COUN 500 - Orientation
Hours: 0

COUN 501 - Orientation to the Counseling Profession
Hours: 3
This course is recommended as the initial class in a student’s program and provides an introduction to the counseling profession. Content includes the roles of counselors and related professionals in various settings, professional goals and objectives, emerging trends, professional associations, ethical codes and decision-making models, ethical/legal considerations, the historical development of counseling, and current credentialing and preparation standards for counselors. A grade of B or better is required in COUN 501 to meet program requirements for the MS-Counseling programs. Corequisites: COUN 510.

COUN 505 - Introduction to College Student Affairs
Hours: 3
Recommended as the initial course in a student’s program to serve as an introduction to college student development from a Counseling perspective. Roles of related professionals, including counselors, in various settings are presented. Professional goals and objectives, trends, professional associations, ethical and legal issues, history, credentialing, preparation standards, and characteristics and behaviors that influence helping processes are explored.

COUN 510 - Counseling Theories and Techniques
Hours: 3
This course offers an in-depth examination of major counseling theories and their practical applications in clinical settings. Students will examine the philosophical foundations, key concepts, goals, and techniques associated with a range of theoretical approaches, including psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic models. Emphasis is placed on developing a personal counseling framework, applying theory to case conceptualization, and exploring theory-specific techniques. Ethical, social, and cultural considerations in the use of counseling theories and techniques are also addressed. A grade of B or better in COUN 510 is required to meet program requirements for the MS/MEd Counseling programs. Corequisite: COUN 501 : Orientation to the Counseling Profession.

COUN 512 - Career Development
Hours: 3
This course examines the major theories and models of career development across the lifespan, as well as their application in counseling practice. Students will explore career decision-making processes, occupational and labor market information, career assessment tools, and strategies for career counseling and development in diverse settings. Emphasis is placed on integrating career theory with practice, addressing socioeconomic factors, and understanding the impact of career on personal and social identity. The interrelationships among lifestyle, education, workplace, information sources and delivery systems, career development programs, and career planning are also explored.

COUN 513 - Communication In Marriage
Hours: 3
This course explores the theories and techniques of verbal and nonverbal communication in marriage and intimate relationships. Topics include helping clients identify and navigate barriers to effective communication, as well as developing strategies to foster healthy and supportive interactions. Prerequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528. Corequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528.

COUN 514 - School Counseling and Development
Hours: 3
As the foundation course for those planning to enter the field of school counseling, this course covers the organization, planning, management, and evaluation of comprehensive school counseling programs. The appropriate roles and functions of school counselors at various school levels, coordination of professional services, and professional issues such as ethics and associations, as they specifically relate to school counseling, are included. Recommended for educational professionals as well as counselors. Corequisites: COUN 501.

COUN 516 - Basic Counseling Skills
Hours: 3
This course provides the foundation for all practicum and internship experiences. Students will learn fundamental helping skills, methods, and techniques that support the development of a strong therapeutic alliance and will demonstrate these skills under the supervision of faculty. Consistent and accurate application of these skills is required for enrollment in Practicum (COUN 551). Students will also engage in a counseling experience and are expected to adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics. Prerequisite: COUN 501, COUN 510, with minimum grade of B.

COUN 517 - Assessment in Counseling
Hours: 3
This course includes group and individual appraisal techniques used to support career, educational, and personal planning and development. Topics include standardized and non-standardized methods of data collection, validity, reliability, psychometric statistics, factors that influence appraisals, and the interpretation and application of results within the client’s context.

COUN 520 - Advanced School Counseling
Hours: 3
This course is designed to support further understanding of how to implement a comprehensive developmental school counseling program. Furthermore, this course thoroughly examines specialized topics related to school counseling. Through the course, students are taught models that can be applied in real life situations. They are also encouraged to develop their own models for practical application. This course is a required course for all professional school counseling graduate students and students pursuing a career as a professional school counselors in a pre-K-12 school setting. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of B in COUN 514.

COUN 522 - Social, Cultural, and Family Issues
Hours: 3
This course emphasizes the development of students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes for effective counseling with persons from all social, cultural, and family backgrounds. Attention is given to exploring students’ awareness of their own values, attitudes, and beliefs as they relate to the counseling process. Topic areas explored include the studies of change; social, cultural, and individual/family backgrounds; family systems; urban and rural patterns; and lifestyles.

COUN 528 - Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures
Hours: 3
This course offers an in-depth examination of group development stages, dynamics, and theoretical approaches within the context of group counseling settings. Students will examine leadership styles, techniques, and counselor roles within groups, as well as explore ethical and professional issues related to group interventions. Prerequisites: A minimum grade of B in COUN 516.

COUN 530 - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Hours: 3
As the foundational course for aspiring clinical mental health counselors, this course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of ethical, legal, and professional issues in providing mental health counseling services within the broader social services system. Topics include professional issues, ethical and legal considerations (local and federal), delivery systems, staffing and case management procedures, emergency services, treatment paradigms, and the importance of consultation and collaboration among mental health professionals. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of B in COUN 501 and COUN 510.

COUN 534 - Counseling Children and Adolescents
Hours: 3
Prepares counselors to address the specific needs of children and adolescents, with emphasis on developmental needs, specific therapeutic interventions, and common emotional issues. Group and individual counseling techniques and treatment planning are included. Prerequisite: COUN 516 and COUN 528. Corequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528.

COUN 535 - Psychopharmacology in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Hours: 3
This course integrates the study of mental disorders as classified in the DSM-5-TR with an introduction to psychopharmacological medications. Students will examine medication classifications, indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. They will also learn how these medications are administered, how they affect the brain, and how to identify commonly prescribed medications for specific mental disorders. The course is designed to introduce the role of psychopharmacology in clinical mental health counseling settings. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of B in COUN 501, COUN 510, and COUN 540.

COUN 539 - Introduction to Play Therapy
Hours: 3
Students will develop an effective philosophy of and approach to play therapy and an increased understanding of children and of children's world views. Through an experiential component, the student will learn to communicate with children at an affective level, to promote children's self-exploration and understanding, and to increase children's sensitivity to and acceptance of others. Prerequisite: COUN 516 and COUN 528.

COUN 540 - Diagnosis & Treatment Planning for Clinical Mental Health Counselors
Hours: 3
This course examines the principles and models of biopsychosocial assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning within the context of counseling practice, with a focus on managed care frameworks. Emphasis is placed on DSM diagnosis and differential diagnosis, prevention and intervention strategies, and the promotion of optimal mental health in diverse counseling settings. Prerequisites: COUN 501, COUN 510, COUN 564, and COUN 545.

COUN 545 - Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling
Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of theory and research related to human growth and development over the lifespan. In addition to meeting the core curricula objectives required for accreditation, the course provides specific developmentally appropriate interventions supported by research that are designed to enhance the growth and development of clients who seek counseling services. Crosslisted with: PSY 545.

COUN 548 - Advanced Counseling Skills
Hours: 3
A laboratory-based, experiential course, Advanced Counseling Skills expands upon the knowledge and skills obtained in COUN 516 while also integrating counseling theory to inform counseling process. In addition, students will participate in a counseling experience, further develop basic counseling skills and learn advanced counseling skills, and adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics. This course provides a foundation for practicum and internship experiences. Consistent demonstration of these skills, with intention, is a prerequisite for enrollment in practicum (COUN 551). Prerequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528.

COUN 551 - Practicum
Hours: 3
Provides for continued development and real-world practice of skills learned in COUN 516 and COUN 548. In this course, students apply a variety of counseling skills (e.g., clinical, theoretical, professional, etc.) related to their emphasis area (i.e., Clinical Mental Health Counseling [CMHC], School Counseling [SC) at an external field placement site while under the supervision of a licensed counselor or equivalent (CMHC only) or certified school counselor (SC only). Satisfactory performance at the field placement site and during group supervision is required as part of the course. Students in the CMHC emphasis must complete a minimum of 100 clinical hours (40 direct and 60 indirect) at an approved site (e.g., a community mental health agency or private practice). All students in the SC emphasis must complete a minimum of 160 hours of experience at an approved educational site. Additionally, SC students have the option to complete 140 additional hours, for a total of 300 counseling hours (comprising a minimum of 100 direct and 200 indirect hours), which may be used toward licensure as an LPC in Texas. SC students who opt to complete additional hours beyond the required 160 hours must maintain a clinical log of hours that documents a minimum of 300 total hours, broken down by direct (minimum of 100 hours) and indirect (minimum of 200 hours) counseling hours, for future verification by the department. Upon completing this course, students obtain a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Prerequisites: COUN 548 with a grade of B or better. COUN 522, COUN 517, COUN 540, COUN 545, and COUN 564 all with a grade of B or better.

COUN 552 - Internship
Hours: 3
Provides for the continued development and practice of skills learned in COUN 516 and COUN 548. This supervised field experience integrates and applies the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions developed throughout the counseling program. Students engage in direct service with clients, complete indirect service activities, and receive ongoing supervision from both site and faculty supervisors. Emphasis is placed on the development of professional competence, ethical practice, and self-reflection in real-world counseling settings. Students are expected to demonstrate increasing autonomy and effectiveness as emerging professionals in counseling. A minimum of 600 hours is required at a program-approved agency (community mental health or private practice), where students provide counseling services under the supervision of a program-approved supervisor. The course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisites: COUN 551, Students must submit application form to director of training placements a semester before actual enrollment (check department website for due dates).

COUN 555 - Internship
Hours: 3
The primary focus is on integrating knowledge and skills within an appropriate professional, educational, or student affairs setting. Students gain supervised practical experience in an environment aligned with their area of specialization. A minimum of 300 clock hours must be completed at an approved site. Students typically enroll during their anticipated graduation semester.

COUN 560 - Crisis Intervention
Hours: 3
An overview of crisis intervention. Major theoretical models of situational crises are described and operationalized across a variety of service delivery systems. Students will develop conceptual competency necessary for professionals engaged in crisis intervention. Special emphasis is given to contemporary research in suicidology, disaster psychology, and crisis management for schools. Prerequisites: Admission to Master's Counseling program.

COUN 564 - Individual and Family Crisis and Resources
Hours: 3
This course explores problems commonly experienced by individuals and families and examines pertinent resources available to address them. Topics include counseling treatment and intervention planning, outcome measurement, and evidence-based strategies and techniques for prevention and intervention. Additional focus areas include promoting client access to community-based resources, suicide prevention models, crisis intervention strategies, trauma-informed care, and community-based approaches such as Psychological First Aid. Prerequisites: COUN 501 and COUN 510; minimum grade of B in both courses.

COUN 580 - Cou Substance Abuser: Drugs
Hours: 3
Covers a broad range of topics related to chemical dependency with regards to school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, career counseling, child and adolescent counseling, college counseling, and addictions counseling, along with other counseling specialties. Topics include prevention, abused substances and their effects, symptoms of chemical dependency, chemical dependency treatment models, applications in a multicultural society, 12-step and other support group models, employee assistance programs, and relapse prevention, along with emerging issues.

COUN 581 - Addictions Counseling
Hours: 3
Provides in-depth information regarding the assessment and treatment of chemical and process addictions, including gambling, sexual, eating, and substance use. Topics include healthy coping skills; motivation for change; management of stress, anxiety, and anger; screening for addictions in health care settings; co-occurring disorders; evidence-based interventions; and planning individualized treatment strategies to support client recovery and well-being.

COUN 589 - Independent Study
Hours: 1-3
Independent Study. One to three semester hours. Individualized instruction/research at an advanced level in a specialized content area under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated when the topic varies. Prerequisites: Consent of department head.

COUN 590 - Legal Issues Stu Affairs
Hours: 3
Legal Issues in College Student Affairs. Three semester hours. Provides information about the legal issues common to college student affairs administrators. Includes student-university relationship, risk management techniques, civil rights, contracts and federal regulations.

COUN 595 - Research Methods and Program Evaluation
Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of research methods and program evaluation with emphasis on applications in the student’s major field of study. Topics include basic statistics, literature review, proposal and report development, research implementation, needs assessment, program development, and ethical and legal considerations in research. Students will apply course content through the development and presentation of a formal research proposal and/or the completion of a research report, demonstrating competence in evaluating programs and conducting research relevant to the discipline of counseling. Prerequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528 or Admission to a master's Counseling program. Corequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528. Crosslisted with: PSY 595, SPED 595.

COUN 597 - Special Topics
Hours: 1-3
Special Topics. One to three semester hours. Organized class. May be repeated when topics vary.

COUN 606 - Student Affairs Services in Higher Education
Hours: 3
As the foundation course for those planning to enter student affairs work in higher education, this course provides students with opportunities to examine the historical and contemporary roles and scopes of college student personnel services. Provides students with an in-depth understanding of major theories of student development and their application to student development practice.

COUN 607 - Contemporary College Student
Hours: 3
Examines various aspects of contemporary college student life and characteristics of present and future college students. Presented as a seminar to identify and examine salient issues facing college students including, but not limited to, sources of motivation, learning styles, development of values, relationship development, mental-health/psychosocial development and issues related to health and one’s social, cultural, and family context.

COUN 609 - Introduction to Statistics for Counseling and Human Services Research
Hours: 3
A doctoral-level introductory statistics course, emphasizing applications to counseling and human service research. The major focus will involve an examination of basic statistical procedures: descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and univariate inferential statistics. Usage of a computer-based statistical software tool (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) will be emphasized. Meets requirements for a Level II research tool course. Prerequisites: Admission to a PhD or EdD program in the College of Education and Human Services or consent of the instructor.

COUN 610 - Adv Counsel Theories & Techniq
Hours: 3
Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques. Three semester hours. In-depth study of various counseling approaches with opportunities for demonstration and evaluation of each student's counseling skills. Prerequisite: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.

COUN 611 - Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy
Hours: 3
A survey of the historical development and principal conceptualizations of marital and family counseling/therapy. Goals include an initial examination and comparison of various theories currently employed in the field with an emphasis on interview techniques. Subject areas to be covered include the various schools of family counseling/therapy, along with current trends and issues in marriage and family counseling/therapy. Prerequisites: COUN 516 and COUN 528. Corequisites: COUN 516, COUN 528.

COUN 612 - Adv Sem M&F Coun/Therapy
Hours: 3
Advanced Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy. Three semester hours. A didactic and experiential seminar course in marital and family counseling/therapy for advanced students. Emphasis is on the development of the student's therapeutic expertise in structural and strategic family intervention techniques. Prerequisites: COUN 611 and doctoral status or consent of the instructor.

COUN 613 - Intermediate Statistical Techniques
Hours: 3
Includes a review of introductory statistics, presentation of basic concepts of analyses of variance, advanced correlational methods, and multiple regression, as well as other intermediate statistical methods. Focuses on use of the statistical software program SPSS for data analysis. This is an approved Level III doctoral research tools course. Prerequisite: Level I and Level II research tools or equivalent or permission of the instructor. Crosslisted with: PSY 681.

COUN 614 - Counseling Strategies for Parent-Child Relationships
Hours: 3
A didactic and experiential course dealing with counseling techniques applied to the improvement of parent-child relationships. The course focuses on intervention skills of transgenerational family therapy, play therapy, and parenting education based on an understanding of the family life cycle and family structure. Prerequisites: Doctoral standing or consent of instructor.

COUN 615 - Marital Counseling/Therapy
Hours: 3
A study of counseling theories applied to marital and other dyadic relationships. Emphasis will be placed on the assimilation, integration, and application of information pertaining to such topics as marital/divorce developmental tasks theory, object relations theory, systemic family of origin theory, interaction patterns in marriage, divorce process, and post-divorce adjustment. Techniques and historical development of marriage enrichment, marital counseling/therapy, and divorce counseling/therapy interventions will be included. Prerequisites: COUN 611, COUN 513, and doctoral status or consent of the instructor.

COUN 620 - Superv Cou Human Develop
Hours: 3
Supervision in Counseling and Human Development. Three semester hours. A didactic and experiential course for post-graduate and doctoral students who wish to assume the role of supervisor. Goals include the assimilation and application of major theoretical/conceptual models and supervision approaches in counseling and human development. Prerequisite: Doctoral status or consent of the instructor.

COUN 621 - Psychoeducational Consulting and Program Evaluation
Hours: 3
Psychological, educational, and sociological theories, models, and processes applied to human and organizational systems of change. Special attention is given to applying theory to practice, differentiating between human and structural problems, and their corresponding interventions. Prerequisites: Doctoral standing or consent of instructor. Crosslisted with: PSY 679.

COUN 622 - Advanced Seminar in Social, Cultural, and Family Issues
Hours: 3
This course provides students with a variety of opportunities to increase their level of personal (self-reflective) awareness, as well as clinical awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with individuals from all social, cultural, and family backgrounds. This enhanced competence better prepares doctoral students to teach, supervise, and mentor counseling trainees and novice practitioners, to conduct research that is responsive to a wide range of perspectives, and to provide direct services to clients from varied backgrounds. Prerequisites: Doctoral standing or consent of instructor.

COUN 623 - Advanced Social and Cultural Context in Counseling
Hours: 3
This course examines how social, cultural, and family contexts intersect to shape individuals’ intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences within the counseling process. A conceptual framework for understanding these intersecting factors enhances students’ awareness of contemporary issues in counseling. Prerequisites: COUN 522 or equivalent graduate level multicultural counseling course.

COUN 625 - Research Application
Hours: 3
A doctoral course which focuses on the development of research skills and inquiry methods. The student is exposed to various quantitative and qualitative approaches. In addition, the course provides students with an understanding of scientific inquiry, purpose and benefits of research, research-related ethical and legal issues, and sampling procedures. This is an approved doctoral research tools course. Prerequisites: Doctoral status and completion of 30 semester hours of doctoral level coursework or consent of instructor.

COUN 634 - Self Injurious Behavior: Conceptualization and Treatment
Hours: 3
This course provides advanced doctoral and advanced master's students with knowledge of appropriate use of conceptualization and treatment skills with individuals who employ self-injury as a means of self-regulation. Students will learn conceptualization skills and therapeutic interventions facilitative in working with self- injurious behavior. Students also will engage in online reading assignments and discussion that will facilitate learning. Prerequisites: Master's degree in Counseling or permission of the instructor.

COUN 640 - Advanced and Multivariate Statistics for Counseling
Hours: 3
An advanced doctoral-level statistics course, emphasizing applications to both counseling and other human services. Includes a thorough examination of multivariate inferential statistics, along with applying both univariate and multivariate post hoc procedures. Usage of a computer-based statistical software program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) will be emphasized. Meets requirements for a Level V research tool course. Prerequisites: Doctoral standing and completion of Level I, Level II, and Level III tools courses or permission of instructor.

COUN 650 - Inst Th & Meth in Coun Ed
Hours: 3
This course is designed to develop/improve counselor educator skills including planning units or courses, delivering instruction, and assessing learner outcomes. The course also addresses ethical standards for counselor educators. Although the primary focus is on teaching counselors-in-preparation, students will acquire knowledge and develop skills that are applicable to other situations such as presenting at professional conferences and conducting staff development. Prerequisite: doctoral standing or consent of instructor. Crosslisted with: PSY 680.

COUN 660 - Doctoral Field Experience
Hours: 3
The doctoral field experience includes a minimum of twelve semester hours, during which time students are involved in various supervised experiences. The first three semester hours include 300 clock hours of supervised clinical work in the department based training facility where students provide direct counseling to individuals, families, couples, and groups, and refine advanced counseling skills. Six semester hours (600 clock hours) include 300 clock hours of clinical experience in an approved site, plus 300 clock hours of supervised teaching and clinical supervision. During this time students are expected to expand their counseling, teaching, and supervision skills.

COUN 661 - Advanced Practicum
Hours: 3
Advanced Practicum includes 300 clock hours of supervised clinical work in an approved site where students engage in counseling activities with individuals, families, couples, and/or groups, with attention to broadening and refining advanced counseling skills. The remaining six semester hours (600 clock hours) include 300 clock hours of clinical experience in an approved site. During this time students are expected to expand their counseling, teaching, and supervision skills. Prerequisites: COUN 660 Clinical Supervision.

COUN 662 - Advanced Internship
Hours: 3
Advanced Internship includes 300 clock hours of supervised clinical work in an approved site where students engage in counselor education (see CACREP 2016 Doctoral Core Areas). The remaining three internship semester hours (600 total clock hours over two semesters) include 300 clock hours of experience in an approved site. During this time students are expected to expand their counseling, teaching, supervision, leadership, research, and/or diversity skills. Prerequisites: COUN 660, COUN 661, 717, 650, 610, 620, & 695.

COUN 689 - Independent Study
Hours: 1-3
Independent Study. One to three semester hours. Individualized instruction/research at an advanced level in a specialized content area under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated when the topic varies. Prerequisites: Consent of department head.

COUN 690 - Qualitative Research
Hours: 3
This practicum experience is designed to complement and build upon knowledge gained in HIED 696 or EDAD 698. This course is an approved Level IV doctoral research tools course. Prerequisites: HIED 696 or EDAD 698 Note: The course is intended for advanced doctoral students who plan to do a qualitative study for their dissertations and/or seek in-depth practical experience in the use of qualitative research methods used in educational research (e.g., interview strategies, participant observation, and case studies).Students will engage in practice and skill development in analyzing and interpreting qualitative data, communicating results, and evaluating qualitative research. Each student will complete a qualitative research project and write a journal length article based on the research.

COUN 695 - Research Methodology
Hours: 3
An overview of research methodology, including basic concepts employed in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Includes computer applications for research. This is an approved Level I doctoral research tools course. Prerequisites: Doctoral status or the instructor's consent is required.

COUN 697 - Special Topics
Hours: 3
Organized class Prerequisites Doctoral status Note May be repeated when topics vary

COUN 717 - Ethics & Prof Development
Hours: 3
Ethics and Professional Development. Three semester hours. Examines ethical and professional development issues in counseling and the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite: Doctoral status.

COUN 718 - Dissertation
Hours: 3-9
Doctoral Dissertation. Three to nine semester hours. A candidate must present a dissertation acceptable to the student's advisory committee and the Dean for Graduate Studies and Research on a problem in the area of his specialization. To be acceptable, the dissertation must give evidence that the candidate has pursued a program of research, the results of which reveal superior academic competence and significant contribution to knowledge. Graded on a (S) satisfactory or (U) unsatisfactory basis.