master of arts in counseling
> courses offered

501. Counseling Theory and Practice (4) Fall, Spring

This course surveys the roles and responsibilities of professional counselors, including an examination of students' professional identity development. Different approaches to counseling intervention (i.e., psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic theories) are compared and contrasted relative to the goals of counseling, the factors involved in helping individuals and families change, and the practitioner's role in the process. Professional identity development is further enhanced through the exposure to the history and philosophy of the counseling profession, including professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers. This overview also acquaints counseling students with (a) relevant professional organizations; (b) the various credentialing, certification, licensure, and accreditation standards that may impact practice; (c) advocacy processes to benefit clients; and (d) ethical and legal standards of the various counseling disciplines.

502A/B. Adult Development: Individual, Family, and Career Development (3units/1unit) Fall

502A. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of theories for understanding the processes of adult development and how to incorporate this understanding into counseling interventions. Students will discuss clinical cases within the context of adult transitions and life events. Gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity issues will be integrated into both didactic and experiential learning. Changes in career, interpersonal relationships, and family structure and dynamics will be examined over the life span with an emphasis on their interdependence.

502B. Focuses more specifically on career counseling, including theories of career development, knowledge of interviewing, assessment, and print and computer-based career counseling materials. Further considered are how diversity issues influence personal needs, values, aptitudes, abilities, and interests, which, in turn, affect career and educational choices.

503. Dynamics of Individual Behavior (3) Spring

A course designed to cover psychopathology and sociopolitical-related issues of diagnosis and treatment. Attention is given to: (1) understanding of the wide variability of psychopathology in community counseling settings; (2) the application of evaluation methods and diagnostic classification systems of the DSM-IV; (3) development of appropriate treatment plans; and (4) the relationship of class, gender, and ethnic background to diagnosis and treatment.

510A. Counseling Pre-Practicum (4) Fall

A course that provides students an opportunity to develop necessary basic counseling skills to prepare them for an internship in a wide variety of settings. Training is done through the use of video-tape feedback and in-class practice demonstrations. This course is normally taken in the first semester by new students. Recommend previous or concurrent enrollment in COUN 501. CR/NC only.

510B. Counseling Practicum (4) Spring

A course that provides students with an opportunity to continue the development of counseling skills necessary for an internship. Sections for Community Counseling/MFT and School Counseling/PPS students: Community Counseling/MFT students see clients and School Counsling/PPS students work in school settings under the instructor's supervision. Prerequisite: COUN 510A. CR/NC only.

511. Seminar: Career K-12 Development (4) Spring

An introductory course in career counseling, career guidance, and career information resources. Students gain increased knowledge of developmental career guidance programs for elementary, secondary, and high schools; increased knowledge in the foundations of kindergarten through adult career and lifespan development; increased knowledge and skills with print and computer based career counseling materials; ; and increased awareness of one's own personal needs, values, aptitudes, abilities, and interests as they affect vocational choices.

512. Theory and Practice of Group Counseling (4)

This didatic and experiential course provides students with an introduction to the concepts and practices of group counseling, supplemented by lectures and readings. The dynamics and procedures involved in working with groups will be examined with students functioning as both group participants as well as group leaders. The course also examines stages of group formation, confidentiality and trust issues, co-counseling in groups, group dynamics and structure, and basic group counseling skills. Practical approaches to group counseling include psycho-educational groups, interpersonal problem-solving groups, and task/work groups, among others. Prerequisite: COUN 510A or consent of instructor.

513. Research & Evaluation in Counseling (4) Fall, Spring

A survey of the principles of research design as applied to community and school-related issues and settings, with emphasis on evaluation of human service programs. Students will also develop and complete a written mental health or school guidance grant proposal under faculty supervision. Prerequisite: Demonstrated competence in basic statistical analysis (i.e., an approved course within the last five years); Prerequisite: COUN 525.

514AB. Supervised Internship (4,4) Fall (A) Spring (B)

This seminar provides a group discussion and supervision format in conjunction with the field internship, which may be in school settings (PPS students) or in community counseling settings (MFT students). The class meetings are designed to supplement the individual supervision received by internship supervisors, and the goal of the seminar is to help students develop a model of professional functioning through the integration of theory, pragmatic strategies, and personal development. Integral to this experience is the exchange of feedback and support among seminar participants. Prerequisites for Community Counseling/MFT: COUN 510A/B, COUN 501, and additional courses. Prerequisites for School Counseling/PPS: COUN 510A/B, COUN 501, and additional courses. (COUN 511, COUN 521, and COUN 523 are highly recommended.) CR/NC only.

520 Seminar: Introduction to School Counseling (4)

This course provides a conceptual overview and orientation to the practice of school counseling. Emphasis will be placed on school counseling programs as critical components of the education enterprise, the national model of school counseling, and the expanding and changing role of school counselor.

521. Pupil Personnel Services--Concepts and Organization (4) Spring

A seminar in organizing, supervising, and administering comprehensive service Pupil Personnel Programs in elementary and secondary schools; legal and financial aspects, as well as laws affecting children and child welfare are covered. Prerequisites: Coun 520A, and 520B, or documented consent of instructor.

523. Working With Families in School Settings (4)

This course has as its focus a study of systems, particularly family systems and how they impact and interact with all the systems that involve the child. Basic to this is the study of the students' own family of origin and its impact on the student. The primary emphasis in working with families will be the use of Solution-Focused Counseling. Each student is required to lead or co-lead a parent education group in a school setting during the last half of the course. Prerequisite: COUN 510A.

524. Seminar: Counseling Children & Adolescents (4)

525. Psychological and Educational Assessment (2) Fall & Spring

Investigation of the nature and rationale of psychological measurement, both individual and group, with emphasis on its utility in community and/or school settings. Attention is given to both limitations and justification in the measurement of human characteristics. Class fee is required at time of registration.

526. Seminar: Group Counseling in the Schools (4)

This didactic and experiential course examines the concepts and practices unique to group counseling in the schools. Psycho-educational strategies in the school setting are emphasized. Particular attention is given to processes and challenges involved in the implementation of these strategies. As well, effectiveness and evaluation issues will be explored.The dynamics and procedures involved in working with groups will be studied with members as participants and as leaders.

527A. Seminar: Legal Issues in Special Education (1)

This course provides an overview of special education law. Topics include: the different legal categories of exceptionally Individualized Educational Program (IEP) procedures, suspension, and expulsion of students with disabilities and Section 504 Accommodation Plans.

527B. Seminar: Law & Ethics for School Counselors (2)

This course examines the legal and ethical responsibilities of the school counselor. Course topics include: educational counseling, child abuse reporting, confidentiality, recordkeeping, and attendance and truancy laws.

528A. Seminar: Consultation (3)

This course provides a general framework for understanding and practicing consultation, collaborative problem solving and systems level intervention in educational settings. An exploration of the stages of consultation and the major models of consultation are covered. Students will gain experience in the delivery of consultation services.

528B. Seminar: Crisis Intervention (1)

This course focuses on prevention, response, and recovery during a crisis, and the counselor's role as part of a crisis intervention team. Crises include school violence, accident, and the death or suicide of a student or faculty member. Maintaining the safety and security of the school community emphasized.

535. Developmental & Clinical Issues with Children & Adolescents (4)

A course offering a developmental psychology perspective on kinds of counseling interventions appropriately undertaken with children and adolescents. Course objectives include: (1) providing students with an introduction to basic intervention strategies for counseling children and adolescents; (2) familiarizing students with special topics, e.g., impact of divorce on children, child abuse, effects of domestic violence; and (3) consideration of developmental contexts in working with children and adolescents.

540. Marriage and Family Counseling (4) Fall

This course offers a foundation for understanding couple and family relationships by providing an overview of historical and contemporary models of assessment and intervention, including ways to work with families reflecting diversity. Attention is devoted to important legal and ethical considerations unique to working with families and couples, assessment tools, crisis intervention (including domestic violence), and treatment planning. Prerequisites: COUN 510A or consent of instructor.

545. Law and Ethics for the Counselor (3) Fall

A course designed to clarify the legal and ethical responsibilities of the community counselor. Legal standards related to counseling practice will be surveyed, including issues related to dissolution; child care, custody, and abuse; confidentiality; involuntary hospitalization; mandatory reporting requirements; detection, assessment, and treatment of domestic violence; and other issues related to the relationship between law and counseling.

570. Cross-Cultural Awareness in Counseling (3) Fall, Spring

Course is designed to provide students with an understanding of how ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and gender can affect counseling processes. Students will identify their own unique ethnic and cultural world view and see how it affects their counseling approaches in both community and school counseling settings. Students will also become knowledgeable about various ethnic groups in the United States and how majority culture influences their daily lives and their responses to counseling. The seminar will address cross-cultural aspects of counseling children, youth, and adults.

580A. Seminar: Relationship Counseling (3) Spring

This course will explore relationship counseling from a variety of theories accompanied by their treatment approaches. An ecological approach to couples' functioning will be advocated with the result that counseling interventions will reflect the pluralistic needs of couples who are often embedded in complex social systems (including the legal system, the health system, among others). Issues such as domestic violence, developmental challenges, parenting/step-parenting, infertility, and extramarital engagements will be discussed. Cross-cultural perspectives and ethical issues will be integrated into all discussions. Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in Coun580B, 510A or consent of instructor. Coun 540 is recommended.

580B. Seminar: Sexuality Counseling (1) Spring

This course provides students with knowledge and skills about counseling adults and couples about sexuality issues. Included are the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural variables associated with sexual identity, sexual behavior, sexual disorders, sexual function and dysfunction, sex roles, gender identity, trauma and abuse, and aging. A biopsychosocial approach will be taken in working with individuals and couples presenting with a wide variety of sexual concerns; ethical and legal considerations in working with sexuality issues will be addressed as will issues of transference and counter-transference in working with these sensitive and intimate issues. Concurrent enrollment in Coun 580A.

581. Introduction to Chemical Dependency (1) Fall, Spring, or Summer

A survey course designed to provide a broad conceptual base regarding the major dimensions of dependence upon drugs/alcohol. Emphasis is on practical issues from the standpoint of the family and the community. The course explores historical and current modes of treatment, intervention, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of psychopathology and family systems prior to enrollment. This course is designed to provide specific instruction in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency and is designed to meet the requirements issues by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, State of California.

582. Psychopharmacology (2) Spring

Introduction to principles of psychopharmacology and to the community counselor's role in the effective and ethical use of psychiatric medications with therapy clients (i.e., referral, consultation, monitoring, etc.). Content includes basic psychopharmacological principles, physiological actions, and therapeutic and adverse effects of major psychiatric drugs. Attention is given to the historical and sociopolitical contextual issues surrounding the use of psychiatric medication.

595. Special Studies (1-4)

596. Supervised Field Experience (1-4)

Counseling experience supervised by Counseling Department faculty. Experience can be gained both at on-campus Community Counseling Clinic or in outreach programs in the community. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. For School Counseling students: permission of School Counseling faculty. CR/NC only.