Course Descriptions

Doctoral

Course Descriptions

Note about prerequisites: Students are encouraged to carefully evaluate the prerequisites for each course to make sure they are properly prepared. Descriptions of courses in sequenced programs may not list all of the preceding courses in the prescribed sequence. Students should review the program-description section of the catalog carefully and direct any questions concerning prerequisites to an academic advisor.

COUN 8001 Foundations of Graduate Study in Counselor Education and Supervision (1 cr.)
This course introduces students to Walden University and to the requirements for successful participation in an online curriculum. It provides a foundation for academic and professional success as a scholar-practitioner and social-change agent. Course assignments focus on practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills, and promote professional and academic excellence as they relate to counselor educators and supervisors.

COUN 8110 Professional Orientation, Ethics, and Identity (5 cr.)
This doctoral level course focuses on professional orientation, identity, and ethical and legal issues for counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors. This course emphasizes the competencies and responsibilities of counselor educators and supervisors. Course content includes further examination of the ACA Code of Ethics and other relevant standards of practice and multicultural issues related to counselor preparation training. Students are provided with opportunities for professional awareness and an opportunity to develop a professional development plan that can be implemented throughout the degree program. (Prerequisite: COUN 8001.)

COUN 8115 Advanced Counseling Theories (5 cr.)
In this course, students explore and evaluate major traditional and contemporary theories of the counseling profession. The theories include, but are not limited to psychoanalytic, person-centered, rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), multicultural, feminist, and solution-focused theories. Students apply these and other theories to diverse populations and settings. They also consider how they might advise students and supervisees who use the theories, and analyze challenges they may face related to teaching and supervising. In doing so, they consider the impact of their own psychosocial, racial, and ethnic identities. Finally, they develop a personal integrative theoretical orientation. (Prerequisite: COUN 8110.)

COUN 8120: Professional Consultation, Program Evaluation and Leadership (5 cr.)
This course is designed to increase students’ knowledge and skills related to the roles of consultant and program evaluator in community agencies, mental health settings, P-12 schools, and university settings. Students consider topics including leadership theory and skills; systems theory; consultation models and processes; program evaluation models and methods; ethical, legal, and professional issues; and availability of funding sources. Students apply their knowledge and skills to case studies and real-life examples and apply the CACREP standards to the evaluation of components of a counselor education program. (Prerequisite: COUN 8115.)

COUN 8125 Teaching in Counselor Education (5 cr.)
This course is designed to prepare students to become competent teachers of counselor education. Students focus on various adult learning theories and how to work effectively with different learning styles, cultural dynamics, and diversity. They also learn how to apply strategies to help students acquire and apply knowledge and skills as well as how to evaluate learning outcomes. Students are required to videotape themselves teaching a presentation incorporating concepts and skills learned throughout the course. (Prerequisite: COUN 8120.)

COUN 8135 Clinical Supervision (5 cr.)
This course is designed to explore the major conceptual approaches, methods, and techniques; evaluation; and ethical and legal issues related to clinical supervision for counselors and counselors in training. Throughout this course, students will focus on strategies for working with supervisees representing diverse backgrounds and developmental and learning styles. After a critical analysis of the purpose of supervision and theoretical frameworks and models of supervision, students will develop and apply their own theory of supervision in a supervised practice setting that includes each student supervising a group of practicum students.

COUN 8140 Professional Counselor as Scholar Practitioner (5 cr.)
This course provides students with an introduction to professional writing for counselor educators and supervisors, and includes (a) an overview of American Psychological Association (APA) format; (b) writing experiences typical of those encountered in the coursework in the Counselor Education and Supervision program, organized around typical professional issues, and (c) writing necessary for the professional practice of counseling. At the end of this course, students should have one article prepared for submission to one peer-reviewed counseling publication.

COUN 8145 Crisis Management (5 cr.)
In this course, counselor educators learn the fundamentals of crisis management and crisis leadership. In addition, students develop an understanding of the theories and models related to crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events. Students also learn about ethical, legal, and diversity considerations in crisis and trauma response. By the end of the course, students understand models for training and supporting other counselors in the areas of crisis response applicable to community, national, and international crises. Furthermore, students develop a crisis management plan for own community.

COUN 8320 Counseling Practicum (3 cr.)
The focus of this course is on the practicum, which is an essential component of applied professional training. Students complete supervised practicum experiences that total a minimum of 100 hours, allowing them to develop their counseling skills while under supervision. Students communicate with the class and the practicum faculty at least twice a week during the quarter to discuss cases and present videos of student-client sessions. This course has a required face-to-face residency.

COUN 8550 Writing a Quality Prospectus (5 cr.)
This 5-credit course is focused specifically on the process of writing the dissertation prospectus. Students will use their preliminary research plan, developed previously, and develop a problem statement, to be used in the dissertation. They will further refine the problem statement and carry out the planning and the library research that will bring them to the formulation of a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus is a brief paper, typically 15–20 pages in length, that lays out the background for the problem statement, the problem statement itself, a survey of the relevant literature, typically 25–75 references, and a research, implementation and evaluation plan for the solution of the problem.

COUN 8560 Dissertation (12 cr.)
This course sequence offers doctoral students the opportunity to integrate their program of study into an in-depth exploration of an interest area that includes the completion of a research study. Students complete the dissertation with the guidance of a chair and committee members, in a learning platform classroom in which weekly participation is required. Students work with a dissertation chair to write the prospectus, complete an approved proposal (the first three chapters of the dissertation), complete an application for Institutional Review Board approval, collect and analyze data, and complete the dissertation. During the final quarter, students prepare the dissertation for final review by the university and conclude with an oral defense of their dissertation. Once students register for COUN 9000, they are registered each term until successful completion of the dissertation, for a minimum of four terms.

COUN 8660 Social Change, Leadership, and Advocacy for Counseling Professionals (5 cr.)
This course is designed to enhance students understanding of responsibility of counselor educators to foster social change, provide leadership, and service the counseling professional and advocate for their community, clients, students, and profession. Students will use current research to examine the current trends and issues of the profession and identify how community, national, and international issues affect the counseling profession. Students will also understand the processes of advocacy and social change. Students will also continue to enhance their professional development plans by identifying specific goals for professional involvement and service.

COUN 8995 Doctoral Internship A (3 cr.)
This is the first part of the supervised experience in a selected educational setting (clinical practice, research, or teaching). The 300-hour internship includes supervised experiences in most of the activities of a regularly employed professional in the setting.

COUN 8996 Doctoral Internship B (3 cr.)
This is second part of the supervised experience in a selected educational setting (clinical practice, research, or teaching). The 300-hour internship includes supervised experiences in most of the activities of a regularly employed professional in the setting.

RSCH 8100C: Research Theory, Design, and Methods (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, and designing research at the doctoral level. Students explore the philosophy of science, the importance of theory in research, and research processes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed mixed-method research designs and methods are introduced. Ethical and social change implications of conducting research, producing knowledge, and engaging in scholarship are emphasized. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing elements of simple research plans. (Prerequisite: A Foundations course or first course in a program.)

RSCH 8200C: Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis and applying statistical concepts. Students explore classical quantitative research designs and common statistical tests, the importance of quality assurance, and ethical and social- change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. This course approaches statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting appropriate statistical tests for a research design. Students use statistical software to calculate statistics data and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a quantitative research plan. ( (Prerequisite: RSCH 8100C Research Theory, Design, and Methods.)

RSCH 8300C: Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing qualitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis. Students explore the nature of qualitative inquiry; fieldwork strategies and the nature of observation; theoretical approaches to qualitative research; the importance of quality assurance; and the ethical, legal, and social social-change implications of conducting qualitative research and producing knowledge. Students use software to code data and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a qualitative research plan. ( (Prerequisite: RSCH 8100C Research Theory, Design, and Methods.)

RSCH 8250C: Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8200C: Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis, and provides experience applying them. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills for designing quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding multivariate data analysis and applying more advanced statistical concepts. Students explore comprehensive quantitative research designs and suitable statistical tests, the importance of quality assurance, and ethical considerations and social social-change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. This course approaches statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting the appropriate research design and statistical tests for more complex research questions or problems. Students use statistical software to perform analyses and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a quantitative research plan.
(Prerequisite: RSCH 8200C Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis)

RSCH 8350C: Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8300C: Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis and provides experience applying them. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills within each of the common qualitative traditions for designing qualitative research at the doctoral level. Students explore more complex qualitative research designs and analyses; multiple approaches to coding and organizing data; core components of a qualitative write up; the importance of quality assurance; and the ethical considerations and social change implications of conducting qualitative research and producing knowledge. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a qualitative research plan.
(Prerequisite: RSCH 8300C Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis)

RSCH: 8450C: Advanced Mixed Methods Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8200C: Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis and 8300C: Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills for designing mixed mixed-methods research at the doctoral level. Students gain an understanding of the types of mixed mixed-methods designs and how to select the most appropriate approach for the research question. The course emphasizes integrating quantitative and qualitative elements into true mixed-methods studies, practice in data analysis, and integration of qualitative and quantitative data within a research write-up. Reliability and validity in mixed mixed-methods approaches will be highlighted. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a truly mixed mixed-methods research plan that appropriately incorporates qualitative and quantitative elements.
(Prerequisites: RSCH 8200C Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis and RSCH 8300C Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis)

Consultation Specialization

COUN 8670 Program Leadership and Consultation (5 cr.)
This course is designed to increase students’ awareness of, and skills in, the roles of program leader, consultant, and program evaluator and assessor in various clinical, community, and administrative settings. Throughout this course, students will focus on the competencies of program leaders, theories of leadership, and models and methods of assessment and evaluations. Additional coursework is designed to prepare students for grant writing.

COUN 8671 Consulting for Organizational Change (5 cr.)
This course explores methods for accelerating individual, group, and organizational performance through consulting, coaching, and change management. The course addresses topics such as organizational assessment; team development; strategic planning; group dynamics; power, politics, and influence; leadership; and conflict management. Applications include the assessment of an organization and the development of strategies to address identified needs for change.

COUN 8672 Psychological Consultation (5 cr.)
This course examines the history, theory, process, and methods in the field of psychological consultation. It reviews the qualifications and techniques required by the psychologist to consult in a variety of settings, including the courtroom, business and industry, and educational, mental health, and medical settings.

Counseling and Social Change Specialization

COUN 8661 Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation (5 cr.)
This course is designed to prepare students for their roles as counselors in prevention, intervention, and consultation endeavors with specific populations in specific settings. Using an action research model, students will prepare a blueprint for a prevention, intervention, or consultation project for a community, agency, or organization.

COUN 8662 Psychology and Social Change (5 cr.)
This course focuses on the theories of social and personal change. Topics include power and social inequalities, ethnic inequalities, global environment and social change, issues related to gender and sexism, and homophobia. In addition, students are presented with impact of social-change theories on children, families, and societies. The concepts of change agent and change advocate are explored, as well as the role of the psychologist as change agent.

Forensic Mental Health Counseling Specialization

COUN 8630 Interviewing and Observational Strategies (5 cr.)
This course focuses on principles and skills related to interviewing and observation, as well as related legal, ethical, and cultural issues. Students gain practice in conducting interviews, making behavioral observations, collecting and interpreting data during an interview, and developing written reports of findings. In addition to the course materials listed by the university bookstore, this course also requires that students have access to a video-recording device, a tripod, and an audio recording device, which they will begin using the first week of class.

COUN 8631 Treatment of Forensic Populations (5 cr.)
This course provides students with the basic knowledge necessary to evaluate and subsequently treat many different forensic populations. Various forensic populations such as sex offenders, substance abusers, victims of crime, and employee assistance to law enforcement personnel will be covered. The use of traditional forms of intervention, such as individual and group psychotherapy, as well as recent developments in intervention, such as restorative justice, will be addressed.

COUN 8632 Mental Health Law (5 cr.)
This course examines several different aspects of the law related to mental health issues. Laws and court decisions that affect the practice of psychology, such as the Tarasoff ruling, mandated reporting, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are addressed, as are the many areas of law that constitute forensic psychological practice, including civil matters (such as personal injury and civil competency issues) and criminal matters (such as competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, diminished capacity, and death-penalty issues).

Nonprofit Management and Leadership Specialization

COUN 8650 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector (5 cr.)
Nonprofit organizations serve as the foundation for many social change efforts. This course explores the history, foundations, and types of nonprofit organizations, as well as the diverse political, social, and economic contexts within which they exist. Students examine and apply marketing, public relations, and communication concepts and strategies to case studies and contemporary situations. Ethical, legal, and global lenses are applied to the study of the nonprofit sector. Students develop a concept paper guiding the development of a nonprofit organization.

COUN 8651 Finance and Budgeting in the Nonprofit Sector (5 cr.)
Sound financial practices are crucial to managing scarce funds in the public sector. This course examines finance and budgeting concepts, policies, and practices related to organizations, as well as the fiscal climate within which they operate. Students gain an understanding of theories underlying fiscal policy; they read and analyze budgets, financial statements, and financial reports. Other topics include the use of auditing practices, tax systems, financial management, budgetary reform, and financial-technology systems specific to government organizations. Students apply what they learn to developing budget and financial projects relevant to public organizations.

COUN 8652 Board Governance and Volunteer Management (5 cr.)
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofit organizations. These organizations rely heavily on their volunteer Board of Directors to govern and guide them toward their mission. The success of nonprofit organizations is largely dependent on the effective management of program volunteers and board members. This course explores the volunteer management process (volunteer recruitment, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation) with an emphasis on creating and maintaining an effective Board of Directors. Students design a board development or volunteer management plan based on the concept paper they developed in MMPA 6850 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector.

Trauma and Crisis Specialization

COUN 8641 Individual Crisis, Trauma, and Recovery (5 cr.)
With an emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative identity disorder (DID), and vicarious trauma, this course is designed to address the mental health needs of individuals who are traumatized by violence, neglect, natural disasters, emotional abuse, and man-made disasters. Students will gain both practical and empirical information about how trauma impacts the whole person, how to make assessments on trauma victims, and how to treat trauma-related disorders. In addition, the course focuses on providing support for first-line responders, such as mental health providers, military personnel, medical personnel, police and fire personnel, victim advocates, and family members who care for traumatized people.

COUN 8642 Crisis Intervention and Trauma (5 cr.)
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the theory, issues, and skills of crisis counseling, including models for working with children and adolescents; working with victims of violence and their abusers; issues of health-related, school, and mental health crises; and the ethical and legal factors of crisis intervention. In addition, students will be introduced to models, leadership roles, and strategies for responding to community, national, and international crises.

COUN 8215 Lifespan Development (5 cr.)
This course provides students with an overview of development through the lifespan, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging experiences. Physical, social, emotional, and cognitive issues are covered, as well as the expected developmental milestones during each of these phases of development. The latest research in attachment theory, brain research, and aging is included, and themes of diversity issues related to developmental research are highlighted throughout the course.

COUN 8250 Group Process and Dynamics (5 cr.)
This course prepares students to work with groups in various settings. It examines group theory, process, and dynamics. Using relevant literature, multimedia resources, and a scholar-practitioner model, students develop an understanding of culturally and contextually relevant group practice, group leaders’ roles and responsibilities, the relevance and purpose of group work, and strategies for using groups to foster social change. Students also participate in a group experience in their community.

COUN 8310 Research Design (5 cr.)
This course provides students with a foundation in the design of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches to psychological research. Students examine the strengths and limitations of each method and the circumstances for which each approach is considered most appropriate. Students learn how to identify a topic for research and conduct a literature search, and they also discover the importance of scholarly writing. Students learn to write an introduction, a purpose for the study, research questions, and hypotheses; to use theory; to define the significance of the study; and to identify procedures for data collection and analysis that lead to the completion of a research prospectus. Students are exposed to legal and ethical issues associated with participant involvement in research. (Prerequisite: PSYC 6305.)

COUN 8315 Tests and Measurement (5 cr.)
The course provides students with a comprehensive examination of the psychometric procedures used to develop and validate educational and psychological instruments. Using testing and assessment situated in a historical context, students gain a detailed understanding of the following aspects of test development: norms and the standardized sample, reliability, and validity. Specific techniques used to facilitate proper interpretation of test scores (such as percentiles, standard error of measurement, validity and reliability indices, and derived scores) are discussed, and the steps in test development are explored. Descriptive statistical procedures are briefly reviewed to facilitate the understanding of the quantitative aspects of psychological measurement. Professional standards for testing are reviewed and consulted at all phases of the course. The focus of the course is on psychometrics; however, students are provided an introduction to intelligence and personality tests. Ethical issues in testing, integration of testing in the overall assessment process, and cultural fairness and bias in testing are also explored.

COUN 8890 Doctoral Practicum (3 cr.)
This is an advanced supervised counseling experience designed to expand skill sets and level of ability through involvement in complex and diverse counseling situations. Students in this course will complete 100 clock hours in counseling, 40 of which must be in direct service to clients. (Prerequisite: Milestone II Residency.)

COUN 8682 Counseling Internship (6 cr.—3 cr. per term for 2 terms)
The focus of this course is on the internship, which provides a supervised training experience that prepares interns to successfully function in the role of a professional psychologist. Students complete a supervised internship of 900 hours. The internship provides an opportunity for students to perform, under clinical supervision, a variety of counseling activities that a professional counselor is expected to perform. Students communicate with the class and the internship faculty at least twice a week during the quarter to discuss cases and present videos of student-client sessions. This course has a required face-to-face residency. (Prerequisite: COUN 6671 and approval of the coordinator of field training.)

COUN 8722 Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories (5 cr.)
This course summarizes the history and explores the primary concepts of the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy in current use. The empirical foundations of each theory are examined, and examples are supplied showing how each method is applied to clients. Limitations of each approach are also explored.

COUN 8723 Multicultural Counseling (5 cr.)
This course is designed to increase students’ awareness and knowledge of, and skills related to, multicultural counseling and the delivery of psychological services. Students explore diversity and identity issues and discuss their impact on the therapeutic relationship. The application of traditional theoretical orientations and current multicultural theories to culturally diverse groups is addressed. Topics include race and ethnicity, sex and gender, sexual orientation, social class, and age and ability.

COUN 8726 Couples and Family Counseling (5 cr.)
This course introduces students to theoretical perspectives and techniques, classical schools of thought, and recent developments in couples and family therapy. Culture, gender, and ethnicity factors in family development are explored. Theoretical frameworks in couples and family therapy, including psychosocial, psychodynamic, transgenerational, strategic, cognitive-behavioral, and social constructionist models, are reviewed and compared. The roles of culture, spirituality, and values in understanding families are explored.

COUN 8728 Substance Abuse Counseling (5 cr.)
This course examines psychological aspects of addictions involving alcohol, prescription medications, and illegal substances. Current research in the field of dependency and addiction is explored. Topics include diagnosis, models of treatment, treatment planning, use of group and family treatment plans, and efficacy of treatment. Strategies to promote change, including the transtheoretical model of behavior change, are discussed.

COUN 8753 Vocational Psychology and Counseling (5 cr.)
This course examines major career development theories, assumptions, and implications for practice. Career-information programs and systems in terms of their application to personnel assessment, counseling, development, and placement are reviewed. Focus is placed on the implications of individual differences in cultural, gender, and age-related issues. Students obtain a theoretical and practical basis for supporting individuals in vocation selection and career development.