Course Descriptions
MEC 500 - Introduction to the
Counseling Profession
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the professional identity
of counselors, professional organizations, publications,
certification and licensing. The roles
and expectations of counselors in various settings
are examined.
MEC 505 - Legal and Ethical Issues
in Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to help students
appreciate the complexity of ethical and legal
considerations specifically related to the practice
of counseling (e.g., confidentiality, professional
liability, privileged communication, informed
consent, etc.). Case study will be a
prominent technique to help each student
understand the difficulties that counselor may
face due to both legal and ethical constraints
on practice.
MEC 512 - Counseling Theory
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of current
major theoretical approaches to counseling. Emphasis
is on both theory and application. Methods
of instruction include lecture, class discussion,
readings, videotapes, writing, case studies
and role-playing. Having evaluated the
philosophical assumptions about the human
person underlying each theory, each student
will be able to choose and critically integrate
major counseling perspectives into his or her
own personal approach to counseling.
MEC 513 - Counseling Techniques
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to teach students
basic counseling skills. The students will focus on developing and enhancing their skills to facilitate
their ability to intervene effectively with
their clients. Students will be encouraged to
explore their own style of counseling and begin
to integrate at least one theoretical orientation
into their practice of counseling.
MEC 516 - Human Growth and
Development
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to review basic concepts
pertaining to human development across
the lifespan including characteristics of the
physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes
that occur from birth through adulthood. Research
methods that underlie the empirical
study of human development are presented.
Historical and cultural perspectives on childhood,
adolescence, adulthood and aging are reviewed.
MEC 517 - Research Design and
Statistics
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to cover the principles,
methods, techniques and tools used in
performing research in counseling. Students will
learn to evaluate the validity of research and
read and understand research articles. The students
will have an opportunity to clarify and
define their own research interests.
MEC 520 - Family Dynamics and
Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to examine theories
and practice of family counseling. Students
will begin to develop skills in working with families.
The special ethical and legal issues involved
with family counseling will also be covered.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 512, 513, and 516 or consent
of instructor.
MEC 521 - Group Dynamics and
Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
As a result of this course students will develop
an understanding of group dynamics and the
roles of group members. Group leadership skills
will be developed. The uses of groups in schools
and community settings will be explored. Special
attention will be paid to the use of groups
with children and adolescents.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 512, 513 or consent of instructor.
MEC 526 - Appraisal of the Individual
(Standardized Assessment)
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to explore methods
of assessing various attributes of a person.
Methodology includes standardized assessment,
measurements, individual and group testing,
case studies, observations, interviews and rating
scales. The course will focus on the development
of a comprehensive framework for understanding
the individual.
MEC 527 - Social and Cultural Issues
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to study those factors
that influence the counselor/client relationship
such as ethnic issues, subcultures, rural and
urban issues, the changing roles of women, sociocultural
issues, etc. Particular attention is paid
to the influences of the rural setting on individuals.
MEC 528 - Lifestyle and Career
Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to examine theories
of career development and occupational
choices. Areas to be included are theories of
career choices, career and lifestyle developments,
development and career choice, sources
of information regarding careers and educational
information and opportunities, resume
writing and portfolio development.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 512, 513 or consent of instructor.
MEC 531 - Counseling with Children
and Adolescents
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to examine the
various psychological problems of childhood
and adolescents. Various developmental perspectives
on child and adolescent growth and
possible resultant difficulties will be discussed.
Special attention will be paid to system and environmental
issues. The students will develop
counseling skills needed in working with children,
adolescents and their families.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500 and 516 or consent of instructor.
MEC 541 - Substance Abuse
Counseling
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of thie course is to examine chemical,
psychological and treatment aspects of drug
use, abuse and dependency. The effects of substance
abuse on family members will be discussed.
Skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment
approaches will be developed during this
course. Alternative perspectives on the etiology
and treatment of substance abusing individuals
will also be covered.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500,
512, and 513 or consent of instructor.
MEC 545 - Psychopathology,
Diagnosis and Treatment
Planning
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to cover the
etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning, and
prevention of mental and emotional disorders
and dysfunctional behavior. Models for
assessing mental status and identifying
abnormal, deviant or psychopathological
behavior will be discussed. Focus will be placed
on diagnostic categories currently identified
in the DSM IV-TR.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 512,
513, 516 and 527 or consent of instructor.
MEC 546 - Diagnostics and
Treatment Planning
Credit Hours: 3
In this course, students will learn how to utilize
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM) to develop diagnostic
impressions and appropriate treatment plans
to meet the needs of their clients. Students will
also be introduced to psychopharmacology as
it relates to specific mental disorders
represented in the DSM.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 545
or consent of instructor.
MEC 555 - Counseling and
Consulting in the Schools I
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to acquaint the
student with a broad overview of school
counseling. Included in the course will be an
examination of comprehensive school
counseling models, the relationship between
the school counselor and other professionals,
both inside and outside the school and with
parents, the responsibility of the school
counselor to various stakeholder groups, and
the bases of developing and implementing a
comprehensive school counseling program.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 505, 513, 516, 531, or
consent of instructor. (Formerly MEC 515)
MEC 556 - Counseling and
Consulting in the Schools II
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a continuation of MEC 555. There
is an emphasis on roles that the school
counselor is expected to fill. Specifically, there
will be a discussion of the school counselor as
a leader, as a consultant and as an advocate.
The role of a school counselor as a member of
the academic team who is striving for academic
excellence for all students will be a major focal
point of the course.
Prerequisite: MEC 555.
(Formerly MEC 515)
MEC 570 - Special Topics in Community Counseling
Credit Hours: 1
The purpose of special topics is to acquaint the
students and community members with aspects
of counseling to which students need exposure
but the subject matter does not warrant a
three-semester hour course. Some special
topics in community counseling have been
Assertiveness Training, Human Sexuality and
Evidence Based Practice. These topics may be
repeated and/or new “special topics” may
replace some of the titles listed. May be taken
for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
MEC 575 - Special Topics in School Counseling
Credit Hours: 1
The purpose of special topics is to acquaint the
students and community members with aspects
of counseling to which students need exposure
but the subject matter does not warrant a
three-semester hour course. The content of
each may be repeated and/or new “special
topics” may replace some course content for a
maximum of 3 credit hours. Students in the
school counseling track may take MEC 546
Diagnostic and Treatment Planning in lieu of
the school oriented special topics. May be
taken for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
MEC 580 - School Counseling
Practicum
Credit Hours: 3
Supervised school counseling experience involving
interaction with individuals and groups of
school-aged children. A minimum of 40 hours
will involve direct service work with children.
The remainder of the hours may include observation
and supervision experiences. On-site certified
school counselors with at least 3 years
of experience will provide field supervision of
practicum students in the school counseling
track. Requests for exceptions to this standard
need to be made to the Director of Clinical
Experiences. A student may apply for practicum
if he or she plans on taking one of the required
courses concurrently with practicum. A grade of “DE”
is given for an incomplete practicum at the end
of the semester.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 505, 512, 513, 516, 520, 521,
527, 531 or 541, 555 plus 9 additional graduate
credit hours in counseling.
MEC 581 - Community Counseling
Practicum
Credit Hours: 3
Supervised community counseling experiences
involving interaction with individuals, families
or groups. A minimum of 40 hours will involve
direct service with clients. the remainder of the
hours may include observation and suprvision
experiences. On-site licensed professional counselors
with at least 3 years of experience or
their equivalent will provide field supervision
of practicum students in the community counseling
track. Requests for exceptions to this
standard need to be made to the Director of
Clinical Experiences. A student may apply for
practicum if he or she plans on taking one of
the required courses concurrently with
practicum. A grade of “DE” is given for an incomplete
practicum at the end of the semester.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 500, 505, 512,
513, 516, 520, 521, 527, 531 or 541, 545, 546
plus 9 additional graduate credit hours in counseling.
MEC 590 - School Counseling
Internship
Credit Hours: 3
This is a post practicum experience that provides
actual on-the-job training in a school setting.
The candidate will perform the various school
counseling activities. Field supervision of internship
students in the school counseling track will
be provided by on-site certified school counselors
with at least 3 years of experience. Requests
for exceptions to this standard need to
be made to the Director of Clinical Experiences.
A grade of “DE” is given
for an incomplete internship at the end of the
semester.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 580.
MEC 591 - Community Counseling
Internship
Credit Hours: 3
This internship experience provides the
candidate with actual on-the-job training in a
community setting. On-site licensed
professional counselors with at least 3 years
of experience or their equivalent will provide
field supervision of internship students in the
community counseling track. Requests for
exceptions to this standard need to be made
to the Director of Clinical Experiences.
A grade of “DE” is given
for an incomplete internship at the end of the
semester.
Prerequisite(s): MEC 581.
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