1. A master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited counseling program (any concentration) (e.g., school counseling)

2. A transcript from the college or university where you earned your graduate degree in a CACREP accredited counseling program.

3. Cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or greater (based on all hours attempted)

4. Professional Resume

5. Two letters of recommendation

6. Graduate Statement of Purpose (500 words). This document should address the following:

• Your interest in the program, including the identification of short-term and long-term career goals

• Your skills and experiences that will contribute to the program

• Your Expectations of the program

This course is an overview of crisis intervention theories and techniques. Major theoretical models of situational crises are examined. Students will develop the conceptual competency necessary for professionals engaged in crisis interventions. Particular emphasis is given to contemporary research in suicide, disaster psychology, and crisis management. Discussion topics include emergencies such as natural disasters, terrorism, school violence, domestic violence, abuse, and crisis interventions with diverse populations. Students will become aware of the differences between crisis counseling and typical counseling. They will differentiate between diagnosis and developmentally appropriate reactions to crisis, trauma, and disasters. Students will understand and develop skills and abilities to work within and enhance crisis teams/emergency management systems in schools, clinical mental health agencies, and local agencies.

Prerequisite: CMGR 500.

The course will provide a basic understanding of substance use, addiction and behavioral health, screening and assessment tools, intervention, and evidence-based addiction treatment. Students will review current literature that outlines theories, approaches, strategies, and techniques shown to be effective when working with specific populations of clients with substance use issues. Students will learn treatment models, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care for addictive disorders and related problems. The importance of family, social networks, spirituality, diversity, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process

will also be examined. Other discussion topics will include helping strategies for reducing the adverse effects of substance use, abuse, dependence, and addictive disorders. The principles and philosophies of addiction-related self-help programs will also be discussed, and models and approaches to clinical evaluation for addictive disorders and their appropriate uses.

Prerequisite: CMGR 500.

This course provides an overview of the DSM 5 and is designed to acquaint students with the origins and environmental factors that influence the development, prevention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. In this era of managed health care and continued emphasis on documentation and justification of mental health care, individuals entering the counseling field must have a solid understanding of diagnosis and treatment planning. The course will address differential diagnosis and associated disorders of the primary diagnoses and understand individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.

Prerequisites: CMGR 500, 505, 520, and 537.

This course provides an overview of the fundamental theories, concepts, and structures that form an understanding of psychopathology across the lifespan. Studies included providing an understanding of the description, classification, and diagnosis of behavior disorders and dysfunction. It will include consideration of the characteristics of disorders and common categorizations of disorders utilized by the U.S. healthcare system. The course will emphasize the role of adaptation and stress mechanisms in the development of disorders. The course materials will review genetic, physiological, cognitive, and environmental influences that impact the development, severity, course, and persistence of varying disorders. Students will consider both the theoretical underpinnings/perspectives and the research methods and how they all contribute to understanding the various aspects of disorders. A review of prevention and intervention methods to minimize and modify the severity of disorders will also be included.

Prerequisites: CMGR 500, 550.

This course provides students with an introduction to psychopharmacology summarizing the basic functions of the organs and systems of the human body and brain. Students will identify, research, and assess the actions, effects, uses and abuses of legal and illegal drug interactions. Students will identify the mechanisms and uses of psychotropic medications. In addition: students will have a foundation for differential diagnoses and standards of treatment and symptom monitoring with focus on drug interactions, co-morbid medical conditions and client empowerment. Describe the complexity of working with individuals with both substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Explain methods to educate clients on medication adherence, efficacy and side effects to maximize treatment outcomes; and describe how to empower clients to take an active part in their own treatment.

Prerequisites: CMGR 545 and 550.

A graduate-level clinical supervised counseling internship of 300 clock hours. Students need to take, at a minimum, two 3-credit internships as a part of their degree program. This experience provides an opportunity to perform, under supervision, counseling activities similar to what is expected of professional counselors are expected to perform. The internship includes: 1. A minimum of 240 clock hours of direct service to clients. 2. A minimum of one hour per week of individual supervision or triadic supervision, usually performed by the on-site supervisor. 3. A minimum of one and one-half hours (1 ½) per week of group supervision, throughout the internship usually performed by a program faculty member supervisor. Group supervision must be provided by a program faculty member or a student supervisor who is under the supervision of a program faculty member. 4. Exposure to collateral professional activities (e.g. record keeping, information and referral and staff meetings). 5. An opportunity for students to develop program-appropriate audio and/or videotapes of client interactions. 6. An opportunity for students to gain supervised experience in the use of professional resources (e.g. assessment instruments, professional literature and research etc.) 7. Formal evaluation of the student's performance by a program faculty member in consultation with the site supervisor.

Prerequisites: CMGR 500, 505, 515, 520, 537, 550, and 595.

A graduate-level clinical supervised counseling internship of 300 clock hours, including 240 clock hours of direct service to clients. This experience provides an opportunity to perform, under supervision, counseling activities similar to what is expected of professional counselors, including exposure to collateral professional activities (e.g., record keeping, information, and referral) and use of professional resources (e.g., assessment instruments, professional literature, and research).

Prerequisites: CMGR 500, 505, 515, 520, 537, 550, 595, 598.