Course Listing
COUN 507 Professional Identity, Function & Ethics 3
A process of self examination and professional development of one’s gifts and skills, ethical base, philosophical perspective and the integration of one’s faith with the role of counselor. A beginning study of the ACA code of ethics, professional identity, counselor role and the counseling process. A beginning experience of supervision and skill development. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 508 Counseling Techniques 3
An intensive practical experience in counseling techniques designed to prepare the student to enter the field placement/practicum phase of the degree program. Audio, video, personal supervision, and feedback are used to help the student attain competency in the application of theory in the counseling interview and the counseling relationship. Students are involved in a supervised practicum assignment in which they enter a counseling relationship with another person. Prerequisite: COUN 507; co-requisite COUN 528. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 517 Advanced Developmental Psychology 3
A study of life span learning and personality development with application to counseling. Both individual and family development are studied. Covers topics related to the physical, cognitive, social and emotional aspects of growth. Change processes, stresses accompanying change, and strategies for facilitating development will be explored. Implications of multicultural and pluralistic trends are examined.
COUN 518 Integrated Counseling Process: Skills, Techniques, & Intervention 3
This course provides an opportunity to apply counseling techniques in working with clients. Class sessions and readings will explore various ways to implement counseling techniques and utilize apropriate client interventions in clinical work. Theoretical models will provide a context from which to apply each counseling technique. Students will engage in experiential exercises, techniques based role-plays and skill enhancement group praxis. Students are encouraged to take risks and develop their personal style in applying experiential methods in treatment. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 527 Psychopathology 3
An in-depth examination of primary mental/behavioral disorders, including considerations of their origin, treatment, and prevention. Includes an introduction to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the primary guide to diagnosis used by mental health professionals, and its use in the diagnostic process. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 528 Practicum 3
An intensively supervised practical experience in a setting consistent with the student’s area of interest/specialization. The student assumes the professional role and responsibilities of a counselor under supervision by an approved professional. Minimum of 100 counseling hours. Prerequisite: COUN 507; co-requisite COUN 508. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 537 Counseling Research and Program Evaluation 3
A review of the research methods used in counseling. Included are experiences in searching research literature databases, understanding basic statistics and using statistical software, planning research, and communicating research findings. The application of research strategies to program evaluation is emphasized. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 542 Psychology of Religious Experience 3
A focus on the dialogue between psychology and theology as it relates to religious experience. Various religious realities such as childhood religious experience, conversion, mysticism, adult religious experience and prayer are addressed. The academic discipline of the psychology of religion is explored for relevant insights. There is also an examination of various developmental theories with respect to their application to religious experience. Students focus on a particular topic or issue for in-depth exploration. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 547 Counseling Theories 3
An examination of the various contemporary theories and techniques of counseling. These approaches are examined critically from a faith perspective. Opportunity also is given to develop a personal counseling theoretical statement with incorporation of ethics and professional identity. Co-requisite: COUN 507. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 557 Assessment and Evaluation Procedures 3
Students achieve basic understanding of assessment and evaluation procedures. Special emphasis is given to counseling decision making and treatment planning. Theoretical and applied material will be integrated so as to provide the student with an understanding of the context of assessment and evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on equipping students to understand technical terms in professional journals, test manuals, and test reports. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 567 Group Counseling 3
This course will focus on the theories, dynamics, process, and practice of group counseling. Leadership styles and approaches, and a variety of types of groupwork, are studied. Experiential learning is emphasized. Prerequisite: COUN 507. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 577 Spirituality and Religion in Counseling (var 1-3)
An exploration of spirituality and religion in counseling. The spiritual dimensions of counseling involve ethical practice in a context of multicultural and pluralistic trends that support diversity of religious beliefs. We work at the integration of the ethical vision of the counseling profession with the Anabaptist vision of offering healing and hope in our diverse world, actualizing the values of Christian discipleship, community, service, and peacebuilding. We will examine how counseling praxis informs our spirituality and our religious commitments. Students will be expected to address these issues of integration from their own experience of spirituality, and their own religious tradition. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 587 Crisis Intervention and Trauma Healing 3
Students gain education and limited experience in effectively dealing with clients in crisis. Specific attention will be given to assessment, identification, treatment methods, and available resources for clients in crisis. Theoretical and applied information is presented. Student’s personal response to crisis is also explored.
COUN 607 Multicultural Counseling 3
Explores theories and techniques useful to multicultural counseling. Identifies new approaches to diversity incorporating cultural dynamics of the individual and groups. The course will include self-exploration, identification of skills and study of models which expand attention to cross-cultural issues of congregations and community. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 617 Child & Adolescent Counseling 3
A study of the dynamics shaping the development and behavior of children, adolescents, and families. Emphasis is on diagnosis with a framework for systematic observation and interview techniques.
COUN 618 Capstone Seminar 3
Designed for the beginning to intermediate intern, this course enters the student into intensive group supervision with regard to diagnostics, the counseling relationship, counseling theory and style, and advanced skill training. A concentrated two week DSM-IV workshop is included. The capstone project for the Master of Arts in Counseling degree consists of three components. The first component, completed in Counselor Formation III, is a paper which addresses the student’s counselor identity, including an account of personal identity, theoretical orientation, and professional role(s). The second component is a community action project implementing a prevention project, an advocacy project, or a counseling outreach project, and including an impact assessment of this work. The third component is a written reflection and presentation on the identity statement (component one), in light of the community action project (component two). The student will share their project with the faculty and peers in the Capstone Seminar. Prerequisite: Admission to Candidacy. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 627 Marriage and Family Counseling 3
An introduction to family systems counseling as a means of providing counseling to couples and families. A variety of family systems theories and techniques are explored from a faith perspective. Students develop a genogram covering their own family experience. Various issues such as sexuality, gender, abuse, divorce, culture and ethnicity, and blended family experience will be discussed. Practical experience is a requirement for the course and ethical issues are integrated in the study. Prerequisite: COUN 567. Download the syllabus (PDF)
PAX 533 Analysis: Understanding Conflict 3
This course will provide a broad introduction to the field of conflict transformation. We will be reviewing skills and concepts for responding to conflict in a variety of settings. Through readings, lecture, class discussion, and papers the course will develop awareness of individual styles of responding to conflict and increase personal skills for responding effectively to others in situations of interpersonal conflict. The student will become familiar with the basic literature available in the field and the particular understanding of conflict transformation found at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). In today’s world the skills developed are instrumental for peacebuilding venues of many types.
COUN 637 Career Counseling 3
Students will recognize the importance and uniqueness of career counseling. Emphasis is given to developmental consideration and the role of testing. Career development counseling considers the issues of personal faith and values, Christian calling, and ethics. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 647 School Counseling Program Management
This course will assist students in developing a set of professional competencies, which lead to the establishment of a data-driven results-based accountability school counseling program. School counselor leadership, advocacy, collaboration, use of data and technology will be emphasized. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 677 Independent Studies Arr.
This refers to studies of specific issues or areas not covered by any of the standard offerings. These studies may be requested by the student or suggested by an instructor. Approval by the instructor and the director is required. Methodology may involve assigned readings, written reports or any other methods the supervising instructor chooses. A student should have credit for three courses, and must qualify academically for independent study in the judgment of the director before approval is granted. A limited number of hours in independent study will be applied toward a degree.
COUN 688 Internship 3
The internship experience is designed to give advanced students in counseling the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout their counseling program. The student may select from a variety of supervised field experiences in mental health related settings. Minimum of 600 counseling hours. Prerequisite: Admission to Candidacy. Download the syllabus (PDF)
COUN 697 Addictions Counseling 3
This includes related personal, social, emotional and physiological factors in addictions. Various aspects and difficulties in the diagnosis of addiction will be studied. Treatment methods will be studied and ethical principles unique to this work will be covered. Download the syllabus (PDF)
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