Counseling Course Descriptions

COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling
3 Credit Hours
This course is an introduction to the field of Christian counseling, comparing secular and Christian models for understanding people, problem development, and intervention strategies. Must be taken the first semester it is offered after entering the counseling program.

COUN 2302 Crisis Counseling
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling.
This course examines specific strategies for counseling various crisis situations including grief, terminal illness, abuse, unemployment, and addictions from a Christian as well as a clinical perspective.
Strategies will be explained and rehearsed for recognizing symptoms of abuse and/or addiction and intervening when necessary.

COUN 3302 Pre-Marital and Marital Counseling
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling
This course surveys the Biblical references on marriage relationships and applies them to current research regarding marital love, communication, and the various marital roles. Procedures will be introduced for counseling in both individual and conjoint settings.

COUN 3304 Counseling Children
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling
This course will survey developmental, behavioral, and mental health issues common in early to late childhood. Students will survey screening/assessment tools for common childhood disorders such as ADHD, Disruptive Behavioral Disorders, Depression/Anxiety, and Developmental Disorders. Common interventions such as parent-child relationship therapy, play therapy, behavioral modification, psychopharmacology, and community and school based treatments will also be presented.

COUN 3312 Counseling Adolescents
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 3301 Introduction to Counseling
This course surveys the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth of the adolescent. Emphasis will be on counseling the adolescent and the family within church and family settings.

COUN 3314 Counseling Nontraditional Families
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling
This course will survey the unique challenges of nontraditional families including single, step/blended, foster, and adoptive families. Various counseling approaches will be explored along with strategies for accessing support services available in the church and community.

COUN 3332 Stress Management
3 Credit Hours
This course will examine the effects of stress and the counseling techniques used to treat stress related issues. Topics will include: the mind/body connection and its role in the development and treatment of stress related disorders, Biblical perspective on the counseling of clients experiencing the effects of stress, and ways for individuals in helping processions to avoid burnout and other related illnesses will be explored.

COUN 3081/3082/4081/4082 Counseling Internship
0 Credit Hours

Internships: Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts degree programs except for Advanced Theological Studies majors are required to participate in a minimum two semester internship program in their specialized fields. The internship program is practical field work in a specialized area of ministry and will be supervised by the student’s academic advisor. A written report of the field experience will be submitted at the end of the second semester and will be graded by the academic advisor. It will be graded with satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

COUN 4302 Counseling Skills Lab
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling and other Counseling and Psychology courses in the program.
This course studies counseling strategies and techniques for diagnosis and treatment. A discussion of actual disguised cases, as well as representative counseling situations, is used.

COUN 4312 Seminar in Group Dynamics
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITE: COUN 2301 Introduction to Counseling.
The principles of group dynamics will be presented along with practical guidance and experience in leading and participating in various types of groups.