Faculty

Cynthia Greer, Associate Professor of Student Development in Higher Education 

Return to top

Description

The Program in Counseling offers a Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in counseling with a specialization in school counseling that prepares individuals for careers as counselors in elementary, middle and secondary schools. The program, which requires a minimum of 43 credits, is fully accredited by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and meets certification requirements of the District of Columbia. Students seeking school counselor certification in other jurisdictions should consult the appropriate certification offices and their faculty advisor in planning their program of study. The program consists of a required core, selected electives, laboratory and field experiences, and a capstone project. An additional supervised school-based internship (COUN 640) is required for students who have not had two years of teaching experience. The student's program is planned in consultation with a faculty advisor; prior experiences and professional goals are considered.

Learning experiences emphasize the integration of theoretical knowledge with professional practice in a supervised setting. Attention is given to understanding ethical, multicultural, socioeconomic, and developmental issues. Graduates from Trinity's counseling degree programs are qualified to provide individual and group counseling; implement assessment and consultation services; and develop, direct, and evaluate comprehensive counseling services.

Note: Trinity's programs in community counseling and student development in higher education are no longer accepting new students. Current students in those programs should refer to the College Catalog under which they matriculated.

Return to top

Requirements

Core Requirements (33 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

COUN 538 Career and Lifestyle Development 
COUN 540 Principles of Counseling 
COUN 544 Principles and Techniques of Assessment 
COUN 547 Counseling and the Group Process 
COUN 548 Human Growth and Development (or EDU 589L) 
COUN 550 Multicultural Counseling 
COUN 560 Theories and Techniques of Counseling 
COUN 561 School Counseling Services 
COUN 570 Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling 
EDU 576 Education of Exceptional Children and Youth 

ONE course in research methods chosen from between: 

EDU 599 Introduction to Research 
EDU 599B Research in Education 

Elective (3 credits)

ONE course in counseling such as: 

COUN 553 Alcohol and Substance Abuse 
COUN 555 Counseling Children and Adolescents 
COUN 557 Introduction to Family Therapy 
COUN 604 Expressive Arts in Counseling 
COUN 605 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues 

Field Experience and Capstone Project (7 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

COUN 631 Practicum in School Counseling 
COUN 642 Internship in School Counseling 
COUN 651 Capstone Project in Counseling 

Requirement for Non-Teachers (3-6 credits)

COUN 640 Internship in Counseling 

Return to top

Course Descriptions

COUN 538 Career and Lifestyle Development
Examines theories of career development through the lifespan. Topics include: employment trends, career exploration and decision making, lifestyle planning, placement and career counseling programs, clients at different developmental levels in a variety of settings, and strategies that address the needs of a culturally diverse population. Students obtain hands-on experience with computer-based and other career assessment tools and sources of occupational and educational information.
3 credits

COUN 540 Principles of Counseling
Examines the history, philosophy, theories, practices, and principles of guidance counseling and psychotherapy, and applications to various settings, populations, and problems. Topics include current issues and trends, legal and ethical standards, and considerations, multicultural counseling, family counseling, human relations skills, professional organizations, and credentialing. Students visit school and community field sites.
3 credits

COUN 544 Principles and Techniques of Assessment
Examines purposes, concepts, procedures, and techniques of educational, vocational, and psychological assessment. Emphasis is on the integration of assessment information into the counseling and placement processes ethical and legal considerations and use of tests with special needs and culturally diverse populations. Basic principles of measurement, statistical concepts, and practice in selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests are examined. 
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560 

COUN 547 Counseling and the Group Process
Reviews theories, research, and techniques of group guidance counseling and psychotherapy involving both didactic and experiential learning modes. Application of theory to practice in school, work, mental health, and other counseling settings with varied client populations is stressed. Laboratory sessions provide opportunities for group participation and co-leading under faculty supervision. Open only to students pursuing an M.A. in counseling. 
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 560 

COUN 548 Human Growth and Development
Explores research and lifespan theories of human growth and development. Physiological, psychological, psychosocial, cognitive, and sociological factors, as well as normal and abnormal behavior, are reviewed. Topics include learning theories and research, theories of personality development, consideration of exceptional individuals, and the influence of social and cultural factors on human development.
3 credits

COUN 549 Organization and Administration of Counseling Services
Examines principles and practices in organizing and administering major counseling services in community agencies and mental health settings. Topics include planning, staffing, directing, evaluating, and modifying comprehensive and developmental counseling services and mental health care programs; consultation with professional staff, community agencies, and family and ethical and legal considerations. Emphasis is on communication, leadership, outreach and advocacy, staff development, decision-making, quality-assurance, management skills, technological competence, and knowledge and use of referral sources. Students visit community field sites.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540

COUN 550 Multicultural Counseling
Explores practical and theoretical issues of counseling individuals, couples, groups, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Emphasis is on development of attitudes, values, and skills which promote effective interpersonal relations and counseling across cultures. Consideration is given to the impact of historical, social, and political forces on the behavior of the individual.
3 credits

COUN 553 Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Examines various approaches to treating alcohol and substance abuse, factors which increase susceptibility, models of therapeutic intervening, referral sources, and educational and preventative strategies.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540

COUN 554 Counseling for Adult Life Transitions
Reviews theoretical approaches to adult development and aging from interdisciplinary and multicultural perspectives. Emphasis is on psychological, socio-cultural, and biological factors in human growth. Appropriate counseling techniques with young, midlife, and older adults are demonstrated.
3 credits

COUN 555 Counseling Children and Adolescents
Examines theories and methods of psychological counseling and intervention with children and adolescents. Topics include analyzing and remediating classroom-related problems, recognizing serious disorders in early states, consulting with professional staff and families, play therapy, parent education strategies, and referral to community resources.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560 

COUN 557 Introduction to Family Therapy
Explores research and techniques of family systems theory as a framework for understanding family dynamics and the methods of intervention in family therapy.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and 560

COUN 560 Theories and Techniques of Counseling
Reviews major theories in counseling and psychotherapy and their applications in schools, human services, and work settings. Topics include the counseling relationship, assessment and referral procedures, behavior modification, crisis intervention, brief and long-term approaches, legal and ethical issues, and multicultural counseling. Practice in counseling is gained through audio and videotaping, classroom training activities, and direct supervision. Open only to students in counseling degree programs.
3 credits

COUN 561 School Counseling Services
Examines principles and practices in organizing, administering, and evaluating major counseling services in school settings. Topics include planning, staffing, directing, evaluating and modifying comprehensive and developmental counseling services; National Standards for school counseling programs; and consultation with professional staff, community agencies, and family. Emphasis is on communication, leadership, outreach and advocacy, decision making, quality-assurance and management skills, technological competence, and knowledge and use of referral sources. Students visit school field sites. 
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540 

COUN 570 Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling
Examines theoretical and cultural perspectives, research, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, referral process and presentation of types of maladjustments, and mental health disorders. Topics include assessment using current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnostic categories, implementation of appropriate therapeutic strategies, psychopharamacological medications, strategies for promotion of optimal mental health, and situational and systemic factors affecting behavior.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560 

COUN 575 Counseling Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Examines the nature of developmental disabilities mental retardation, autism, learning disabilities, and related conditions from a biopsychosocial perspective. The course explores the nature of the developmental disabilities service system and common issues in families of persons with developmental disabilities. Students explore specific counseling processes necessary for effective work with persons with developmental disabilities and specific issues that need to be addressed in such counseling relationships.
3 credits

COUN 602 Master's Project in Guidance and Counseling
Provides an individualized course in which the student demonstrates the ability to apply knowledge of counseling and research to specific issues in the counseling, mental health, or human development fields. Students confer with their advisor when planning their project, which may be either qualitative or quantitative in design.
3 credits
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment 

COUN 603 Master's Project in Counseling
Provides an individualized course in which the student demonstrates the ability to apply knowledge of counseling and research to specific issues in the counseling, mental health, or human development fields. Students confer with their advisor when planning their project, which may be either qualitative or quantitative in design.
3 credits
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment 

COUN 604 Expressive Arts in Counseling
Examines the theoretical foundation of expressive and creative therapies and their practical application in the counseling of individuals and groups. Students will be introduced to the study and practice of working with art, dreams, journaling, music, movement, poetry, psychodrama, and play therapy as counseling approaches. Both didactic and experiential learning experiences are provided.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540, COUN 547, and COUN 560 

COUN 605 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues
Examines ethical and legal issues involved in the field of community and school counseling. Codes of ethics, confidentiality, and legal considerations are explored. Emphasis is on professional orientation, responsibility, and ethical decision-making. Certification and licensure requirements and other current professional issues affecting the counselor are also studied.
3 credits
Prerequisite: 12 credits in school counseling program 

COUN 606 Loss and Bereavement Counseling
Explores models of coping for individuals in transition due to loss and bereavement. Topics include the grieving process, attitudes towards death, care of the terminally ill, ethical issues related to death and dying, and clinical issues in working with the bereaved. Emphasis is on seeing loss and death as natural functions of life and on teaching individuals to deal with critical life events.
3 credits

COUN 631 Practicum in School Counseling
Provides supervised practicum experience in guidance and counseling with individuals and groups in elementary, middle, or secondary schools. Emphasis is on interpersonal and professional effectiveness, application of appropriate counseling techniques, observation, consultation, ethical and legal issues, and performance of the duties of a school counselor. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervisory hours are required. Offered only in the Fall and Spring semesters.
1-3 credits 
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment 

COUN 640 Internship in Counseling
Provides experience in working under the supervision of both a college faculty member and a professionally credentialed practitioner in the field. Placement is made in a business, educational, community or mental health setting, depending on specific career goals. Opportunities exist to apply learning and to develop skills and competencies through practical experience. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervisory hours are required. Students enroll for either three or six credits.
3-6 credits
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment 

COUN 642 Internship in School Counseling
Provides experience in working under the supervision of both a college faculty member and a professionally credentialed practitioner in the field. Placement is made in an elementary, middle and/or secondary school setting, depending on specific career goals. Opportunities exist to apply learning and to develop skills and competencies through practical experience. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervisory hours are required. Offered only during the Fall and Spring semesters.
1-3 credits
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment 

COUN 651 Capstone Project in Counseling
Provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to synthesize and apply counseling knowledge, research, and skills, and to articulate the major issues of the profession. Students work independently and/or collaboratively on a topic that is relevant to their chosen career field, and they present their paper in a final seminar.
1 credit
Prerequisites: completion of core courses and advisor's written approval; application must be made one semester prior to enrollment

Return to top