Department of Counselor Education

EDC 503. Professional Orientation to Counseling. 3 Credits.

An introductory course that provides an understanding of counseling as a profession: including history, roles, organizational structures, ethical and legal issues, standards, and credentialing.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 504. Organization & Administration of School Counseling Programs. 3 Credits.

The student will learn how to develop, maintain, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program that effectively addresses student needs. National models for school counseling programs that provide process and content frameworks will be examined. Specific emphases will be placed on the school as a system, needs based and data driven program development, process and outcome accountability, program management, and the cost/effective delivery of programs.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 505. School Counselors Working with Diverse Learners. 3 Credits.

The course has been developed to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania Department of Education (ACT 49.13) and in recognition of the growing number of English Language Learners (ELL) in public schools. The goal of this course is to provide students with an overview of the characteristics and unique challenges confronted by the diverse learner. Students, who because of limited English language proficiency or disabilities may exhibit literacy deficits and experience academic needs that require both varied instructional strategies and counselor support and advocacy. The role of the school counselor as advocate and supportive agent for the diverse learner will be highlighted along with the unique value of counselor as 'teacher-consultant and collaborator'.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 506. Counseling Research Methods and Program Evaluation. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to provide a foundation for understanding research design and program evaluation specific to the counseling profession. Emphasis will be given to understanding and identifying multiple methods of research, strategies for conducting ethical research, understanding evidence-based practices, and understanding the purpose of a needs assessment.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 520. Social and Cultural Diversity Issues in Counseling. 3 Credits.

This course explores different racial, social class, gender, and ethnic group orientations to counseling and examines exceptionality implications in applying traditional counseling approaches for use with diverse client populations.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 521. Human Development Through Life Span. 3 Credits.

Exploration of cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development over the life span. This course examines both theory and research in human development and applies this knowledge to the practice of counseling.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 530. Introduction to Student Affairs. 3 Credits.

The primary goal of this course is to provide the graduate students in counseling/student affairs with a comprehensive introduction to the field of student affairs in American higher education including: an historical overview of student affairs, legal and professional ethics, models and practices of leadership, organizational management, consultation, and the many functions and activities associated with student affairs. The course is designed to examine student affairs in public and private institutions as well as two and four year institutions.
Typically offered in Spring.

EDC 531. Theories of American College Student Development. 3 Credits.

The general purpose of this course is to focus on the examination of a range of human development theories that offer insights to the process of student learning, growth, and development during the college years. Special focus will be directed toward understanding the implication of these models for the policies and practices of higher education and student affairs in particular.
Typically offered in Fall.

EDC 532. Leadership and Management in Student Affairs. 3 Credits.

The purposes of this course are (1) to explore research on management and leadership and to prepare the student as an educational leader in student affairs, (2) to review the policy implications that affect social, interpersonal, and academic success of American college students, (3) to examine the American college student's lifestyle, attitudes, characteristics and demographics, and (4) to assess the effects of higher education, student affairs in particular, on the American college student.
Typically offered in Spring.

EDC 543. Disability & Rehabilitation Counseling. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to lead counselors in training through an exploration of both multicultural and biopsychosocial aspects of disability and rehabilitation across the life span.
Typically offered in Spring.

EDC 551. Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to clinical mental health counseling, exploring the history and philosophy of the field, and the primary settings in which mental health counselors provide services. An understanding of the roles and functions of the clinical mental health counselor, and the scope and methods of counseling used, allows students to develop a coherent professional identity. The course emphasizes the importance of understanding client diversity, the implications of sociocultural, demographic and lifestyle factors, and the impact of oppression and discrimination, which enables students to empower their clients and advocate for change. The professional issues unique to clinical mental health counseling are also covered, including managed care, reimbursement, practice privileges, organizational challenges, and fiscal and legal aspects of community mental health settings.

EDC 552. Trauma and Crisis Intervention Work and the Professional Counselor. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the theories and practices associated with counseling survivors of crises and other traumatic events. Upon completion of the course, students will understand the impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people, as well as how crisis intervention occurs within clinical mental health settings and the community at large. This course will review the principles of crisis intervention and trauma counseling, as well as methods for assessing individuals in crisis, such as suicidality, self-injury, and so forth. Participants will understand the appropriate use of diagnosis during a crisis, disaster, or other trauma-causing event, as well as learn to differentiate between pathological and developmentally appropriate reactions to these events.

EDC 553. Introduction to Addictions Counseling. 3 Credits.

An introduction to substance abuse counseling and related issues. This course provides an overview of the historical context, etiological theories, and psychoactive impact of substances on the brain and body. The course will focus on evidence-based assessment, diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse/dependence with emphasis on clinical counseling practice by theory and research.

EDC 554. Grief Counseling. 3 Credits.

This course will focus on the experiences of loss, grief and bereavement as it is viewed by individuals, families and loved ones. The aspiring counselor will become acquainted with the guidelines for conceptualizing loss and grief, coping mechanisms for clients, and strategies for loss adaptations. In addition, we will consider how social factors, including culture, ethnicity/race, gender, class and sexual orientation may impact the grieving process. Students will be required to apply and integrate this knowledge through various written assignments, class discussion and introspective analysis.

EDC 555. Marriage and Family Counseling. 3 Credits.

A survey course that examines the dynamics of general systems theory, family systems, and the rationale and practice of marriage and family counseling. The student is introduced to: various theories of family counseling; related approaches to therapeutic intervention; and the associated contextual, ethical, and professional practice issues. A significant portion of the class is devoted to experiential learning activities designed to facilitate integration of theory and practice and to stimulate self-reflection and assessment.

EDC 556. Career Development Theories and Practices. 3 Credits.

Theories and techniques relating to career development in children, adolescents, and adults. Career development programming within the context of a systems approach is stressed.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 557. Advanced Counseling Skills and Techniques. 3 Credits.

This course provides students with advanced knowledge and hands-on application of counseling techniques commonly used in clinical mental health settings. Students will gain knowledge of how these techniques are derived from theory and research on Evidenced Based Practices (EBP). They will learn how to select and utilize these techniques appropriately based on their case conceptualization of diverse clients. Students will engage in hands-on practice of these techniques in mock counseling sessions. Finally, students will learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 557 requires prerequisite of EDC 580.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 558. Counseling Military Professionals, Veterans, and Their Families. 3 Credits.

This course explores the challenges facing military personnel, veterans and their families. Course work will prepare students to understand the mental health challenges facing all three populations, as well as the services and programs available for assistance. A special focus will be on mental health issues such as PTSD and coping with physical and psychological trauma.

EDC 559. Human Exceptionality for Counselors. 3 Credits.

The goal of this course is to provide future school counselors with an overview of human exceptionality and advanced educational psychology constructs as they pertain to new experiences of persons with disabilities in our educational system.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 560. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Counselors. 3 Credits.

This course is focused on developing the knowledge and skills essential to employ valid diagnosis, assessment, client conceptualization, and clinical intervention and treatment planning. There will be an emphasis on the use of biopsychosocial case conceptualization models and evidence based practices as a basis for treatment planning.
Typically offered in Spring.

EDC 561. Current Issues in Mental Health. 3 Credits.

The course will focus on the current issues in mental health counseling to include the role of ethical and legal considerations in counseling, social and cultural issues to include advocacy action planning, and trends affecting the field, the direction in which our field is heading, and the practice of mental health counseling.

EDC 562. Counseling Children and Adolescents. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to provide an in-depth look at the factors impacting children and adolescents in the counseling relationship in a school or clinical setting. Exploration will include typical and atypical development effecting the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains. Additionally, theory and social factors, including culture, ethnicity/race, gender, class, and sexual orientation, will be examined. Students will be required to apply and integrate this knowledge through various written assignments, class discussion, and introspective analysis.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 563. Counseling & Human Sexuality. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to lead counselors in training through an exploration of both multicultural and biopsychosocial aspects of human sexuality across the life span. Healthy sexual functioning is reviewed as well as the assessment and treatment of sexuality dysfunctions and disorders. Counseling students will address personal attitudes, beliefs, and biases regarding sexuality and will learn about appropriate assessment and treatment strategies based on the role of relational structure, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, ethnicity, and other cultural factors that influence sexual preferences and choices. The course will also examine sexual risk taking, sexually transmitted infections, and both ethical and legal considerations related to sexuality and counseling.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 564. Counseling Supervision and Consultation. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to introduce students to the primary theories and practice of counselor supervision and consultation models. Students will discuss the clinical and administrative frameworks, specific ethical issues that coincide with supervision, and the importance of the supervisory relationship, as well as information pertaining to burnout and self-care. Class time will allow students to role-play, engage in group discussions, and receive supervised experience.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 565. Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to focus on the animal-human bond and its therapeutic applications in goal-directed activities and interventions. The benefits of animal assisted therapy programs will be examined through a review of current research, best practices, ethical and legal issues in the specialty of AAT. The course covers human/pet volunteer training; animal assisted therapeutic applications; and animals in institutions, residential facilities, and educational settings.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 566. LGBT Considerations in Counseling. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to considerations specific to providing counseling services to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Communities. Instruction will focus on (a) conceptualizing and differentiating the experiences and identity development of individuals within each community, (b) providing ethical and affirmative counseling services, and (c) exploring current issues as they relate to empirical research, perceived conflicts between religious and sexual diversity, family issues, and public policy.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 567. Group Dynamics. 3 Credits.

This course in group processes focuses on the identification of the implicit and explicit role functions of the group member and the group leader. The recognition and awareness of one's behavior with multiple feedback sources is of primary concern. The major objective of this course is to initiate, develop, and master relationships in a group setting.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 570. Fundamentals of the Helping Relationship. 3 Credits.

The course will introduce students to the counseling process. Communications skills essential to the helping relationship will be taught and practiced in a counseling lab.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 571. Counseling Theory and Techniques. 3 Credits.

The course provides an in-depth look at selected theories and their resultant "therapeutic operations", including: cognitive/behavioral, person-centered and solution focused models. Emphasis is on both theory and the application of theory to practice. This pre-practicum course includes direct contact with 'simulated clients' and the development of counseling intervention plans.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 572. Fundamentals of Assessment, Diagnosis, and Mental Health Intervention. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the role of psychological assessment in counseling and diagnostic processes, as well as the importance of mental health in optimal well-being. This course will focus on both the knowledge and skills required of professional counselors in assessing, diagnosing, and intervening with mental health concerns. The practice and evaluation of skill development is an essential element of this course.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 572 requires prerequisites of EDC 503, EDC 506, EDC 570, EDC 571.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 576. Consult & Coord In Guid & Couns. 3 Credits.

This prepracticum course focuses on models, mechanisms, and strategies of employing consultation and coordination in remedial and preventive interventions in educational settings. Systems analysis and program development and evaluation will be addressed relative to consultation and coordination.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 577. School Counseling Strategies for Change. 3 Credits.

The course is designed to provide an in-depth look at strategies employed by school counselors in individual and group format for promoting client change. The strategies presented reflect those of "best practice" and are tailored to the developmental needs of specific client populations. This prepracticum course includes actual counseling experience with a level appropriate student.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 580. Practicum in Mental Health Counseling. 3 Credits.

Students will complete a counseling practicum experience in an approved community mental health setting that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours; a minimum of 40 of hours will be direct contact. For this practicum experience students will be provided with a variety of individual, group, couple, marriage, and family counseling experiences with field-based clients. Students will receive both triadic and group supervision under the direction of a University faculty member. The instructional procedures of this course will include didactic presentations, group discussions, video presentations, case studies, group and triadic supervision.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 580 requires prerequisite of EDC 503, EDC 521, EDC 567, EDC 570, EDC 571, and EDC 551.

EDC 590. Practicum in School Counseling. 3 Credits.

Students will complete a counseling practicum experience in an approved elementary school setting that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours. The practicum will include both individual and group counseling experiences. Students will receive both individualized and group supervision under the directions of a University faculty member.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 590 requires prerequisites of EDC 503, EDC 567, EDC 570, and EDC 571.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 592. Practicum in Higher Education Student Affairs. 3 Credits.

Students will complete a counseling practicum experience in an approved higher education student affairs setting that totals a minimum of 100 clock hours. The practicum will include both individual and group counseling experiences. Students will receive both individualized and group supervision under the directions of a University faculty member.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 592 requires prerequisites of EDC 503, EDC 567, EDC 570, EDC 571; EDC 530 or EDC 531 must be completed before or concurrently.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

EDC 594. Workshop in Counselor Education. 1-6 Credits.

workshop.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 595. Workshop in Counselor Education. 1-6 Credits.

workshop.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 596. Workshop in Counselor Education. 1-6 Credits.

workshop.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 597. Workshop in Counselor Education. 1-6 Credits.

workshop.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 598. Workshop in Counselor Education. 1-6 Credits.

workshop.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 599. Independent Study. 1-3 Credits.

Independent research and study under the direction of a faculty member.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.

EDC 600. Counseling Internship in Higher Education/Student Affairs. 3 Credits.

The internship is designed to provide an intensive, supervised on-site counseling experience specific to student's program specialization working in a field site approved by the department. Each three-credit internship has a 200-hour minimum requirement with the course being repeated until the student has accumulated a minimum of 600 on-site hours over at least 2 semesters. This course may be taken again for credit.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 600 requires prerequisites of EDC 592, EDC 540, and EDC 556; corequisites of EDC 531 and EDC 532.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring & Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 601. Counseling Internship Elementary School. 3 Credits.

This internship is designed to provide an intensive, supervised on-site counseling experience in an elementary school setting (grades K-6) in a field site approved by the department. Each three-credit internship has a 200-hour minimum requirement with the course being repeated until the student has accumulated a minimum of 600 hours in school settings over at least two semesters. This course may be taken again for credit.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 601 requires prerequisites of EDC 590, EDC 576, and EDC 540; EDC 504, EDC 556, and EDC 559 must be taken before or concurrent with first internship.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 602. Counseling Internship Secondary School. 3 Credits.

This internship is designed to provide an intensive, supervised on-site counseling experience in a secondary school setting (grades 7-12) in a field site approved by the department. Each three-credit internship has a 200-hour minimum requirement with the course being repeated until the student has accumulated a minimum of 600 on-site hours in school settings over at least two semesters. This course may be taken again for credit.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 602 requires prerequisites of EDC 590, EDC 576, and EDC 540; EDC 504, EDC 556, and EDC 559 must be taken before or concurrent with first internship.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 605. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship. 3 Credits.

The internship is designed to provide supervised counseling experiences for graduate students preparing to work in clinical and community settings. The internship is typically one of the final courses in the student's graduate program and offers the student the opportunity to observe, practice and demonstrate the skills necessary to be a master's-level professional counselor.
Pre / Co requisites: EDC 605 requires prerequisite of EDC 540 and EDC 580.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

EDC 630. Systems Concepts & Skills Prof Counselor. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.

EDC 650. Advanced Counselor Internship. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Typically offered in Summer.
Repeatable for Credit.