Counseling

College of Health and Social Sciences

Interim Dean: Dr. Andreana Clay

Department of Counseling

Burk Hall 524
Phone: (415) 338-2005
Fax: (415) 338-0594
Email: counsel@sfsu.edu
Website: counseling.sfsu.edu
Chair: Rebecca Toporek

Program Scope

The mission of the Department of Counseling at San Francisco State University is to train the next generation of counselor leaders who recognize that the liberation of all communities is only possible when an intersectional, participatory, community-driven approach to counseling is practiced. Our training program is grounded in the belief that counseling, as a field of practice, affords professionals the knowledge and skills needed to carry out social justice work via strengths-based healing and wellness, advocacy, critical consciousness development, and action-oriented scholarship and research.

Culturally competent, psychologically-minded, and emotionally grounded Professionally Licensed Counselors, Credentialed School Counselors, Mental Health Counselors, Career Counselors, College Counselors, and Gerontological Counselors are needed in the field of human services. The department’s six graduate programs, its undergraduate Minor in Counseling, and our partnerships with community agencies collaboratively prepare students who are well-grounded to help meet the growing demands in the field. Our department’s faculty and the curriculum we have designed aspire to achieve excellence in three core areas:

  • Multicultural Competence,
  • Community Partnerships, and
  • Action Research.

Our faculty are locally, nationally, and internationally recognized for their scholarly contributions to multicultural competence in counseling, social justice, and health equity. They work to provide a solid learning environment for students with disabilities, students from diverse ethnic and sexual orientations, as well as students from a range of socioeconomic groups.

By the end of graduate studies, our students should embody multicultural competence, have grown deep connections to the local community, and embrace best practices in counseling. Combined, our students provide thousands of hours per year of counseling services to San Francisco Bay Area communities. They are in schools, community mental health and rehabilitation agencies, colleges and universities, careers centers, and hospitals, to name a few. Our students reflect the diversity of California and especially the San Francisco Bay Area.

Graduates of the department will have the necessary preparation to be eligible to sit for the National Board of Certified Counselors examination, known as the National Counselor Examination®. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam. Graduates will be license eligible in the state of California for either a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CMHC specialization or emphasis) or a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFCC degree program only).

We prepare school counseling students for the PPS Credential (School Counseling Program).

The Department of Counseling offers three master's degrees:

  • Master of Science in Counseling — There are four different specializations—Career, College, Gerontological, and School Counseling. School counseling students are eligible for the State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK-12). Students who wish to be endorsed by the department as meeting the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California in addition to their specialization must complete an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
  • Master of Science in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Students are eligible to sit for the State of California examination for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license upon completion of all the Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements. Students who wish to be endorsed by the department as meeting the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California in addition to MFT must complete an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
  • Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students are eligible to take the National Certified Rehabilitation Counselor examination. Graduates will be endorsed by the department as meeting the education requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license in California.

Students specialize in one area of counseling. For example, a student whose objective is an MFT license will follow the curriculum for the M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in MFCC. In addition, students may also apply to take an emphasis in another counseling area, such as school, career, college, gerontological, or clinical mental health counseling. If accepted, additional courses and fieldwork will be required.

The department also offers an undergraduate minor in counseling. The minor is designed for students who want training as a paraprofessional or counselor aide; to supplement majors that have some involvement with the helping professions; or for students considering graduate study in human services.

Accreditation

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the following programs in the Department of Counseling at SF State: 

Career Counseling (M.S.); Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.); College Counseling and Student Affairs (M.S.); Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (M.S.) and School Counseling (M.S.). The Pupil Personnel Services Credential program in School Counseling is also accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Career Outlook

Students graduating with a master’s degree in counseling are eligible for a variety of career options. The profession of counseling involves counselors assisting clients to learn about themselves and learn to help themselves within their respective environments. The role of the professional counselor calls for skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to help people make personal life decisions.

Career Counselors. Jobs for career counselors are predicted to increase 8% between 2018-2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Career counselors work in high school, college and university career centers, student support services and advising offices. Some graduates use this training to establish private career counseling and consultation practices while others enter career development centers in private industry and public agencies. Many counselors combine expertise in career counseling with another specialty. Program Coordinator: Elif Balin, Ph.D.; email: ebalin@sfsu.edu.

College Counselors. The demand for college counselors continues to increase in community colleges, universities, and in the private section. Most college counselors work in two- and four-year colleges and universities providing academic counseling in a range of college student personnel positions in programs such as student retention, EOP or EOPS, financial aid, CalWorks, multicultural student services, residential life, college outreach, transfer services, general counseling, and other student services. Program Coordinator: Graciela Orozco (interim Fall)/Rebecca Toporek (interim Spring), Ph.D.; email: orozco@sfsu.edu; rtoporek@sfsu.edu.

School Counselors upon graduation and after passing the California CBEST examination receive their State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK–12) and work in public and private school settings. They do personal and academic counseling and work in an integrated services team approach with other mental health and education professionals. Program Coordinator: Patricia Van Velsor, Ph.D.; email: pvanvels@sfsu.edu.

Gerontological Counselors work with older adults and their families performing case management and counseling in consultation with family members. Settings may include senior centers, residential homes, social service agencies, and hospices. Gerontological counselors benefit from having an emphasis in Mental Health Counseling. Program Coordinator: Graciela Orozco (interim), Ph.D.; email: orozco@sfsu.edu.

MFT Counselors. Demand for MFTs in the State of California is projected to grow 24% by 2026 according to the US Department of Labor. MFT counselors specialize in providing assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions to individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan with mild, moderate, and severe mental health concerns from a systemic-familial-relational perspective. MFT/MFCCs work in school, college, community mental health agency, hospital, business, and industrial settings. In addition to working in private/non-profit agencies, MFCCs may also open a private therapy practice upon obtaining their MFT license. Program Coordinator: Tiffany O’Shaughnessy, Ph.D.; email: taosh@sfsu.edu.

Clinical Mental Health Counselors. The career outlook for mental health counselors is projected to grow to 22% from 2018 – 2028, which is much faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Clinical Mental Health Counselors work in an array of community-based behavioral health agencies, hospital-based inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, school and college settings, rehabilitation programs, youth wellness centers, and programs/services for at-risk and marginalized communities. Graduates obtain their LPCC and may choose to work in private practice. Program Coordinator: Julie Chronister Ph.D.; email: jchronis@sfsu.edu.

Professor

Alvin Alvarez (1997), Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Maryland, College Park.

Julie A. Chronister (2007), Professor in Counseling. Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Kwong-Liem Karl Kwan (2008), Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Rebecca Toporek (2003), Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Maryland, College Park.

Associate Professor

Elif Balin (2016), Associate Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. Penn State University.

Sandra D. Fitzgerald (2013), Associate Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Tiffany O’Shaughnessy (2015), Associate Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. Lehigh University.

Molly Strear (2016), Associate Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Northern Colorado.

Assistant Professor

Derrick Bines (2020), Assistant Professor in Counseling. Ph.D. University of Oregon.

Cynthia Martinez (2022), Assistant Professor in Counseling. Psy.D. Wright Institute.

COUN 110 Critically Thinking About Career Choice: Self, Community, Society, and the World (Units: 3)

Introduction to the principles and practice of critical thinking with a focus on career choice and development. Examination of personal, cultural, family, community, and global perspectives on work-life choices. Critique of labor market information and popular media and examination of the role of work locally, societally, and globally attending to social justice and economic issues.

Course Attributes:

  • E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
  • A3: Critical Thinking
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

COUN 325 Selected Problems In Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated for a total of 6 units when topics vary. (CR/NC grading only) [CSL may be available]

Topics:

  1. Mental Health Advocate Training
  2. Leadership & Student Development in Residence Hall
  3. Outreach Training
  4. Peer Counselor Training
  5. College Success Skills

COUN 450 HIV and AIDS Impacts and Resistance Among Communities of Color (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

The political, psychological, social, and economic impact of AIDS and HIV on Indigenous people and people of color. Foregrounds experiences of queer, trans, cis, and heterosexual people from youth to elders. Can include prevention and educational strategies.
(This course is offered as COUN 450, RRS 460, and SXS 460. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Social Justice

COUN 501 Behavior is Language: Strategies for Managing Disruptive Behavior (Units: 3)

[Online Course] Provide a developmental framework for understanding what students are trying to tell through the "language" of their behavior in schools. Teach behavioral techniques and intervention strategies that remediate disruptive behaviors, reduce power struggles while increasing classroom control and reduce your workloads and burnout. Help find creative, effective solutions to behavioral problems. Present various classroom scenarios in which you will be able to practice and hone your skills for interpreting behavior, determining appropriate interventions and effectively debriefing your students.
(This course is offered as EDUC 501 and COUN 501. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

COUN 502 Advanced Classroom Management in Schools (Units: 2)

Intended for school educators, counselors, psychologists serving children with behavior problems in class.
Cognitive and cognitive-behavioral concept/strategies interventions. Emphasis on students managing/changing their own behavior.
(This course is offered as EDUC 502 and COUN 502. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

COUN 630 Legal Center Training I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; permission of the instructor.

Interviewing and legal information to function appropriately in the Legal Center 3-4 hours per week.

COUN 631 Legal Center Training II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; COUN 630; permission of the instructor.

Practice in interviewing skills and additional legal information for staffing the Legal Center 4 hours per week.

COUN 690 Field of Counseling I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: PSY 200 or graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Professional identity for career, college, marriage and family, rehabilitation, school, gerontological counseling. Career decision-making, mid-life, career change, pre-retirement guidance, and mental illness. Computer technology and counseling. History, ethics, and self-awareness. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 691 Multicultural Human Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Psychosocial perspectives on attitudes, knowledge, and insights essential to effective multicultural relationships and the examination of culture as it relates to ethnicity, gender, physical and learning abilities, race, sexual orientation, and class. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; enrollment by petition approved by the instructor, adviser, and department chair.

Intensive study of a particular problem under the direction of a department member. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. [CSL may be available]

COUN 700 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Theories of counseling and personality. Counseling process and practice relating to major approaches; therapeutic practices with illustration of relevant techniques and cases. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 702 Developmental Foundations for Counselors (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling; an approved undergraduate course in lifespan human development.

Theories of individual and family development across the lifespan; biopsychosocial, systemic and environmental factors influencing human development, disability, aging and sexuality across the lifespan; impact of culture, crisis and trauma across the lifespan; ethical and culturally relevant strategies for promoting resilience and optimum development and wellness across the lifespan. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 703 Psychological Foundations for Counselors (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; undergraduate course in psychopathology or abnormal behavior.

Theories of mental health and mental illness, classification of behavior disorders, diagnosis and prognosis, psychological impairment, psychological issues related to physical disability; implications for counseling and therapeutic interventions. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 704 Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health, Behavioral Health, Aging, & Disability (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling.

Biopsychosocial models of health, behavioral health, aging, disability and sexuality; etiology, nomenclature, treatment and referral; prevention, health promotion, and wellness approaches; integrated behavioral healthcare; interprofessional collaboration; service delivery systems and networks; brief assessment & intervention; evidence-based practices; co-occurring conditions and multi-morbidity; health and behavioral health for at-risk and marginalized communities; mental health advocacy. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 705 Counseling Practicum (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Counseling students; COUN 702 (may be taken concurrently); concurrent enrollment in COUN 706*; contract with an approved field training site.

Initial practicum experience. Clinical interviewing skills. Development of clinically and culturally competent interviewing, assessment, and intervention skills that reflect an integration of a counselor's understanding of oneself and others as well as the integration of counseling theories that inform interventions. (CR/NC grading only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 706 Counseling Skills and Process (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Counseling students; COUN 702 (may be taken concurrently) with a grade of B or better; concurrent enrollment in COUN 705*; contract with an approved field training site.

Development of self-awareness, knowledge, and skills as they relate to clinical interviewing. Development of basic clinical skills in relation to the design of client intervention, including interviewing, rapport building, assessment, case conceptualization, and crisis management. Development of a basic sense of self in clinical interviewing and individual growth in the clinical process. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 715 Assessment in Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Clinical process of testing; individual counselor's ability to clinically analyze and interpret assessment instruments, including diagnostic tests for various counseling specializations. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 716 Professional Seminar I - Structural Elements in School Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Institutional structure and culture of schools, relevant laws and ethics, trends in guidance and counseling and design of comprehensive counseling programs. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 717 Professional Seminar II - Functional Elements in School Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 716*.

Normative roles of school counselors in a changing world, provides skills to address issues and develop a school counseling philosophy. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 718 Professional Seminar III - Professional Issues in School Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 716* and COUN 717*.

Professional issues, aspects of professional identity, and development of understanding of a systems theoretical approach to working in schools. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 720 Career Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Dynamics of vocational choice and occupational adjustments; social learning and developmental tasks, educational and vocational information; counseling process in occupational planning. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 721 Applied Career Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 720 (may be taken concurrently).

Application of career counseling theories and techniques in individual and group career counseling. Use of career assessment in career counseling. Application of counseling to issues of well-being related career. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 727 Advanced Career Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling students; COUN 720* and COUN 721*.

Techniques in conducting personal career research and informational interviews; skills and knowledge necessary to establish a viable career placement center. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 735 Advanced Practicum and Internship (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: COUN 736.

Supervised internship for individuals who are continuing an existing internship during the summer session. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. (CR/NC grading only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 736 Advanced Counseling Process (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Counseling students; COUN 700 (may be taken concurrently), COUN 705, COUN 706. Must be contracted with an approved field training site.

Clinical counseling case analysis; individual counselor growth assessment, management, and disposition of clients. Second semester of field placement. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students must take the section with a CRC. Career and College Counseling students may take COUN 736 prior to completing COUN 703. Must earn a grade of B or better. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 737 Psychopharmacology in Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling students; COUN 703*.

Introduction to the psychophysiology of mental disorders, psychiatric medications, and major classes of psychiatric medications and their side effects. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 738 Addictions (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Dynamics, behaviors, biochemical processes, and treatment interventions related to addictions, including chemical, behavioral, and psychological. Recovery models emphasized. Legal and cultural factors incorporated. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 741 Crisis Counseling for Counselors (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 736*.

Current theories and practices related to trauma and crisis intervention. Focused on the impact of crises and other traumatic events. Basic intervention counseling strategies for helping survivors make meaning of their experiences and envision new possibilities. (Plus-minus AB/NC grading only)

COUN 792 Seminar for Counselors in Student Personnel Services (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Organization, management, and delivery of college student services: organizational theory, management strategies and styles, program development, management, implementation, evaluation. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 793 Organization and Administration of Student Services in Higher Education (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 792*.

Seminar in organization and management of college student services: organizational theory, development, structures; management strategies and styles, decision making, management by objectives, administrative models; staff development; evaluation; accountability, budget planning, management; program development, evaluation; legal issues. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 794 Seminar in Research (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Identification and analysis of research problems related to health and human services; research methodology and techniques, including designs appropriate to clinical research problems including critique and interpretation of research reports. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 811 Group Counseling Process (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 706*.

Instruction in group counseling dynamics: clinical analysis of group counseling sessions conducted by students. Focus on professional growth as a group counselor. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 827 The Consultation Process (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Psychology.

Dynamics of the consultation process; implications for various specialists in developing effective working relationships with teachers and parents.

COUN 833 Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Self-examination, knowledge expansion and skill building regarding multiple dimensions of culture - race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical and learning abilities. Exploration of systems of privilege, oppression, the cultural assumptions of counseling, the role of the counselor as change agent. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 850 Second Specialization Internship (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling students; permission of the Field Placement Coordinator.

Internship for individuals who are not in a practicum and need university monitoring to accrue hours. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. (CR/NC grading only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 857 Law and Ethics for Counselors (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Legal and ethical responsibilities of counselors: confidentiality, privilege, reporting; legal obligations regarding professional practice and liability; professional codes of ethics; laws relating to minors, marriage, and the family; child abuse assessment and intervention; partner violence assessment and intervention. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 858 Couple and Family Counseling I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 700* and COUN 706*.

Major theoretical approaches: analytic, behavioral, systems, intergenerational, and existential. Reading, demonstrations, activities emphasize working with couples. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 859 Counseling Aspects of Sexuality (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Major sexual problems encountered in counseling; causes; counseling approaches; techniques and treatments; clinical implications including feminine orientations. Satisfies MFCC requirements for child sexual abuse and human sexuality. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 860 Couple and Family Counseling II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: COUN 858* or permission of the instructor.

Applied psychotherapeutic techniques in working with families and relationships. Emphasis on direct experience working with families through simulations, demonstrations, case material. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 861 Seminar on Child Treatment (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 736*.

Concepts, processes, techniques of child and adolescent treatment, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 870 Professional Issues, Clinical Case Management and Systems of Care (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; priority enrollment for graduate students in Counseling.

History, development, roles, functions and settings of clinical mental health counselors; clinical case management skills; systems of care (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment and aftercare); legal issues, ethics, legislation and government policy in clinical mental health counseling; interfacing with legal system and court-referred clients; record keeping, third-party reimbursement and other practice and management issues; mental health recovery model, psychiatric rehabilitation, evidence-based practice; mental health advocacy, integrated behavioral health. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 890 Integrative Counseling and Internship (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to classified graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling; COUN 736*.

Contracted with an approved field training site. Integrate and apply counseling constructs: assessment, diagnosis, treatment, planning, clinical interventions, law and ethics, and therapeutic relationships. Emphasis on professional identity as counselors. Proficiency in recovery models. Oversight of fieldwork. Must earn a grade of B or better. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

COUN 891 Case Studies and Internship Seminar (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling students; COUN 890*; concurrent enrollment in COUN 892; and a contract with an approved field training site.

Advanced counseling and case study analysis for counselor trainees. Multicultural counseling competence and integration of empirically-based interventions. Internship supervision and coaching. Must earn a grade of B or better. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 892 Culminating Experience for Counselors (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Counseling, Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling students; COUN 890*; concurrent enrollment in COUN 891; contract with an approved field training site; permission of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

Culminating experience paper demonstrating the ability to apply knowledge of counseling theory to the field. Paper synthesizes knowledge, skills, and abilities learned over the course of the counseling program. Emphasizes writing a scholarly, professional paper integrating field placement experience and academic knowledge. (CR/NC/RP grading only) [CSL may be available]

COUN 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Special study under the direction of a department member. Open only to graduate students of demonstrated ability to do independent work. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.