Do you want to become a school counselor or a counselor to urban youth in settings outside of the schools?
Our Master of Arts (M.A.) graduate program in school counseling will provide you with the specialized study and supervised field training that will prepare you for a career as a professional counselor of children and youth.
The program consists of two options:
The first option will prepare you for a career as a counselor in elementary and secondary schools.
The second option is a specialization in counseling urban students. This track will prepare you for work as a counselor outside of schools, such as in foster care or nonprofit youth programs. This option also allows you to attain licensure requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.) examination.
COUN 505 Psychology of Children Facing PovertyProvides a diagnostic and descriptive profile of the impact that poverty in the U.S. has on the psychological, emotional and intellectual growth and dev elopment of children in general, and particularity children in the inner city and rural environments. Current research about the impact of poverty on the developing brain will be introduced along with the types of early interventions and best practices that can be utilized. Collaborative practices with governmental systems, parents/guardians, educators, and mental health practitioners will be explored. This course informs and instructs educators and mental health practitioners of the need for awareness, knowledge and skills in designing programs and interventions to offset environmental and social poverty.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NoneCOUN 538 Career and Lifestyle DevelopmentExamines theories of career development through the life span. 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 creditsCOUN 547 Counseling and the Group ProcessReviews 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. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560COUN 550 Multicultural CounselingExplores 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 creditsCOUN 555 Counseling Children and AdolescentsExamines the theories and methods of counseling interventions with children and adolescents, with emphasis on systems theories and the impact of family, school, and community. Topics include analyzing and remediating classroom-related problems, recognizing serious disorders in early stages, consulting with professional staff and families, play therapy, parent education strategies, and community referral.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560 COUN 570 Diagnosis and Treatment in CounselingExamines 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, psychopharmacological medications, strategies for promotion of optimal mental health, and situational and systemic factors affecting behavior.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560 COUN 612 Conflict Management and ResolutionThe examination of conflict and violence and its repercussions will be explored in depth in this course. Emphasis will be placed on developing communication skills and techniques that effectively and appropriately convey feelings and emotions. The course considers the influence of resolving conflicts creatively and stresses the importance of communication as a vehicle for conflict resolution and helping people work collaboratively to express feelings respectfully. Conflict management programs and models will be presented, reviewed and models for educators and mental health practitioners. Harassment and bullying issues will be sub-topics of this course. Positive psychology, restorative justice and strength based and peacemaking theories and philosophies will be presented along with the presentations of historical contributors of effective peacemaking and conflict resolution.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
Trinity’s school counseling program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (N.C.A.T.E.). Our program is state approved and meets certification requirements of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, and our graduates may apply for certification in other states as well.
Connect with Trinity: Interested in attending Trinity? Please visit our Office of Admissions.
Do you want to become a school counselor or a counselor to urban youth in settings outside of the schools? 
