Courses required for graduation with a Master of Arts in School Counseling
(note: click on course number to jump to description)FIRST YEAR: (Full-time students will complete 36 credits, including summer term)
Fall Semester
| EDCE 559 | Critical Issues in School Counseling | 3 credits |
| EDCE 639 | Counseling Theories | 3 credits |
| EDCE 695 | Pre-Practicum in Counseling | 3 credits |
| EDCE 698 | Research and Statistics | 4 credits |
| EDCE 585 | Introduction to School Counseling | 2 credits |
| 15 Credits Total |
Spring Semester
| EDCE 588 | Human Growth and Development | 3 credits |
| EDCE 616 | Psychopathology & Psychopharmacology | 4 credits |
| EDCE 650 | Group Process | 2 credits |
| EDCE 696 | Practicum | 3 credits |
| EDCE 587 | Child and Adolescent Counseling | 3 credits |
| EDCE 595 | Special Issues in School Counseling | 1 credit |
| 16 Credits Total |
Summer Semester
| EDCE 565 | Assessment in School Counseling | 2 credits |
| EDCE 605 | Counseling and Occupational Choice/Career Dev. | 2 credits |
| First Year: | 35 Credits Total |
SECOND YEAR: (Full-time students will complete 18 credits, including Summer Term)
Fall Semester
| EDCE 697 A | Internship | 5 credits |
| EDCE 664 | Group Facilitation | 2 credits |
| 7 Credits Total |
Spring Semester
| EDCE 697 B | Internship | 5 credits |
| EDCE 550 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 credits |
| 8 Credits Total |
Summer Semester
| EDCE 689 | Professional Seminar | 3 credits |
| EDCE 699 | Comprehensive Oral Examination | 0 credit |
| EDCE 693 | School Counseling Oral Examination | 0 credit |
| Second Year: | 18 Credits Total | |
| M.A. Program: | 53 Credits Total |
EDCE 550: Multicultural Counseling
Students gain insight into the significance of culture and how it relates to behavior and mental health. Students also become adept in several counseling styles that are successful with diverse ethnicities. There are presentations by representatives of various ethnic groups.
EDCE 559: Critical Issues in School Counseling
This course will introduce students to ethical codes adopted by the counseling profession and help them apply these standards in a school setting. An emphasis is placed on helping each student to examine and become aware of their beliefs and values and the potential impact these might have on the way they provide counseling.
EDCE 565: Assessment in School Counseling
This course is intended to familiarize students with test and non-test methods of appraisal, including administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests. Individual and group tests in schools are surveyed. It is stressed that this course is not intended to qualify students to perform psychological assessments or to otherwise perform assessment services to the public. Its purpose is to familiarize students with appraisal methods and instruments typically used in school and to assist students in the process of performing assessment appropriate to school counseling.
EDCE 585: Introduction to School Counseling
This course introduces school counseling and provides an overview of the profession. The role of the counslor is examined in the content of the K-12 school environment and school reform. A basic framework for comprehensive school counseling programs is introduced. Student achievement and personal/social and career development are discussed in relation to current societal and educational issues. Education reform, creating comprehensive counseling programs, relevant school law, crisis intervention, proactive programming, exceptional populations, and school safety are among the topics that will be addressed.
EDCE 587: Child-Adolescent Counseling
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth exploration of the mental health issues specific to this population. Special emphasis is placed on "normal" development versus "pathological" development, and there is special sensitivity to the issues of child abuse, multicultural awareness, and at-risk populations. Students are introduced to a variety of counseling procedures and interventions appropriate to both agency and school settings.
EDCE 588: Human Growth and Development
Through this course, students review theories of individual and family development and transitions across the life-span; theories of learning and personality development, and human behavior, including an understanding of developmental crises, disability, addictive behavior, and environmental factors as they affect both normal and abnormal behavior.
EDCE 595: Special Issues in School Counseling
This course is intended to extend the knowledge and skills introduced in EDCE 585 as students begin the application of this knowledge and skill base in their practicum settings. The course will include strategies of leadership designed to enhance the learning environment. Barriers that impede student academic, career, personal/social success, and overall development will be explored through a discussion format.
EDCE 605: Occupational Choice and Career Development in Counseling
This course is designed to acquaint students with the theory, practice, and pragmatic aspects of vocational and life planning counseling. Students develop their own theoretical assumptions regarding vocational development and choice, integrate their theory into counseling practice, become familiar with information systems and centers, and prepare a comprehensive life planning program appropriate for use in future employment settings.
EDCE 616: Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
This course is designed to provide a cognitive foundation in theoretical and treatment perspectives on psychopathological disorders of adults, including an understanding of the application of these perspectives in clinical settings for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Attention is given to identifying the specific symptoms associated with common psychological disorders, the multi-axial evaluation system of the DSM IV, differential diagnostic considerations, and psychopharmacological issues and interventions. The issues of severity of psychosocial stressors as well as the importance of actual adaptive functioning levels associated with each disorder are covered.
EDCE 639: Counseling Theories
Attempting to counsel without a solid philosophical base is counterproductive. In addition to developing their own theories, students in this course have the opportunity to examine what other leaders in the counseling field have written and how a theory of counseling affects quality of service.
EDCE 650: Group Process
This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of group counseling and psychotherapy. The development of an understanding of group dynamics and group process are stressed. In order to provide the required experiential component to this course, it is offered in conjunction with EDCE 664 - Group Facilitation.
EDCE 664: Group Facilitation
This course provides experience in developing and refining group leadership techniques with emphasis on group simulations and demonstrations.
EDCE 689: Professional Seminar
This course prepares students for the final Oral Examination. Students work with their primary professors and with their small groups to revise and refine their personal Theories of Counseling. They are given the opportunity to "defend" this personal theory in a format similar to that of the action final Oral Examination.
EDCE 693: School Counseling Oral Examination - Permission of Chairperson
EDCE 695: Counseling Pre-Practicum
Students develop their own counseling style and begin integrating their theories of counseling into a personal process of counseling. Through this course, students develop skills, strategies, and techniques critical to counseling.
EDCE 696: Counseling Practicum
This course is designed to serve as the transition between the Pre-Practicum phase of the counselor's professional development and the Internship experience. During their 100 hour placement, of which 40 hours will be direct service, students gain working knowledge of record keeping, resources, and office protocol. They will regularly observe and receive feedback from the field supervisor and begin to carry a case load of clients.
EDCE 697A: Internship
This course provides a minimum of 300 hours on-site counseling eperiences (120 hours of which must be in direct service) under direct supervision for advanced students. Students integrate their personal theory of counseling into practice and function as an intern in the school or agency setting, demonstrate professional ethics and standards of care, and demonstrate professional counseling skills, strategies, and techniques.
EDCE 697B: Internship
A second semester continuation of EDCE 697A. A further 300 hours of experience, with 120 hours of direct service is required.
EDCE 698: Research and Statistics
This course is designed to acquaint students with the language and tools of research and statistics. Often students who do graduate work in counseling do not come to this course with a strong background in research. A specific goal of this course is to make research and statistics a subject that students become comfortable with and also an area that they come to enjoy.
EDCE 699: Comprehensive Oral Examination - Permission of Chairperson
| Counselor Education Department: Debbie Hanna, secretary: hanna@gonzaga.edu (509) 313-3501 or (800) 533-2554 |
Graduate Admissions: soegrad@gonzaga.edu (509) 313-3481 or (800) 533-2554 |
