Curriculum

Academic Quality Standards

The following courses must be completed with a “B” or better:

  • COED 610 - Human Growth and Development (3)
  • COED 611 - Introduction to Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)
  • COED 612 - Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling (3)
  • COED 614 - Group Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)
  • COED 641 - Practicum: Individual Counseling Techniques (3)
  • COED 642 - Practicum: Group Counseling Techniques (3)

Required Courses (30 credits)

  • COED 606 - Research in Counseling and Program Evaluation (3)
  • COED 610 - Human Growth and Development (3)
  • COED 611 - Introduction to Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)
  • COED 612 - Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling (3)
  • COED 613 - Career Counseling and Development (3)
  • COED 614 - Group Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)
  • COED 615 - Assessment and Appraisal Techniques in Counseling (3)
  • COED 616 - Cultural and Diversity Counseling (3)
  • COED 641 - Practicum: Individual Counseling Techniques (3)
  • COED 642 - Practicum: Group Counseling Techniques (3)

School Counseling (K-12) Concentration

The school counseling program consists of 48 credit hours of courses in the Counselor Education Department, including three hours of electives approved by the faculty advisor. The school counseling program educates and trains students to become knowledgeable, thoughtful and skillful counselors at K-12 levels.

The curriculum includes core courses which introduce the student to human growth and development, counseling theory, professional issues in counseling and consulting skills. A blend of other courses is more specifically directed toward continued development of school counseling knowledge and thoughtful application of this knowledge in self-development and clinical practice. Finally, the curriculum focuses on the integration of knowledge, skills and abilities into a skillful counselor.

Licensure as a Virginia school counselor requires that the candidate have a master’s degree from a state approved program in counseling. The school counseling concentration requires 48 semester hours of course work and is CACREP accredited. It prepares students for state license as school counselors in Virginia and similar states. Graduates of the program are prepared to be licensed by the state at the K-12 grade levels.

REQUIRED COURSES (18 HOURS)

  • COED 620 - Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning (3)
  • COED 670 - Counseling Children and Adolescents (3)
  • COED 671 - Secondary School Counseling (3)
  • COED 691 - Internship in Elementary School Counseling (3) *
  • COED 692 - Internship in Middle School Counseling (3) OR
    COED 693 - Internship in High School Counseling (3)
  • Elective approved by faculty advisor.

Notes: Internships: Students must enroll in an internship in elementary school counseling for three credit hours with the distribution of an additional three credit hours selected between middle or high school internships.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

The clinical mental health counseling program is a program designed to provide the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for counselors to work in a variety of community settings, including mental health centers, substance abuse programs, marriage and family clinics, career counseling agencies, social service agencies and employee assistance programs in business and industry. Students enrolled in the clinical mental health counseling option are required to take 60 hours within the College of Education and Human Development. Through course work, practica and clinical internship placements, students may prepare to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Private Practice Counselor, Community Mental Health Counselor, Clinic or Hospital Psychotherapist, Career Counselor, Employee Assistance Counselor, Gerontology Counselor, Marriage and Family Counselor and Substance Abuse Counselor.

REQUIRED COURSES (30 HOURS)

  • COED 620 - Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning (3)
  • COED 650 - Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
  • COED 651 - Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
  • COED 680 - Couples and Family Counseling: Theory and Methods (3)
  • COED 686 - Overview of Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders (3)
  • COED 688 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling (3)
  • COED 690 - Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3-6)
  • Two electives approved by faculty advisor