To acquaint the beginning graduate student with the practice of diagnosing psychopathology. The definitions and distinctions between the various mental disorders are presented, as well as an introduction to the current research in the field, a discussion of the numerous continual controversial issues, and a review of the databased treatment approaches. In addition, this course will assist the graduate student to understand the nature, needs, and problems of individuals at all developmental levels over the life span and within a multicultural and diverse society.

This course provides a basic introduction to group process and group counseling. The class will blend theory with practice. The course will explore various theoretical approaches to group practice, as well as the four group work specializations developed by the Association for Specialists in Group Work: Task, Psychoeducational, Counseling, and Psychotherapy.

This course provides an introduction to cross cultural counseling. The course examines three distinct areas: cultural awareness, knowledge of other cultures, and allows students to look at the skills component. Students are taught through lectures, exercises, videotapes and guest speakers. The course offers an introduction to the lifelong continuous journey of counseling clients from diverse populations.

This course is designed to provide counseling interns with an opportunity to perform all activities that a regularly employed school counselor would be expected to perform. Students seeking certification in school counseling must complete a minimum of 300 clock hours in an approved school setting under the supervision of a certified school counselor with at least two years of experience. Professional portfolios are developed.

Prerequisites: Formal faculty approval following successful completion of the Practicum.

This course is an introduction to facilitating the counseling relationship with children by utilizing play media to facilitate expression, self-understanding, and personal growth and development. This course provides students with the philosophical basis for play therapy, including a review of the history of play therapy, how to develop a relationship with a child through a theoretical framework, and an introduction to play therapy best practices. Students will become familiar with play therapy micro-skills, the purpose and application goals of play therapy, therapeutic stages and themes, ethical issues, cross cultural / diversity implications, basic developmental and neurological implications, and applications to a variety of populations and therapeutic contexts.

School Counseling Specialty Courses

This is an intermediate class designed to improve the clinical skills of graduate students in Counselor Education by providing them with an in-depth application experience in the Multidimensional Approach to the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders of children and adults. This approach emphasizes the genetic, biological, race, gender, class, religious difference, sexual orientation and social learning factors as they influence the individual and their psychological disorder.