Graduate Coordinator: Amy Hittner
M.S. in Counseling
M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling
M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
Certificate in Rehabilitation Engineering Technology
The department recognizes that it must be aware of and responsive to the social and cultural forces of the community and strives to reflect the unique perspectives of the various communities it serves. It is committed to serving multicultural and multi-ethnic populations including persons of color; persons of gay, lesbian, and bisexual orientation; and persons with disabilities.
The Department of Counseling offers a Minor in Counseling. It has been designed to meet the needs of students who (1) want training as a paraprofessional or counselor aide; (2) want to supplement majors which have some involvement with the helping professions; or (3) are considering graduate study in counseling.
The department offers the Master of Science in Counseling, a Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. The department is also authorized to recommend qualified candidates for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certificate, the College Services Credential: Pupil Personnel Services-Counseling, and to verify the Marriage, Family and Child Counseling License to the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. The department also offers a graduate certificate in Rehabilitation Engineering Technology.
The rehabilitation counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. The school counseling, college and student personnel counseling, and marriage and family counseling programs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counselor Education and Related Education Programs (CACREP).
The profession of counseling is a process where counselors assist clients to learn about themselves and learn to help themselves within their respective environments. The role of the professional counselor calls for individuals who possess skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to help people make personal life decisions.
Students select electives according to their area of specialization. School counselors focus mostly on learning, academic advising, and related emotional problems; college counselors concentrate mainly on educational advising and career development; career counselors are concerned with problems of career development and life planning. Gerontological counselors are concerned with issues of aging with individuals and their families. Rehabilitation counselors work with individuals with a variety of disabling conditions. MFC counselors, in general, focus on problems in interpersonal relationships.
It is possible to specialize in more than one area of counseling. Students who want to work towards an MFCC license must follow the curriculum for the M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in MFCC. The student may add a second specialization in school, career, college, gerontology, or rehabilitation counseling by taking all required courses in that specialization. Although no special preparation has been required for admission to the program, undergraduate studies in counseling, developmental psychology, personality theory, and abnormal psychology are very helpful. Paid or volunteer experience working with people has been an important factor for admission to the program.
The faculty in the Department of Counseling, perhaps because it is the largest in the State of California, is quite varied in approach. Students are exposed to many points of view, and are free to choose the professional approach with which they are most comfortable.
Career counselors work in settings such as schools, colleges, or employee assistance programs in business and industry. They may also open a private practice. Employment outlook—excellent.
College counselors may become student services professionals such as activities advisers, EOP counselors, financial aide and recruitment counselors, in two- and four-year institutions. They may also work at counseling and advising centers. Employment outlook—very good.
Upon graduation, school counselors receive their Pupil Personnel Services Counseling Credential from the State of California to counsel in K-12 public schools (private school require no credential). They do personal and academic counseling and work in an integrated services team model with other mental health and education professionals. Employment outlook—very good.
Gerontological counselors work with older adults and their families. Duties include case management counseling and consultation with family members. Settings include senior centers, housing homes, agencies, and hospice. Employment outlook—excellent.
Upon graduation MFC counselors are eligible to sit for the MFCC license exam after accumulating a total of 3,000 hours (1,500 must be post-master's). MFCC's work in school and colleges, agencies, business, and industry and upon receiving the license, private practice settings. Employment outlook—very good.
Rehabilitation counselors may become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) upon passing the national examination. They work in private and public rehabilitation settings with persons who have a variety of disabilities. Employment outlook—excellent.
MINOR IN COUNSELING
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Counseling discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).
The minor offers four areas of study for all students:
The Field of Counseling. Students are introduced to the counseling profession through an overview of role and functions in career, college, marriage, family and child, mental health, and rehabilitation settings; historical perspective; professional identification; ethical considerations; and self-awareness.
Psychological Understandings. Students receive a general introduction to the field of psychology.
Decision Making. Students examine how individuals make choices and how decisions are made through self-assessment and evaluation by others. The study includes ethnic and cultural differences in the decision-making process.
Skill Training. The development of basic skills which include attending, responding, interpretation, and decision making. The training includes practicum experience in interviewing skills.
Units PSY 200 General Psychology 3 PSY 431 Developmental Psychology or SW 410 Human Development and the Social Services 3 COUN 325 Career Development and Leadership 3 COUN 605 Interviewing Skills Practicum 3 COUN 606 Interviewing Skills 3 COUN 690 Field of Counseling 3 Electives chosen in consultation with the department's undergraduate coordinator 6-8 Total for minor 24-26
The Department of Counseling requires 60 hours of approved graduate work for the Master of Science degrees. Prior to admission as a candidate an applicant may petition the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee for up to 12 hours of appropriate post-baccalaureate degree work taken in other departments or other institutions within seven years of application. Courses taken for another degree or credential may not be counted for the Master of Science in Counseling. See section entitled "Transfer Credit from Other Institutions."
It may be possible to complete the M.S. program either as a full-time student or as a part-time student taking daytime, late afternoon (4:10-6:55), and evening classes. However, students should know that field work, most often, takes place during regular work hours.
Admission to the department involves the following:
Application material can only be obtained after attending the orientation session. Applicants who live a great distance (over 100 miles) from the university can request an exception to the latter policy from the department chair. It is necessary to call the Department of Counseling Office, 338-2005, for information.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING
Counselors work in a variety of settings where they are concerned with assisting individuals to make knowledgeable life choices and understand self. Career counselors assist clients in assessing interests and skills and assist with job hunting skills as well as life goals and values across the life span. College counselors work in two- and four-year
colleges and universities assisting students with career planning, personal issues, academic advising, and all aspects of student life.
School counselors work with young people, their teachers, and families to assist in the educational goals and adjustment in private and public K-12 schools. Focus is on primary prevention and school counselors work closely with school personnel, parents, and the community in an integrated services model of service delivery. Gerontological counselors focus on mental health counseling and assessment with older persons. Foci include personal adjustment, community services, family and relationship issues in older age.
Prerequisite to Program: COUN 690, Field of Counseling
NOTE: Students who complete this degree are not eligible for the Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) license, unless they are classified under the MFCC Concentration.
Units COUN 700 Theories of Counseling 3 COUN 702 Developmental Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 703 Psychological Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 705 Practicum and Internship 2 COUN 706 Interviewing Process 3 COUN 715 Assessment in Counseling 3 COUN 735 Counseling Practicum and Field Work 3 COUN 736 Advanced Counseling Process 3 COUN 738 Alcohol and Substance Abuse 1 COUN 833 Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling 3 COUN 857 Law and Ethics in Counseling 3 COUN 858 Couples and Family Counseling 3 COUN 859 Counseling Aspects of Sexuality 2 COUN 891 Case Studies and Internship Seminar 3 COUN 892 Internship 6 COUN 811 Group Counseling Process 3 ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research 3 Area of Specialization (see below) 10 Minimum total 60
COUN 720 Career Counseling 3 COUN 721 Computer Applications in Counseling 3 COUN 727 Job Development and Placement 3 Elective 1College Counseling
COUN 720 Career Counseling 3 COUN 721 Computer Applications in Counseling 3 COUN 792 Seminar for Counselors in Student Personnel Services 3 Elective 1School Counseling
COUN 720 Career Counseling 3 COUN 827 The Consultation Process 2 COUN 780 Learning Clinic I 2 COUN 830 Organization of Pupil Personnel Services and Laws 3Gerontological Counseling
GRN 705 Gerontology: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis 3 GRN 710 Aging Process 3 COUN 820 Counseling the Older Adult 2 COUN 821 Mental Health Assessment with the Older Adult 2
Prerequisite to Program: COUN 690, Field of Counseling
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Counseling discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).
Units COUN 700 Theories of Counseling 3 COUN 702 Developmental Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 703 Psychological Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 705 Practicum and Internship 2 COUN 706 Interviewing Process 3 COUN 715 Assessment in Counseling 3 COUN 720 Career Counseling 1 COUN 735 Counseling Practicum and Field Work 3 COUN 736 Advanced Counseling Process 3 COUN 738 Alcohol and Substance Abuse 1 COUN 827 The Consultation Process 2 COUN 833 Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling 3 COUN 857 Law and Ethics for Counselors 3 COUN 858 Couples and Family Counseling I 3 COUN 859 Counseling Aspects of Sexuality 2 COUN 860 Couples and Family Counseling II 3 COUN 861 Seminar on Child Treatment 3 COUN 891 Case Studies and Internship 3 COUN 892 Internship 6 COUN 811 Group Counseling Process 3 ISED 797 Seminar in Education Research 3 Elective 1 Minimum total 60
That which distinguishes rehabilitation counseling from the other helping professions is the need for counselors to acquire an in-depth knowledge of disability and occupations, the labor market, and skills in job placement. In this way the counselor can be effective in facilitating the maximal integration of clients into the community.
Counselors-in-training may work with persons from a wide range of disabling conditions; e.g., physical, emotional, developmental, substance abuse, etc. Along with generic training for rehabilitation counselors, the department offers subspecializations in deafness and rehabilitation engineering technology.
Units COUN 700 Theories of Counseling 3 COUN 702 Developmental Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 703 Psychological Foundations for Counselors 3 COUN 704 Psychological Aspects of Disability 3 COUN 705 Practicum and Internship 3 COUN 706 Interviewing Process 3 COUN 715 Assessment in Counseling 3 COUN 735 Counseling Practicum and Field Work 3 COUN 736 Advanced Counseling Process 3 COUN 738 Alcohol and Substance Abuse 1 COUN 762 Seminar on Field of Rehabilitation Counseling 3 COUN 766 Medical–Social Aspects of Rehabilitation Counseling 4 COUN 778 Occupational Information, Dynamics, and Placement in Rehabilitation Counseling 3 COUN 833 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling 3 COUN 892 Internship 6-7 COUN 891 Case Studies and Internship Seminar 3 COUN 811 Group Counseling Process 3 ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research 3 Elective on advisement 3-4 Minimum total 60
As a result of federal legislation, there has been a marked expansion in the utilization of technology as part of the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. Employment opportunities for certificate holders include positions with hospitals, rehabilitation agencies and centers, independent living centers, workers' compensation companies, insurance companies, and companies producing assistive devices.
Courses taken in this certificate program may be included, on advisement, in the rehabilitation counseling master's program, the Master of Science in Engineering program, or as part of a M.A. Special Major.
Required Courses (All students must complete the common 10-unit core)
Units COUN 748 Rehabilitation Engineering Technology I 3 COUN 749 Rehabilitation Engineering Technology II 3 COUN 766 Medical-Social Aspects of Rehabilitation Counseling 4 Required courses for Engineers ENGR 860 Advanced Engineering Design: The Human Interface 3 COUN 886 Assistive Technology Internship 4 Required courses for Rehabilitation Counselors Electives on advisement 3 COUN 886 Assistive Technology Internship 4 Minimum total 17
last modified June 1, 1995