Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
Course descriptions
Prerequisite Course
PY 500 Understanding Psychological Research (3) Overview of basic research methods in psychology. Active participation in problem formulation, research design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and use of APA style in writing research reports. Prerequisites: Baccalaureate degree (or permission of instructor) and one statistics course.
Masters Courses
PY 601 Professional Counseling: Theory, Skills, and Practice I (4)
This course is designed to review, compare, and contrast prevailing theories of counseling, to practice some of the basic methods of counseling, and to develop skills necessary to enhance the counseling relationship. Emphasis is upon communication, self-awareness of one's own behavior and its effect upon others, and the development of one's ability to accurately interpret the behavior of others. Under faculty supervision, some limited opportunities are provided to practice these skills.
PY 603 Assessment in Counseling (4)
Foundation for conducting psychological assessments in the counseling setting. Hands-on experience with testing and assessment procedures common in the field. Administration of tests, such as the TAT, MMPI-2, Wechsler series intelligence tests, etc.
PY 604 Professional Counseling: Theory, Skills, and Practice II (4)
This course is designed to practice additional methods of counseling and develop more sophisticated skills necessary to enhance the counseling relationship. Emphasis is upon a variety of counseling paradigms including RET, Behavior Therapy, Adlerian techniques, and Gestalt processes. Under faculty supervision, opportunities are provided to practice these skills.
PY 605 Advanced Human Development (4)
Exploration of significant issues within developmental psychology as they relate to counseling, utilizing a life-span developmental perspective is encouraged.
PY 606 Advanced Abnormal Psychology (4)
Through this course, the student becomes familiar with the current psychological perspectives on pathological behavior. The conceptual and structural models of the most current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) are emphasized.
PY 607 Group Counseling (4)
Foundations of various methods of group therapy. Exploration of individual, interpersonal, and group processes that occur within the parameters of group counseling.
PY 608 Couples and Family Therapy (4)
Introduction to current methods of couples and family therapy, e.g., structural, systems, behavioral, etc. The application and efficacy of these methods are emphasized.
PY 609 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling (4)
Exploration of a broad range of topics relevant to the mental health practitioner. Of particular importance are cross-cultural counseling, drug and alcohol issues, gender issues, geriatric issues, domestic violence, and preventive models.
PY 610 Design and Principles of Research (4)
Quantitative and qualitative approaches to conducting research. Foundation of concepts necessary for professional consumption of research literature. Practice in requisite conceptual, speaking, and writing skills for effective professional communication of ideas.
PY 611 Professional Orientation and Ethics (4)
This course provides an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing. A special emphasis is given to providing a solid foundation in professional ethics.
PY 640 Brief Therapy (4)
Introduction to the cooperative therapeutic model of solution focused counseling and other brief therapy models. Includes various application and intervention approaches used by the brief therapist.
PY 660 Career and Lifestyle Counseling (4)
This course provides a theoretical foundation and opportunities for practical application of career and lifestyle counseling strategies. It focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to provide professional career counseling services to an adult population in a variety of transitional life stages. Students will have an opportunity to examine major theories of career choice and development, career assessment instruments and their use, and the counseling models associated with these theories and measurements. They will also explore lifestyle and career needs of young, middle, and older adults.
PY 690 Professional Seminar (4)
This seminar is taken in the final semester, affording each student an opportunity to pursue a topic of special interest. The seminar meets biweekly in order to discuss the problems and issues that arise in doing one's own work. The culminating professional paper may take many forms. A traditional paper might be a quantitative or qualitative research report. A nontraditional paper might be a description and evaluation of an action project carried out during the semester or an interpreted debate representing opposing points of view. Components might include video, performance, or other creative formats. At the end of the semester students present their work to faculty and peers.
PY 699 Counseling Internship (8)
Experience as an intern counselor at a professional site in the community. This involves at least 15 hours a week, including the course meeting time, for a total of 450 hours over two semesters. The MSCP Director must approve the internship site in advance. Prerequisite: Admission to degree candidacy.
