Master's Degrees Recommended Course Work

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling


Fall Year 1

COUN 6000*
Introduction to Counseling

COUN 6000 Course description

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.

COUN 6020*
Life-Span Human Development

COUN 6020 Course description

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.

COUN 6030*
Theories of Counseling

COUN 6030 Course description

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.

COUN 6060*
Psychopathology and Diagnosis

COUN 6060 Course description

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.

 

Spring Year 1

COUN 6003*
Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

COUN 6003 Course description

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.

COUN 6012*
Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in CMHC

COUN 6012 Course description

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.

COUN 6120*
Group Counseling

COUN 6120 Course description

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.

COUN 6965*
Counseling Practicum

COUN 6965 Course description

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.

 

Summer Year 1

COUN 6080
Career Development and Counseling

COUN 6080 Course description

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.

COUN 6150
Addictions Counseling

COUN 6150 Course description

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.

ELECTIVE

ELECTIVE

 

Fall Year 2

COUN 6040**
Multicultural Counseling

COUN 6040 Course description

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.

COUN 6050**
Research Methods in Counseling

COUN 6050 Course description

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.

COUN 6070**
Assessment in Counseling

COUN 6070 Course description

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.

COUN 6986
Internship in Counseling

COUN 6986 Course description

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.

 

Spring Year 2

COUN 6180
Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling

COUN 6180 Course description

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.

COUN 6130
Family Counseling

COUN 6130 Course description

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

COUN 6170
Trauma Counseling

COUN 6170 Course description

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.

COUN 6986
Internship in Counseling

COUN 6986 Course description

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.

CPCE Complete by end of February, year 2.

*Prerequisite for COUN 6986 Internship in Counseling
**Must be taken prior to or concurrently with COUN 6986 Internship in Counseling

 

Specialization Requirements/Electives

(Note: The below courses can be electives for CMHC students without a specialization)


Addictions Specialization

COUN 6230
Psychopharmacology

COUN 6230 Course description

Introduction to psychopharmacology including central nervous system, basic drug mechanisms, modes of drug action, medication treatment for psychological/psychiatric disorders and efficiency of drugs.


Child/Adolescent Specialization

COUN 6160
Counseling with Children & Adolescents

COUN 6160 Course description

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.


Possible Electives for All Students

COUN 6090
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities

COUN 6090 Course description

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.

COUN 6986
Internship in Counseling (may be required for certain sites)

COUN 6986 Course description

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.

 

Master of Arts in School Counseling


Fall Year 1

COUN 6000*
Introduction to Counseling

COUN 6000 Course description

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.

COUN 6020*
Life-Span Human Development

COUN 6020 Course description

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.

COUN 6030*
Theories of Counseling

COUN 6030 Course description

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.

COUN 6060*
Psychopathology and Diagnosis

COUN 6060 Course description

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.

 

Spring Year 1

COUN 6001*
Foundations of School Counseling

COUN 6001 Course description

Focuses on the principles and techniques of school counseling, as outlined by the American School Counselor Association National Model for School Counseling Programs. Covers consultation with parents and school personnel, program planning and curriculum intervention, roles and functions of counselors and other school personnel and contemporary school counseling issues.

COUN 6010*
Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in School Counseling

COUN 6010 Course description

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

COUN 6120*
Group Counseling

COUN 6120 Course description

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.

COUN 6970*
School Counseling Practicum

COUN 6970 Course description

A supervised 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.

 

Summer Year 1

COUN 6080*
Career Development and Counseling

COUN 6080 Course description

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.

COUN 6160**
Counseling with Children and Adolescents

COUN 6160 Course description

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.

 

Fall Year 2

COUN 6070**
Assessment in Counseling

COUN 6070 Course description

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.

COUN 6040**
Multicultural Counseling

COUN 6040 Course description

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.

COUN 6050**
Research Methods in Counseling

COUN 6050 Course description

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.

COUN 6990
Internship in School Counseling

COUN 6990 Course description

Supervised school counseling experiences in the development and implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program and services, including: crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, academic and career planning, consultation, and development and teaching of school counseling curriculum. Students engage in the internship activities at approved elementary, intermediate and high schools in Southeast Wisconsin 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.

 

Spring Year 2

COUN 6410
Leadership and Educational Administration for School Counseling

COUN 6410 Course description

Focuses on leadership and educational administration practices essential to the development of a comprehensive school counseling program within K-12 educational settings. Examines contemporary educational leadership practices and educational policy, principles of collaboration and teamwork in schools, organizational structure of schools, school emergency management policies and practices, school-community relations and the importance of these topics to school counseling practice and comprehensive school counseling program development.

COUN 6990
Internship in School Counseling

COUN 6990 Course description

Supervised school counseling experiences in the development and implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program and services, including: crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, academic and career planning, consultation, and development and teaching of school counseling curriculum. Students engage in the internship activities at approved elementary, intermediate and high schools in Southeast Wisconsin 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.

PRAXIS Exam
To be taken by the end of February

*Prerequisite for COUN 6990 Internship in School Counseling
**Must be taken prior to or concurrently with COUN 6990 Internship in School Counseling