal human behaviors and their complex etiologies, with emphasis on the DSM 5 classification system, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations. Exploration of historical and current views, theories, and models of disorders.

Study of the etiology, assessment, and treatment of emotional, social, and intellectual problems of children from infancy to adolescence with emphasis on the DSM-5 classification system.

Students will be introduced to the field of Addiction services. Historical, philosophical, and social overview of Addiction. Different issues such as personal, social and vocational implications of a addiction in an individual’s participation in a community and own life. Students will identify federal/state and private Addiction/community agencies, which are involved in facilitating the Addiction and treatment processes of clients.

A critical examination of essential models of counseling. This course explores the conceptual frameworks of approaches to understanding personality, development, abnormal behavior, and the process of change as it occurs in psychotherapy, with the ultimate goal of the formulation of the students’ theory of counseling. Must be taken during the fall semester of the first year of enrollment in the MSC program.

A broad, practical overview of assessment, evaluation, and diagnostic formulation. Varied approaches to gathering reliable and valid data (the clinical interview, a social history, the mental status examination, and standardized testing instruments) are examined. Particular attention is given to the variable, statistical, and psychometric features of each format, as well as to accepted standards of practices for each format.

Counseling students will earn to conduct social science research at the graduate level. Students will advance through (1) framing the research question (2) conducting a relevant literature review (3) formulating hypotheses (4) examining various modes of data collections (5) specifying a methodology and (6) detailing various data analysis techniques. Different types of research designs and methodologies will be presented. There will be emphasis on writing a research proposal and on selecting the appropriate design and methods for a given research problem. By the end of the course, students will have developed a research proposal in counseling. In addition, the course will provide a thorough grounding in elementary statistical theory and practice. Concepts, principles, and methods of statistics from two perspectives, descriptive and inferential, will be presented. Statistical topics include describing and displaying data, measures of central tendency, correlation, regression, sampling, probability, mean comparisons, analysis of variance, and non-parametric tests.

Applies theories of communication and attending behavior to the process of counseling. Counseling sessions are analyzed in stages of initiating, conducting, terminating, and recording results. Must be taken during the fall semester of the first year of enrollment in the MSC program.

This course is designed for rehabilitation counselors, allied health professionals, and other human services workers who need a basic understanding of service delivery models and essential functions of a rehabilitation and mental health counselors and agencies.

Students explore the role of professional counselors in relation to crises that range from the individual to society, and natural to man-made. Coursework will include suicide assessment, child abuse and neglect, crisis planning, critical incident stress debriefing, secondary post traumatic stress disorder, victim assistance, and self-care when working within crisis situations.

This course will review ways in which professional counselors demonstrate accountability to the individuals, groups, and organizations they serve. Various means of clinical documentation will be reviewed including case notes and treatment planning. Program evaluation will be addressed to include consultation and grant writing. The role of managed care in counselor accountability will also be reviewed.

Study of various theories of human development over the life span, with attention to the roles of biological and environmental factors that may affect normal development.

Exploration of approaches to theory and practice of family counseling, utilizing case studies for identification and clarification of issues, formulation of effective treatment strategies, and development of a personal theory of family counseling.

This course is a theoretical/practical application survey of current methodology and treatment modality for counseling the addicted individual.

Examines methods and techniques in assessing clients for addiction, with emphasis on testing and interviewing.

Special Topics offers one of two opportunities. A faculty member or invited distinguished scholar to prepare and present a course on a professional topic. The course may be organized similar to a regular course or with a non-traditional format that best supports the course outcomes. The secondenables the student and advisor may structure a unique experience to enhance the student degree plan.

Students may attend, with approval, a professional conference related to their field of study and complete further research on an approved topic.

Presentation of skills and knowledge specific to career guidance and counseling interventions. Studies include theories, planning strategies, program models with individuals and groups, computer-assisted delivery systems, and assessment tools.

An opportunity for students to increase awareness of their own cultural values and beliefs; to explore worldviews of their own and other groups, and to identify and develop culturally appropriate intervention strategies.

Through analysis of the latest theory and participation in group sessions, the student develops guidelines for conducting counseling in group settings. Groups include peers, family, and others with simulated sessions and role-playing.

Advanced theories of communication and attending behavior are applied to the process of counseling. Emphasis is placed on learning and applying specific techniques of counseling to the therapeutic process.

This class is designed to increase awareness about gambling as well as teaching skills required to assess and treat clients who have gambling disorder. The course will also help students to understand the etiology of this disorder as well as the application of various evidence-based treatment strategies for gambling disorder.

This course examines the impact of disability in peoples’ lives and that of their significant others, family, and society. Throughout, this course explores historical perceptions and treatment, societal attitudes and beliefs, family and cultural aspects, models and theories of adjustment to disability individual responses to disability, positive approaches to coping and adaptation, sexuality and disability, and ways disability affects various parts of peoples’ lives. Intermixed is opportunities for students to explore and apply techniques and strategies to help people build resilience and promote optimal development and wellness.

This course examines the etiology, prognosis, treatment and vocational implications of major disabling conditions. Information and content pertaining to cognitive, psychiatric, health, physical, neurological, sensory, developmental, and traumatic disabilities are discussed long with alcohol and substance misuse. Additionally, psychosocial and functional aspects of disability, models that explain disability, medical terminology and an introduction to assistive technology are provided.

Interpretation of medical terminology and medical reports will be discussed. Students will be prepared to understand the medical aspects of living with a range of chronic illness and disability, and the inter-relationship between physical and mental health that can influence case conceptualization, counseling goals, and selected interventions. The role and function of the brain and the CNS and its association to pharmaceutical treatment will prepare the professional counselor to work with prescribing physicians to maximize the effectiveness of medication and detect adverse effects. Students will identify appropriate rehabilitation strategies and intervention resources for clients with disabilities, including the use of assistive technology.

This course is designed to help students acquire knowledge, understanding and experience in the job placement of persons with significant disabilities and the impact on the individual and family. A holistic approach to job placement is presented. Includes: job seeking training, job development procedures, job analysis, job modification, labor market information, working with business and industry, legislation and placement, selective placement, supported employment, support services, independent living, transition from school to work, and follow-up services.

An advanced course focused on nervous system anatomy, physiology and function. This course will incorporate the philosophy, science, and clinical impacts of commonly used medical approaches to mental illness. Attention will also be paid to impact of licit and illicit psychoactive drug use.

The project documents and integrates the breadth of knowledge gained across the program, and how the knowledge and skills could be implemented in the work place. The project contains a presentation component that clearly articulates the completed project as determined by the student and the committee. Must be admitted MSC advanced candidate.

In lieu of the integrative project (MSC 688/698), the student forms a Master’s Thesis committee with a faculty member who agrees to serve as chair of the committee. The student prepares a thesis proposal with one copy provided to both the committee chairperson and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Permission to proceed with the thesis must be in writing from the chair of the committee. Upon completion of the thesis, a public defense will be scheduled and presented. Must be admitted MSC Advanced Candidate and permission of Advisor.

Special Topics offers one of two opportunities. A faculty member or invited distinguished scholar to prepare and present a course on a professional topic. The course may be organized similar to a regular course or with a non-traditional format that best supports the course outcomes. The secondenables the student and advisor may structure a unique experience to enhance the student degree plan.

A pre-professional opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge gained in classroom studies to a work setting through closely supervised one-on-one and group counseling experiences. May be completed in 2 semesters (2 credits per semester). All supervision documents (including the practicum application) must be submitted to the MSC program coordinator 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which practicum begins. Students are expected to accrue 240 work-related hours for this course. Completion of 40 credits, and acceptance to advanced candidacy and practicum application acceptance is required prior to registration.

The first semester of a two semester course sequence that provides students with a comprehensive professional experience of supervised training at a site congruent with student career goals, wherein the student refines previously learned skills in an increasingly autonomous role with clients. All supervision documents must be submitted to the MSC program coordinator 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course. Pass/Fail grading. Students are expected to accrue 300 work-related hours for this course. Admission to Advanced Candidacy is required.

The second semester of a two-semester course sequence that provides students with a comprehensive professional experience of supervised training at a site congruent to student career goals, wherein the student refines previously learned skills in an increasingly autonomous role with clients. All supervision documents must be submitted to the MSC program coordinator 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course. Admission to Advanced Candidacy is required.

The project documents and integrates the breadth of knowledge gained across the program, and how the knowledge and skills could be implemented in the work place. The project contains a presentation component that clearly articulates the completed project as determined by the student and the committee. Admitted MSC advanced candidate is required.

In lieu of the integrative project (MSC 688/698), the student forms a Master’s Thesis committee with a faculty member who agrees to serve as chair of the committee. The student prepares a thesis proposal with one copy provided to both the committee chairperson and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Permission to proceed with the thesis must be in writing from the chair of the committee. Upon completion of the thesis, a public defense will be scheduled and presented. Admitted MSC Advanced Candidate and permission of Advisor is required.