Online Master of Education in Counseling and Development Curriculum

The rigorous curriculum in the online Master of Education in Counseling and Development at Winthrop University provides the detailed knowledge and carefully guided experiences you need to practice as a mental health counselor. Led by faculty who are deeply dedicated to your success, you'll complete 60 credits, two practicums, and two internships under their careful guidance. You'll graduate prepared to take the National Counselor Exam (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) and step into practice.

Core Courses

CSDV 601 Counseling Theories (3 credits)

This course provides a comprehensive study of major counseling theories. Attention is given to systematic ways of viewing the counseling process. Divergences and convergences among theories are examined for practical application with clients and family within cultural and system contexts. An overview of the evolution and development of the core tenets of counseling will provide a framework for more extensive examination of the current approaches utilized by counselors in diverse practice settings. Notes: Lab Fee: $50. Offered periodically. Prerequisite: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 602 Counseling Skills (3 credits)

This is an experiential skills training course that introduces the application of basic counseling strategies and interventions with diverse populations. Students explore the particular interpersonal dynamics of helping relationships and develop self-in-role awareness. Notes: Lab Fee: $177. Offered periodically. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 603 Career and Lifestyle Development (3 credits)

Overviews of the major theories and skill areas in educational planning, career and lifestyle development, work, and motivation. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying knowledge and skills of career development activities in appropriate counseling settings. Notes: Offered periodically. Prerequisite: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 605 Diversity Issues In Counseling (3 credits)

The study of current social and cultural issues that shape human behavior and affect the practice of counseling. Topics will focus on the theory and practice of multicultural and social justice counseling approaches. Diversity issues are explored as they influence the counseling process and the well being of the client. Students will be challenged to explore their own attitudes and beliefs through experiential exercises, small- and large-group discussion, and reflection on the development of self-in-role awareness. Notes: Offered periodically. Prerequisite: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 606 Group Counseling (3 credits)

Study and practice of basic group counseling theories and dynamics with emphasis on techniques and application; ethical responsibility and current trends with experimental opportunities provided. Notes: Lab Fee: $50. Offered periodically. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 607 Appraisal of the Individual (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide school and community counselors with a working knowledge of the various standardized tests used in educational, vocational, and social/personal counseling. Students take, administer, score, and record the results of various standardized tests. Appraisal techniques are reviewed and evaluated. Notes: Lab fee: $25. Offered periodically. Prerequisite: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 608 Loss, Grief and Crisis Counseling (3 credits)

This course views loss as a broad, inclusive experience occurring during crisis, loss, and life transition across the lifespan. Crisis situations and the phenomenon of suicide will be examined as well as the roles and responsibilities of counselors. Advocacy, consultation, and crisis intervention skills for grief counseling are developed. Developmental programs for Pre-K through adulthood related to grief, loss, and crisis are examined. Notes: Lab Fee: $50. Offered periodically Prerequisites: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 614 Lifespan Developmental Counseling (3 credits)

 This course provides counselors with a lifespan developmental theoretical and research foundation for clinical and educational practice. It explores the individual, environmental and familial factors affecting developmental progression and delay. The course is focused on counseling practice and encourages the utilization of strategies for facilitating development across the lifespan. Prerequisite: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 617 Family Counseling (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to major theoretical approaches and interventions utilized in counseling families within a systemic framework. Notes: Offered periodically. Prerequisites: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 618 Addiction Counseling (3 credits)

 This course will provide a basic introduction to the psychopathology of chemical and process addiction. Theoretical foundations which seek to define addiction including biological, psychological, and sociological etiologies will be addressed. The course will provide the structural framework to discuss diagnosis and assessment of chemical dependency, and explore stages of treatment and diverse treatment modalities. Notes: Offered periodically. Lab Fee: $25. Prerequisites: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 621 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Counseling (3 credits)

This course will instruct students in the methods and research of clinical systems assessment of psychopathology and multiaxial diagnosis. Students will learn to perform individual, relational, and larger systems assessments, including but not limited to a mental status exam, comprehensive mental status exam, psychological genogram, and diagnosis using the DSM-IV-TR. Diverse theoretical approaches to treatment planning, clinical practice, and process issues are considered across a variety of psychological disorders. Notes: Lab Fee: $50. Prerequisites: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 622 Seminar in Counselling Children and Adolescents (3 credits)

The course includes discussion and application of counseling theories, techniques, and issues related to child and adolescent development. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor. Notes: Lab fee: $50

CSDV 623 Advanced Counseling Intervention (3 credits)

This course is an advanced academic and clinical training-based course designed to provide students with a study of contemporary counseling theories and best-practice modalities. Advanced best-practice concepts and techniques will be taught through case conceptualization, research of evidence-based procedures, treatment planning, goal setting, and modality demonstration. Methods and strategies for cognitive, affective, and behavioral change will be practiced in group and individual lab sessions. The students will be expected to demonstrate case analysis, critique, and modality effectiveness in verbal and written form. Notes: Lab Fee: $75. Offered periodically.

EDCI 640 Educational Research and Design (3 credits)

A core course for graduate educators in the principles, methods and procedures of educational research, design and analysis. The development of a proposal outlining a study, project or practicum is required. Notes: Offered fall, spring, and summer. Prerequisite: Graduate status.

Concentration Courses - Clinical Mental Health

CSDV 604 Foundations and Ethical Issues in Community Mental Health (3 credits)

 An overview of the roles and functions of counselors in community counseling settings. Organizational and administrative structures of human services agencies as well as staffing patterns, clientele, consultation and interagency relationships are examined. This course provides an overview of the role and functions of mental health counseling and consultation in the community context, with special attention to prevention, and mental health service delivery systems. A major portion of this course is the study of ethical practice, which will cover AMHCA and ACA codes and standards, as well as legal issues in counseling practice. Central topics include primary and secondary prevention, issues in the service delivery and managed care, and the political and regulatory aspects of mental health care. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 615C Clinical Mental Health Program Planning, Consulting and Supervision (3 credits)

This course provides an understanding of the planning, organizing, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive clinical mental health counseling program including consultation and supervision models, practices, and processes. Notes: Offered periodically.

Concentration Courses - School Counseling

CSDV 613 Foundations and Ethical Issues in School Counseling (3 credits)

 This course provides an introduction to professional school counseling and consultation encompassing the history, philosophy, and trends in school counseling, as well as the roles and functions of the professional school counselor. A major portion of this course is the study of ethical practice, which will cover ASCA and ACA codes and standards, as well as legal issues in counseling practice. Notes: Offered periodically. Prerequisites: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 615S School Planning, Consulting and Supervision (3 credits)

This course provides an understanding of the planning, organizing, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive school counseling program including consultation and supervision models, practices, and processes. Prerequisite: CSDV admission or permission of the instructor. Notes: Offered periodically.

Practicum Courses

CSDV 610A Practicum I (3 credits)

A supervised 75 clock hours, field-based experience, this course will focus on further enhancement of the conceptual and relational skills of counseling. The course will further increased reflection on the development of self-in-role and supervised application of counseling skills to practice. Students will focus on building therapeutic relationships, assessing client needs, goals setting, and intervention skills. Prerequisite: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 610B Practicum II (3 credits)

A supervised 100 clock hours, field-based experience, this course will focus on further enhancement of the conceptual and relational skills of counseling, consultation, and advocacy skills. The course will further increase reflection on the development of self-in-role and supervised application of counseling skills to practice. Students will focus on building therapeutic relationships, assessing client needs, goals setting, and intervention skills. Prerequisite: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV  611 Internship I (3 credits)

A supervised 300-hour, field-based experience in an applied counseling setting. Notes: A grade of S or U is recorded. Offered periodically. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

CSDV 612 Internship II (3 credits)

A supervised 300-hour, field-based experience in an applied counseling setting. Notes: A grade of S or U is recorded. Offered periodically. Prerequisites: Admission to the CSDV program or permission of the instructor.

*Curriculum and course sequencing subject to change.

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Advance your career in school counseling or clinical mental heath with the skills and knowledge learned in the online Counseling and Development curriculum. Contact a program manager toll-free at 833/257-1704 or request more information today.