Online Master's Degree Recommended Course Work

Introduction to the philosophical bases, history and development of counseling as a profession. Includes an emphasis on ethical and legal issues, as well as a focus on counselor roles and functions in various settings and current issues in professional practice. Addresses active listening and provides training in entry-level counseling skills through a laboratory experience.

Introduces the roles and perspectives of clinical mental health counselors. Focuses on the professional knowledge base, skills and practices that are essential for counseling in a wide variety of clinical mental health settings. Introduces mental health delivery models and concepts, prevention strategies, interventions with target populations, crisis intervention, disaster responses and interventions for clients with mental disorders and their families.

Covers the ethical foundations and standards of the counseling profession. Focuses on how to apply ethical standards and legal and professional guidelines to situations faced by counselors in clinical mental health counseling settings. Discusses issues relevant to training, credentialing and professional issues in the field of counseling.

An examination of the interaction among biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that influence human development over the life-span. Reviews theoretical frameworks describing optimal human development, as well as the developmental etiology of problematic behaviors. Discusses educational and counseling implications of these issues.

Reviews and critically analyzes the major theoretical systems of counseling, as well as current research about counseling and therapy. Focuses on applying theoretical approaches and techniques to client conceptualization and counseling practice.

Covers current theory, research and practice approaches within the field of multicultural counseling. Explores the topic of cultural diversity across multiple aspects of identity, with a focus on implications for professional practice, including advocacy work.

Reviews theories underlying various research methodologies and the research process. Methods for needs assessment and program evaluation are considered. Includes development of a research proposal including the identification of a research problem and preparation of a research plan.

Covers concepts of psychopathology and introduces methods of assessment and diagnosis for children, adolescents and adults with major mental disorders and personality disorders. Multiple perspectives of clients' emotional and psychological distress, disturbances and behaviors are considered. Focuses on the development of students' knowledge and skills to use the DSM diagnostic system while including acknowledgement of client strengths and resilience and the social and cultural context.

Introduction to the basic concepts and methods for the psychological assessment of individuals in school, work and mental health settings. Testing and assessment is presented within an ethical, social and cultural context. Students' knowledge and skills to select, use and interpret selected standardized tests, checklists and rating forms are developed. Measures for assessing intelligence, achievement, personality, vocational interests and mental health issues are covered as is the use of clinical interviews to identify client issues.

Reviews theoretical approaches of career counseling and programming, as well as psychological, social and cultural factors that influence life-long career/vocational development. Components of career development programs and services are considered, as well as sources and uses of occupational and educational information.

Purposes, functions, types, and principles of group counseling. Dynamics of group interaction. Leadership of groups. Understanding of and ability to engage in and evaluate small group processes and relationships. Students experience group processes and the therapeutic value of groups by participating as members of an in-class group or facilitating a group off-campus.

Introduction to theoretical approaches and methods of family counseling. Overview of the history and current issues in family counseling.

Introduction to theory and research about the prevention and treatment of substance abuse disorders. Emphasizes research-supported strategies and counseling skills designed to meet individual client needs.

Examines the theories and research regarding trauma, trauma response and trauma counseling. Reviews the psychological and physiological effects of various types of trauma. Focuses on case conceptualization skills and a trauma informed perspective and approach to counseling.

Explores advanced counseling diagnosis, treatment planning and intervention skills based on evidence-based practice. Students learn how to implement a structured diagnostic interview, engage in differential diagnosis and develop treatment planning. An emphasis is placed on the application of cognitive-behavioral interventions for disorders identified in DSM-5, as well as student demonstrations of treatment interventions.

Developmental stages and tasks of children and adolescents; theories and techniques of developmental and remedial counseling with children and adolescents; warning signs, possible causes and prevention and intervention strategies of behavior problems. Focuses on the assessment and integration of strength-based counseling approaches in counseling children and adolescents and addresses collaboration and consultation with families, schools and communities.

Medical and psychiatric care and rehabilitation; physical restoration; etiology, prognosis and therapy of common disabling conditions. Theory of psychosocial, cultural and contextual aspects of disability and the effect on disability management and quality of life. Psychiatric rehabilitation interventions address community assertive treatment, independent living and the club house model.

Supervised counseling experiences in assessment, diagnosis, intervention, prevention and consultation. Students engage in the internship activities at approved sites in the greater Milwaukee area and meet on campus weekly for a didactic seminar and group supervision. Three credits of internship require a minimum of 300 clock hours of practicum activities. Students are placed in settings that provide clinical training that is aligned with the general clinical mental counseling program or that is focused on their identified specialization (i.e., addictions counseling, child-adolescent counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling). Addresses clinical mental health counseling practice and professional issues relevant to each specialization track.

Supervised counseling practicum experience that requires a minimum of 100 clock hours (including 40 direct hours) and leads to the development of counseling skills. Students engage in their practicum activities at approved sites in the greater Milwaukee area and meet on campus weekly for a didactic seminar that furthers counseling skills and provides group supervision. Students are placed in settings that provide clinical training that is aligned with the general clinical mental counseling program or that is focused on their identified specialization (i.e., addictions counseling, child-adolescent counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling). Addresses clinical mental health counseling practice and professional issues relevant to each specialization.

Supervised counseling experiences in assessment, diagnosis, intervention, prevention and consultation. Students engage in the internship activities at approved sites in the greater Milwaukee area and meet on campus weekly for a didactic seminar and group supervision. Three credits of internship require a minimum of 300 clock hours of practicum activities. Students are placed in settings that provide clinical training that is aligned with the general clinical mental counseling program or that is focused on their identified specialization (i.e., addictions counseling, child-adolescent counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling). Addresses clinical mental health counseling practice and professional issues relevant to each specialization track.