Counseling 30 credits

(30 credits plus 19 credits of experiential learning)

The professional major in Counseling is designed to prepare students at the undergraduate level for work in counseling settings or for further graduate education leading to a career as a counselor. It prepares students for entry-level positions in a number of human services settings where counseling skills are necessary. It is also designed to prepare students for entry into a professional Master's degree program in Counseling Psychology and/or the dual-degree programs in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students will complete over 400 hours in the field.

I. REQUIRED CORE (21 Credits):

II. COUNSELING ELECTIVES* (6 Credits):

Choose TWO.

* One choice must be at the 3000 level or above

III. PSYCHOLOGY CHOICE (3 Credits):

Any course with a CPSYC prefix.

Required Internships:

** Minimum grade of "C" required to pass this course.

*** Check prerequisites.

Counseling Dual Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science/Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology* OR

Bachelor of Science/Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling*

(Both degrees awarded at the completion of the joint program.)

* Students interested in this dual degree program should speak to the Dual Degree Coordinator for Counseling.

Description of the Program

The integrated B.S./M.A. programs are developed for students in Lesley College who are interested in accelerating their educational experience in a program combining the curriculum of the undergraduate Counseling major and a graduate program in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students may combine the undergraduate Human Services or Counseling program with graduate specializations. Graduates of the dual degree program in Counseling Psychology will be eligible for professional licensure in Massachusetts and most states at the completion of the program at Lesley. The programs are designed for students who demonstrate a high level of maturity and academic potential. Essentially an honors program, the integrated programs demand that students be able to achieve the academic rigor of graduate education by the time they reach their junior year of traditional undergraduate study. Students in the accelerated program must be able to achieve a level of introspection and cultural awareness necessary to engage in clinical work at a relatively young chronological age.

Admissions

Students will be eligible for admission at two admissions review periods:

1. For the exceptional student, application is possible at the time of application to the undergraduate college. A candidate must have achieved an 1100 or better on his/her SAT, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in high school, and successfully completed an interview with a Counseling Psychology faculty member. At this point of review, a student can only be conditionally admitted until the end of his/her sophomore year. The conditions under which the candidate will be fully admitted are: achievement of 3.0 or better in his/her first four semesters, academic support of his/her faculty advisor, and achievement of 40 or higher on the MAT.
2. The more natural route of entry into the programs will be through application during the summer or fall following the sophomore year. Admission criteria include: achievement of 3.0 or better in his/her first four semesters, letter of academic support from faculty advisor, achievement of 40 or higher on the MAT, and successful completion of an interview with a Counseling Psychology faculty member.

Students who wish to enter this program follow the first-year requirements for the Counseling major. Once accepted into the program, a student will work closely with the Dual Degree Advisor to choose an appropriate course sequence.

CPLCY 3552

Social Policy

3 credits

This course analyzes major policies in the U.S. that provide for individuals' and groups' social welfare. Major emphasis is on income supplementation and poverty policies, including welfare and social security; health policies, criminal justice policies and family and child welfare policies. Students engage in critical analysis of policies, especially in terms of who is well served, who is not and what policies need development and change. Comparisons are made to social policies in other nations. Prerequisite for Human Services and Counseling majors: CHMSR 2551 or permission of the instructor; no prerequisite for other majors.

CPSYC 1401

Lifespan Development

3 credits

This course offers a comprehensive study of the theoretical perspectives and contemporary research on human development, exploring various stages of life and the developmental tasks associated with each. The major theories pertaining to cognitive, emotional, moral, and social development throughout the lifespan are explored, with attention given to the interaction of environmental and familial factors with the usual course of development.

CPSYC 2403

Theories of Personality

3 credits

This course explores the major paradigms of personality theory through the use of lectures, discussions, and case studies. Current research is examined and models of personality development are discussed as they relate to current clinical practices. Perspectives will include biological and trait; psychoanalysis, along with other Neo-Freudian perspectives; feminist; social-behavioral; and humanistic/holistic.

CPSYC 2421

Introduction to Counseling

3 credits

This course introduces some basic issues central to the helping relationship. It offers: [1] an orientation to such topics as developmental perspective, self-image, experienced needs, perception of reality, etc., and how these relate to the counselor in a helping relationship; [2] an overview of current psychotherapies both on a theoretical and practical level; [3] an understanding of the psychological processes which contribute to a style of effective communication; and [4] an examination of the background, status, and future of the counseling field.

CPSYC 3405

Abnormal Psychology

3 credits

Students are introduced to the dynamics of normal and abnormal behavior and adjustment. The course emphasizes the study of basic needs, anxiety, defense mechanisms, neurosis, psychosis, psychotherapy, and prevention of disorder. In-depth consideration of psychoanalytic theory is contrasted with existential and other theories. Case studies are used.

CPSYC 4881

Contemporary Issues in Human Services and Counseling

3 credits

This course is designed as a senior capstone course for counseling majors. Students critically examine selected contemporary issues related to the development of public policy and legislation. Topic explorations include study of the ethical issues related to service delivery and how political, economic, and social pressure impact policy development. Through analysis of targeted contemporary issues students will examine the connections between social policy, the human service professional, and the delivery of services. Prerequisites: CPSYC 2551, CPLCY 3552, CPSYC 3901.

CSOCS 3444

Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3 credits

Study of the logic, rules, and techniques of social science research. Topics include relationship of theory and research; research design; measurement; and analysis of data, including elementary statistical analysis. Data collection methods such as experimentation, observation, interviews and questionnaires, and secondary analysis of available data are studied and utilized in research projects. Prerequisites: Fulfillment of Social Science general education requirement.