Course Outlines

- You may click on each course for a description and course objectives -

CNS 505 - Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services
CNS 508 - Marital, Couple & Family Counseling
CNS 509 - Multicultural Counseling
CNS 510 - Drug and Alcohol
CNS 512 - Group Counseling Leadership Skills
CNS 515 - Career Development
CNS 519 - Human Development for Counseling
CNS 522 - Appraisal Techniques in Counseling
CNS 524 - Classification of Psychopathology - DSM IV
CNS 559 - Introduction to Helping Services
CNS 560 - Introduction to College Student Personnel Work
CNS 562 - Student Personnel Work in Higher Education
CNS 563 - Professional Orientation to Community Counseling
CNS 564 - Grief and Loss Issues
CNS 565 - College Student and the College Environment
CNS 567 - Counseling Children
CNS 568 - Professional Orientation to Mental Health Counseling
CNS 570 - Working with Dreams, Sandtray & Music in Counseling
CNS 573 - Theories of Counseling
CNS 578 - Pre-Practicum in Counseling
CNS 587 - Seminar in Counseling - Advanced Research (CSP)
CNS 588 - Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills
CNS 600 - Research & Statistics

Practicum & Field Courses

CNS 581 - School Counseling Supervision
CNS 585 - Practicum in Counseling
CNS 586 - Advanced Practicum in Counseling
CNS 580 - Field Experience I
CNS 589 - Field Experience II
CNS 590 - Advanced Field Experience


CNS 505 - Organization and Administration of School Counseling Services

Course Description:
This course is focused on school counseling K - 12. Unlike other courses, the focus will not be on the counseling process but rather on the setting/context in which school counseling takes place. However, using theory to make decisions and give direction to counselors' intervention will be stressed. Some topics to be examined are:the administration and functioning of comprehensive school counseling programs, roles of the school counselor, professional issues, certification, consultation, and legal and ethical issues.

Objectives:

  1. To develop an understanding of counseling program organization and administration, and the various role expectations involved in school counseling.
  2. To develop an appreciation of the complexity of the magnitude of factors and pressures impinging upon counseling program development and functioning.
  3. To learn ways of dealing successfully in a team oriented approach with people and pressures which affect program effectiveness.
  4. To develop a working consultation model.
  5. To understand how counselors and school personnel can deliver an integrated program that is organized around a consistent theory of change, specifically a solution-focused/Adlerian perspective.
  6. To develop a comprehensive school counseling program.
  7. To become familiar with the National Standards as presented by ASCA.

CNS 508 - Marital, Couple & Family Counseling

Course Description:
Designed to aid student in gaining experience and competency in the use of therapeutic interventions with marital dyads, couple, and family systems. Emphasis is on the student= s understanding of prominent theoretical modalities and applying the relevant techniques to classroom simulations and case studies. Students gain understanding and experience in dealing therapeutically with typical marital, couple and family problematic concerns.

Objectives:

  1. To provide knowledge and information regarding basic concepts and basic theories of marital, couples and family counseling.
  2. To assist students in appropriate use of marital, couple and family counseling as a counseling alternative.
  3. To assist students in greater familiarity and understanding of their family origin.
  4. To assist students in working with several marital, couple and family assessment techniques.
  5. To provide students an opportunity to role-play as counselor several marital, couple and family counseling theories.

Content Areas:

Evolution of Marital, Couple and Family Therapy
Marriages, Couples and Families as Systems
Marital, Couple and Family Life Cycle
Marital, Couple and Family Developmental Tasks
Functional/Dysfunctional Marriages, Couples and Families
Life Stress and Marriage, Couples and Family
Marital, Couple and Family Counseling Theories
The Process of Marital, Couple and Family Counseling
Techniques of Marital, Couple and Family Counseling
Professional Issues and Ethics in Marital, Couple and Family Counseling
CNS 509 - Multicultural Counseling

Course Description:
This course is designed to sensitize students to and promote an understanding of multiple cultures. Students will be encouraged to examine their own attitudes toward various groups, to explore their own identities, and to acquire expertise in the use of therapeutic interventions with various populations. Emphasis will be placed on the learning of approaches and the application of techniques that facilitate inter and intra group interaction.

Objectives:

  1. To become knowledgeable of historical oppression in the U. S.
  2. To become aware of the current state of justice in the U. S.
  3. To become aware of how culture influences people, societies, values, and helping services
  4. To experience activities representing various cultures
  5. To gain insight into how counselors and student affairs professionals can serve as advocates to achieve justice
  6. To identify one’s biases and plan for how to address them
  7. To become aware of various theories (such as identity development and multicultural counseling theory) to assist in understanding and serving a diverse clientele
  8. To become aware of culturally appropriate helping interventions
CNS 510 - Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Course Description:

To acquaint students with the concept of alcohol and drug dependence as a primary, progressive, chronic, potentially fatal, and symptomatic disease that impacts the entire family system. To explore the disease from a bio-psych-social and spiritual as well as demonstrating the various multi-disciplinary approaches to arresting the and successfully treating the illness. Attention will be given to the principles of early intervention, prevention, special populations, and standards necessary for achieving certification as an addiction counselor in Pennsylvania. The course will also explore the developmental model of addiction, recovery, and relapse prevention methods. This course is designed to prepare students as facilitators who can utilize addiction concepts and skills in a variety of living and occupational settings.

CNS 512 - Group Counseling Leadership Skills

Course Description:
Provides a didactic and experiential overview of a variety of group theories and group types. Particular attention is given to the tools and techniques necessary to function effectively in the role of group leader. Emphasis will be placed on both the acquisition of knowledge and the skills of group leadership theories and techniques. Prerequisites: Completion of Phase I and CNS 573 or permission of instructor.

Objectives:

  1. To understand the essential principles of effective groups by participating as a member of a group, and, at times, by co-facilitating that group.
  2. To understand group ethics.
  3. To become aware of various kinds of groups and the principles important to organizing and conducting those groups.
  4. To demonstrate basic understanding and skills in group leadership.
  5. To understand multicultural dynamics within a group.
CNS 515- Career Development

Course Description:
CNS 515 is a counseling oriented course designed to enable the counselor to understand the psychodynamics of career development choices throughout the life span. This course emphasizes the development of counselor competencies in the areas of collecting, evaluating, classifying, and using accurate occupational, educational, and person-social informational materials. Also Considered are theories of vocational choice, the psychology and sociology of work, vocational interests and aptitudes, the relationship of school and college subjects to jobs and the use of information in helping students decide on matters of curricular choice. Students will investigate career decision-making theories; their relevance and utility to student's particular personal and professional interest will be considered throughout the course.

Objectives:

Students will acquire knowledge of:

  1. The historical foundations and contemporary trends in career development
  2. Major theoretical approaches to career development
  3. Theoretical concepts applied to career counseling
  4. Scholarly writing following the APA style and guidelines.

CNS522 - Appraisal Techniques

Course Description:
This course surveys those instruments that are most widely used by professional counselors/student personnel workers in the practice of assessing individuals in the following domains: cognitive, personality, interest/career development as well as environmental. Attention is given to the collection and handling of case data, and the selection, administration and interpretation of individual assessment results.

Objectives:

This course will consist of lectures, readings, and exercises on the basic principles of assessments particularly as it relates to counseling. Students will develop:

CNS 524 - Classification of Psychopathology - DSM IV

Course Description:
The classification system of psychopathology will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed on building counseling models based on the integration of the classification and the client's individual situation. Employing agencies have increasingly high expectations that counselors will be able to work effectively with clients who fall outside the range of normalcy. Counselors are expected to be able to diagnose psychopathology and especially to utilize that information in formulation of treatment interventions and strategies. This course will equip the student to more readily meet the demand of employing agencies and to better respond to client needs. In addition, students will become familiar with the electronic information available regarding diagnosis and psychopharmacological treatments.

Objectives:

  1. To provide knowledge of the concepts of normalcy, psychopathology and diagnosis
  2. To provide knowledge and information regarding basic concepts in the diagnosis of mental disorders
  3. To assist students in appropriate use of diagnosis
  4. To assist students in greater familiarity with the DSM IV-TR
  5. To assist students in the process of differential diagnosis
  6. To assist students in interpreting the various diagnoses with appropriate treatment strategies
  7. To assist students in becoming familiar with the electronic information available regarding the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
CNS 559 - Introduction to the Helping Services                  

Course Description:
Surveys a wide range of helping services and introduces the student to the basic philosophical concepts underlying each, the principles by which such services operate, and the therapeutic practices which are characteristic of each service. Emphasis is on defining the helping relationship within each area and clarifying the ethical considerations which apply.

Objectives:

Attention will be placed on the counselor as a helper (personally and professionally), ethics, the counseling process, counseling approaches, and understanding health versus dysfunction. Group process for experientially facilitating deeper understanding of self in relation to concepts covered will be employed.

  1. To learn how to learn.
  2. To gain a practical understanding of the profession=s ethical standards.
  3. To grow in personal awareness and in recognizing the impact of the counselor as a person on clients.
  4. To consider contemporary issues and trends within the profession.
  5. To compare and contrast theoretical orientations and understand their contribution to the counseling process as a whole.
  6. To begin developing an ethical professional identity and personal view of facilitating change.
  7. To observe the group process, and to experience being a member of a group.
  8. To learn, practice, and receive input about helping skills
  9. To grasp core concepts and practical awareness of your individual specialty area.
CNS 560 - Introduction to College Personnel Work

Course Description:
Using small group discussions, group activities, lecture, and presentations this course surveys the basic principles and practices of student personnel work in higher education.

Objectives:

  1. To become familiar with the history as well as the current issues facing higher education.
  2. To become familiar with the historical and current documents that lay the foundation for student affairs work including college counseling.
  3. To understand the foundations, values, and ethics of student affairs practice and articulate how these foundations impact practice.
  4. To be introduced to student development theory, a foundation for student affairs interventions.
  5. To be introduced to the complex issues that face student affairs current practice within the context of current-day higher education.
  6. To be able to articulate a concrete yet concise philosophy of one’s practice influenced by foundational principles.

CNS 562 - Student Personnel Work in Higher Education

Prerequisites: CNS 560 and CNS 565

Course Description:
This course is designed to critically explore issues and trends in the leadership and management of higher education highlighting the impact of law. One of the trends will be a new addition to the student affairs curriculum, which this semester will be service learning.

Course Objectives:

  1. To become acquainted with management and leadership principles particular to higher education that are conducive to student learning.
  2. To understand basic legal principles, especially those pertinent to higher education (such as FERPA, campus crime reporting, free speech, free association, public versus private institutions).
  3. To be able to identify potential legal risk and be able to offer solutions to their limitation.
  4. To understand the foundational value of student affairs work to community involvement.
  5. To experience learning associated with community service.
  6. To connect student learning with community service.

CNS 563& CNS 568 - Professional Orientation to Community & Mental Health Counseling

Course Description:
This class introduces the student to information and background essential for working in a community agency as a mental health counselor. It examines current trends and developments in the field of counseling with respect to ethical/legal issues and managed care. It also explores the history and development of community mental health systems and focuses on individual areas of interest to the student. The class is interactive and applicable to the needs of the developing mental health and community counselor. Panel discussions, lectures, out-of-class assignments, and guest speakers will be utilized in the learning process.

CNS 564 - Grief and Loss Issues

Course Description:
This course is designed to help the student identify, clarify, and understand more clearly the nature of grief process as a response to losses. While a good share of the course content will relate to death, death is only one kind of loss to be grieved. The course materials easily translate to a variety of losses that people experience. The course will deal with the development of skills as a caring and competent counselor as well as helping to achieve deeper self understanding of the student's own feelings, attitudes, and values regarding loss and death.


CNS 565 - The College Student and the College Environment

Course Description:
This course examines the impact of the college environment on numerous student groups; seeks to provide in-depth understanding of the characteristics, attitudes, and developmental needs of those students; and suggests a methodology for identifying needs and assessing environmental characteristics.


CNS 567 - Counseling Children

Course Description:
This course is an intense study of basic theoretical foundations and approaches used in counseling children, emphasizing play therapy. Childhood psychological disorders will be surveyed utilizing the DSM IV. Students will investigate major counseling and psychotherapy theories in terms of relevance and function for their application with children. Child and early adolescent counseling and psychotherapy theorists and practitioners will provide insight, structure (method) for learning approaches for work with our children. Student progress and course evaluation will be assessed through small group presentations, individual papers, assignments, class preparedness
(i.e., readings, daily interactions) and participation, quizzes, and a final examine.


CNS 573- Theories of Counseling

Course Description:
To be able to compare and contrast various counseling theories. To define and demonstrate basic counseling techniques. To develop your own personal counseling theory based on the knowledge gained about the theories in class, and the match between the theory's assumptions and your personal values about people and the helping process.


CNS 578 - Pre-Practicum

Course Description:
This course is designed for the beginning student. It will serve as a forum for learning and practicing basic counseling skills as well as a foundation for later course in more advanced techniques.

Primarily this course will be experiential. Emphasis will be placed on the acquisition of counseling skills through experimentation and practice both inside and outside the classroom. Discussion of the assigned readings will be integrated into our weekly classroom activities.

A major focus of the course will be personal and professional self development. Counseling is a relationship requiring the counselor's personal involvement. The attitudes, beliefs, values and needs the counselor brings to the therapy relationship influences the direction of treatment. Self-awareness helps establish and maintain appropriate boundaries. Therefore, self-examination is a critical part of the counselor's professional responsibility to the client. Accordingly, many of the classroom activities will focus on the counselor's processes rather than those of the client.


CNS 580/589/590 - Clinical Field Experience

Course Description:
The culminating experience for all programs, the field experience sequence consists of six (6) semester hours and is the internship requirement of the Shippensburg University counseling programs. STudents must complete 300 clock hours for each field experience in a professional setting appropriate to their career interest, skills, and program of study. Site selection must be approved by your advisor. Community Counseling Students are required to complete two (2) semesters of Clinical Field Experience and Mental Health Counseling students are required to complete three (3) semesters of Clinical Field Experience.


CNS 581 - School Counseling Supervision

Course Description:
Students are to directly supervise three field students (interns) in their internships. Students will be responsible for all of the individual supervisory sessions including setting goals, evaluating tapes, etc. Students will keep a supervisor abreast of the caseloads of the interns. Students will accompany supervisor to on-site visits, if scheduling permits.

Students are to attend and participate in all group supervision sessions. Students will gradually increase level of intervention.

Students will meet with supervisor every other week for individual supervision. Students are required to present taped supervisory sessions during at least half of the supervisions sessions.

A major objective for this experience if or students to develop a theory of supervision. Students are encouraged to do independent reading in this area. A short paper detailing ones theory of supervision will be due the at evening of class.


CNS 585 - Practicum in Counseling

Course Description:
Practicum in counseling allows the student to take what he/she has learned from course work, particularly Pre-Practicum, and begin developing counseling skills and abilities with clients.

Each student will have weekly supervision both individually and in a group setting with other peers. These group sessions will help the practicum student become aware of their skill development and transference/counter transference issues. In addition, ethical guidelines and client involvement will be discussed in each session. The class is tutorial in nature and focuses on the early development of the counseling professional.

CNS 586 - Advanced Practicum in Counseling

Course Description:
Extension of CNS 585, permits student to gain greater specialized competencies in the same general setting. Prerequisite: CNS 585, consent of adviser, attendance at orientation meeting the prior semester, and pre-registration form.

CNS 587 - Seminar in Counseling - Advanced Research

Course Description:
Presents the advanced student an opportunity to examine, evaluate, and synthesize previous learning into a consistent philosophical approach. This seminar will explore in particular issues of research and assessment in student affairs. Additionally, through the course students will complete their own research project.

CNS 588 - Advanced Psychotherapeutic Skills

Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to examine, experience, and apply a variety of therapeutic intervention strategies that promote growth and change. The course will provide an opportunity for students to broaden exposure to therapeutic interventions, to further develop and specialize in particular areas of interest, as well as to grow in awareness of common themes/principles that evoke client change and growth across interventions and cultures. This course will be very experiential in nature.

CNS 600 - Research and Statistics

Course Description:
Students will develop research skills and related competencies involved in planning, conducting, and reporting of applied research studies. Students will develop skills necessary for the interpretation and application of counseling research. Students will become familiar with the use of technology in statistical analysis and the research process.