Counseling/Psychology Programs

Counseling Programs

Elementary and Secondary School Counselor Programs, leading to the Master of Science in Counselor Education degree, are designed to provide the counselor-in-training with the personal and professional skills necessary for developing competencies in individual and group counseling, consultation, educational planning and career development. Both programs meet the certification requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Educational Specialist I.

Master of Arts Program in Mental Health Counseling, prepares counselors for careers in settings such as mental health, child welfare and family counseling agencies; institutions for the aging; employment and personnel offices; parishes; college counseling centers and fields dealing with chemical dependency and other addictions.

An Art Therapy concentration is available within the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling. Additional credits are required. Please contact the department for additional details.

Master of Science in Counselor Education

Secondary School Counselor

48 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES

6 semester hours
EDUC 501 Research Theory 3
PSY 514 Human Development 3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION

42 semester hours
COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 505 Career Development I 3
COUN 518 Applied Practice I 3
COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals 3
COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling 3
COUN 544 Counseling Techniques 3
COUN 545 Applied Practice II in Secondary School Counseling 3
COUN 546 Organization and Administration of Counseling Services 3
COUN 552A,B,C Internship in Secondary School Counseling 3 total
COUN 572 Counselor Education Seminar-Secondary 3
COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing 3
COUN 581 Socio-Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents 3
PSY 572 Introduction to Group Psychotherapy 3
* "B" grade required

Elementary School Counselor

48 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES

6 semester hours
EDUC 501 Research Theory 3
PSY 514 Human Development 3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION

42 semester hours
COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 505 Career Development 3
COUN 518 Applied Practice I 3
COUN 521 The Role of the Counselor Consultant in the Elementary School 3
COUN 523 Applied Practice II in Elementary School Counseling 3
COUN 524A,B,C Internship in Elementary School Counseling 3 total
COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals 3
COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling 3
COUN 544 Counseling Techniques 3
COUN 572 Counselor Education Seminar - Elementary 3
COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing 3
PSY 563 Assessment of Learning 3
PSY 572 Introduction to Group Psychotherapy 3
*"B" grade required

Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling

60 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES

6 semester hours
PSY 514 Human Development 3
PSY 503 Research Methods and Statistics I 3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION

45 semester hours
COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 505 Career Development 3
COUN 507 Principles and Practices of Mental Health Counseling 3
COUN 518 Applied Practice I 3
COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 530 Ethics and Professional Conduct in Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals 3
COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling 3
COUN 544 Counseling Techniques 3
COUN 545 Applied Practice II in Counseling 3
COUN 553A,B,C,D Internship in Mental Health Counseling 6 total
PSY 531 Psychopathology 3
COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing 3
PSY 572 Introduction to Group Psychotherapy 3
* "B" grade required

III. Electives

9 semester hours
Nine credits are taken in counselor or related disciplines, depending on the experiential background, interests and professional goals of the student.

Suggested Counseling Electives

COUN 506 Career Development II
COUN 538 Psychopharmacology
COUN 574 Family Counseling
COUN 575 Counseling the Aged
COUN 582 Counseling the Abuser of Drugs and Alcohol
COUN 583 Human Sexuality
COUN 584 Marital Counseling and Therapy
COUN 586 Chemical Dependency
COUN 587 Counseling the Divorced and Separated
COUN 588 Introduction to Pastoral Counseling: Foundation, Theory, Practice
COUN 589 Seminar in Pastoral Counseling

Psychology and other University courses can be elected with the advice of and/or permission of the student's advisor and the program director.

Sequence of Counseling Courses

Students are reminded that certain courses are sequential and may not be taken out of sequence. Students are not permitted to take Applied Practice II and Internship simultaneously. Students who are seeking their M.A. degrees in Mental Health Counseling must complete their degrees prior to applying for and enrolling in school certification programs. The counseling sequence is:

Coun 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling & Psychotherapy
Coun 518 Applied Practice I
Coun 525 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy
Coun 544 Counseling Techniques
Coun 523/Coun 545 Applied Practice II
Coun 524/Coun 552 Internship

Certain courses (i.e., Coun 544, Coun 523 and Coun 545) are not available during summer sessions. Some courses (i.e., Coun 521 and Coun 543) are summer only courses. Internship (excluding M.A. program) courses are not available during summer sessions.

Full-time students in the Counseling Programs should expect to spend a minimum of five (5) academic semesters (6 for Mental Health concentration) in order to complete their degree requirements.

Admission to Applied Practice II and Internship require permission of the academic advisor or applied practice/internship instructor.
All degree students must take a minimum of six credit hours (part-time) or nine credit hours (full-time) per semester and follow the program cohort model (see Departmental Student Handbook for details).

Psychology Programs

Program concentrations leading to the Master of Arts in Psychology are available in the following areas:

General/Theoretical Psychology
Clinical Services
Child Clinical/School

The Clinical Services and Child Clinical/School concentrations require a minimum of 48 graduate credits, while the General/Theoretical concentration requires a minimum of 45 credits. The specialty completed will be given a transcript designation.

In order to be admitted into the Clinical Services or Child Clinical/School program tracks students must (1) have a q.p.a. of at least 3.25 and (2) submit a supportive letter from at least one psychologist in the department (other supportive letters may be submitted as well). Applicants to these tracks may also be required to complete a personal interview with a faculty review committee as part of the review process.

I. Core Courses

21 semester hours
PSY 503 Research Methods and Statistics I 3
PSY 504 Research Methods and Statistics II 3
PSY 506 Physiological Psychology 3
OR
Psy 507 Neuropsychology 3
PSY 514 Human Development 3
OR
PSY 518 Advanced Human Development 3
PSY 517 Personality Psychology 3
PSY 521 Social Psychology 3
PSY 523 Contemporary Learning Theories 3

These courses are required for both concentration areas listed below. Students are encouraged to complete core courses early in their program of study.

The program stresses development of competencies. Alternate courses may be approved for those who can demonstrate competency in a required area. Test-out procedures for those who seek required course waivers should be discussed with the Department Chairperson. The student should understand that program adjustments will not diminish the number of credits required for a degree.

Psychology students are encouraged to take their comprehensive examinations upon completion of the seven required courses.

II. General/Theoretical Concentration

45 semester hours
This concentration is intended for those students who wish to develop a broad-based understanding of psychology for varied purposes (not necessarily involving clinical applications). Students select an appropriate set of elective courses from available department offerings with the approval of an advisor. The Professional Contribution requirement for this concentration may involve either Psychology 555 or Psychology 556.

III. Clinical Services Concentration

48 semester hours
This concentration is intended for those who wish to function in a mental health agency or other human services setting where the psychologist provides a range of consultative, assessment and therapeutic functions. In consultation with the advisor, selection of electives in this concentration may focus on specific client populations and areas of expertise. A course of studies can be designed that emphasizes work with children and adolescents or work with adults. Degree students who have long-range school psychology certification goals may also wish to consider this option. Choice of electives and their sequencing should be discussed with the advisor and/or Chairperson.
Further details regarding the Clinical Services concentration are provided in the Student Handbook of the department.

A. Assessment and Diagnostic Methods (9 credits minimum)

Psy 531 Psychopathology1 3
Psy 532 Child Psychopathology2 3
Psy 562 Individual Intelligence Testing (elective) 3
Psy 570 Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment Techniques (elective) 3
Psy 580 Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology in Adults
(elective) 3
Psy 581 Socio-emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents
(elective) 3

B. Intervention Methods (9 credits minimum)

Psy 571 Individual Psychotherapy (required) 3
Psy 577 Practicum (required) 3
Psy 526 Community Psychology (elective) 3
Psy 559 Pre-Practicum (elective)2 3
or
Coun 518 Applied Practice I (elective)2 3
Psy 572 Group Psychotherapy (elective) 3
Psy 573 Therapy with Children (elective) 3
Psy 574 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (elective) 3

C. Electives (3-9 credits)
Selection of elective courses in the department is in consultation with the advisor.

D. Closure Experience

Students, in consultation with their advisor and the Department Chairperson, may select one of the three alternatives listed below to meet the Closure Experience requirements of this concentration. Two of these (PSY 556, 578) are credit-bearing courses which reduce the number of elective credits from nine to six (see above).
PSY 555 Professional Contribution 0
PSY 556 Master's Thesis 3
PSY 578 Internship (variable credit, 3 credit minimum) 3
Students should note that the internship option requires permission of the advisor and the Department Chairperson. Further details regarding these alternatives are available in the Student Handbook of the department.

IV. Child Clinical/School Concentration

48 semester hours
This concentration is intended for those who wish to work with children or youth in a variety of settings. These included mental health or human services agencies, elementary and secondary school settings, family and educational counseling practices, and child development centers. This course of study provides the best preparation for further training in school psychology or in a Ph.D. program in child clinical or developmental psychology. Counselors and psychologists who are already working in clinical settings but who wish to enhance their skills with children and adolescents will also benefit from courses in this concentration.

Careful selection of courses will facilitate entrance into, and timely completion of the School Psychologist Certification Program (see page 164). Students should note that the certification program is separate from the degree program. While the degree and certification requirements may parallel each other at certain points, admission to the certification program occurs after completion of the degree program. Those interested in School Psychology certification should contact the Program Director for specific details. The certification program ordinarily requires completion of at least 60 graduate-level credits in addition to an extended field work experience.

A. Assessment and Diagnostic Methods (12 credits minimum)

Psy 532 Child Psychopathology (required) 3
Psy 581 Socio-Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents (required) 3
Psy 531 Adult Psychopathology (elective) 3
Psy 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing 3
(required if not taken as an undergraduate with
grade of "B" or higher; may be taken as an elective)
Psy 562 Cognitive Assessment (elective) 3
Psy 563 Assessment of Learning (elective) 3
Psy 580 Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology in Adults (elective) 3

B. Intervention Methods (12 credits minimum)

Coun 518 Applied Practice I (required) 3
Psy/S Ed 539 Behavior Management Approaches 3
Psy 585 Family - School Interventions 3
Psy 577 Practicum - Child Clinic / School Placement (required) 3
Psy 571 Introduction to Individual Psychotherapy (elective) 3
Psy 573 Therapy with Children (elective) 3
Psy 572 Group Psychotherapy (elective) 3
Psy 574 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (elective) 3
Coun 574 Family Therapy (elective) 3

C. Closure Experience (0 - 3 credits)

Psy 555 Professional Contribution 0
Psy 556 Master's Thesis 3
Psy 578 Internship (variable credit, 3 credit minimum) 3

Students are required to complete either Psy/S Ed 539 or Psy 585. Students may elect to take the 539 course either in Psychology or in Special Education.