Description

The counseling program is designed for preparing individuals for a career in professional mental health counseling or marriage and family counseling. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the necessary theory and skills for working with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of mental health settings. Depending on the specific Webster University campus, students have the option of either an emphasis in professional mental health counseling or an emphasis in marriage and family counseling.

Admissions

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate students, the counseling program also requires a strong background in the behavioral and social sciences gained from an undergraduate degree program, from any other formal study program, or from other documented learning.

All applicants must have a transcripted course or formal verification of competence in each of the following areas (or a content equivalent): human growth and development; psychology of learning and/or cognition; personality theory; abnormal psychology or psychopathology; and social psychology. In addition, it is recommended that the applicant have a working knowledge of statistical methods.

Individual applicants who do not have the above undergraduate courses or their equivalent will be evaluated as to their undergraduate/graduate experience by an admission advisor and the Counseling Faculty Advisory Committee. Additional coursework may be required to meet the admission requirements.

Transfer of graduate credit into the program must be approved by the Counseling Faculty Coordinator/Academic Advisor. Petitions for transfer of graduate credit must be evaluated at the time of admission.

Curriculum

Both of the degree emphases require satisfactory completion of 60 credit hours of coursework.

Counseling (M.A.) with an Emphasis in Professional Mental Health Counseling
Required Core Subject Area Courses:

• COUN 5020 Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship (Requisite Course)
• COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 5100 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• COUN 5140 Psychophamacology
• COUN 5150 Psychopathology
• COUN 5200 Theories of Counseling
• COUN 5220 Psychodiagnostic Assessment
• COUN 5230 Psychodiagnosties (3)
• COUN 5600 Techniques of Group Counseling
• COUN 5630 Substance Abuse Counseling
• COUN 5700 Lifestyle and Career Development
• COUN 5800 Professional Orientation and Ethics
• COUN 5850 Research and Evaluation
• COUN 6000 Counseling Learning Practicum (a minimum of 3 credit hours)
• COUN 6500 Internship (minimum of 9 credit hours)

In addition to the required 17 core subject area courses listed above, students select at least three electives from the counseling program curriculum to support the specific area of emphasis and fulfill the 20 courses needed for the degree.

• COUN 5020 Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship (Requisite Course)
• COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 5100 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• COUN 5140 Psychopharmacology
• COUN 5150 Psychopathology
• COUN 5220 Psychodiagnostic Assessment
• COUN 5230 Psychodiagnostics (3)
• COUN 5540 Family Systems Theory
• COUN 5545 Blended Family Therapy
• COUN 5640 Marriage and Family Counseling
• COUN 5645 Brief Strategic Family Therapy
• COUN 5650 Conjoint Counseling
• COUN 5660 Sexual Counseling (or COUN 5560 Human Sexuality)
• COUN 5800 Professional Orientation and Ethics
• COUN 5850 Research and Evaluation
• COUN 6000 Counseling Learning Practicum (a minimum of 3 credit hours)
• COUN 6500 Internship (minimun of 6 credit hours)

In addition to the required 18 core subject area courses listed above, students select electives from the counseling program curriculum to support the specific area of emphasis and fulfill the 20 courses needed for the degree.

Certain state licensure laws require specific courses in addition to the above required core subject area courses, and the student should consult with the Counseling Faculty Coordinator/Academic Advisor before selecting elective courses. Also please note that certain state licensure laws do not allow for courses to be completed through Directed Studies or electronically. The student should consult with the Counseling Faculty Coordinator/Academic Advisor regarding this option.

Counseling (M.A.) with an Emphasis in Community Counseling
Required Core Subject Area Courses:

• COUN 5020 Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship (Requisite Course)
• COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 5100 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• COUN 5200 Theories of Counseling
• COUN 5220 Psychodiagnostic Assessment
• COUN 5600 Techniques of Group Counseling
• COUN 5700 Lifestyle and Career Development
• COUN 5800 Professional Orientation and Ethics
• COUN 5850 Research and Evaluation
• COUN 6000 Counseling Learning Practicum (a minimum of 3 credit hours)
• COUN 6500 Internship (minimun of 6 credit hours)

In addition to the required core subject area courses listed above, students select four (4)electives from the counseling program curriculum for a total of 48 hours.
Certain state licensure laws require specific courses in addition to the above required core subject area courses, and the student should consult with the Counseling Faculty Coordinator/Academic Advisor before selecting elective courses. Also please note that certain state licensure laws do not allow for courses to be completed through Directed Studies or electronically (online). The student should consult with the Counseling Faculty Coordinator/Academic Advisor regarding this option.

Course Descriptions