Curriculum & Licensure
Standard Curriculum
The 24-unit Standard Curriculum is designed to provide students with general, basic and introductory theoretical concepts and clinical experiences in the first year, followed in the second year by more advanced and specialized knowledge and clinical practice. This developmental pattern of initial generalization followed by later specialization applies to each of the three tracks - General Psychological Counseling, Career Counseling and Child Assessment and Intervention. The 24 units are distributed across three major foci or content areas: 1) Theoretical Foundations/Individual & Social Bases of Behavior, 2) Research and 3) Clinical Assessment and Intervention. Included in the Standard Curriculum are two required nine to 12 month supervised field training experiences, the first year Supervised Practicum and second year Supervised Externship, both of which involve concurrent fieldsite and classroom activities.
Two-Plus Curriculum
Two-Plus is a special curriculum designed for qualified students entering the Counseling Psychology field for the first time following a career in another discipline and/or with minimal academic and experiential background in psychology or human services. It is unique to the Northwestern Counseling Psychology program and reflects the program's appreciation of the value of a "second career" to those desiring it while recognizing the importance of adequate preparation for practice in this highly complex and challenging field. It consists of the same 24 courses/units as in the Standard Curriculum plus three additional courses entitled "Introduction to Clinical Practice," taken in the first year. These three additional courses serve to introduce and orient "career-changers" to the key theories, concepts and applied aspects of the counseling field. Two Plus students complete 27 courses/units.
Two Plus students earn the degree in three academic years, which include two full-time years and one half-time year, in addition to the completion of a yearly, nine to 12 month field training experience. The first year consists of three quarters of Introduction to Clinical Practice (12-16 hours per week pre-practicum and a weekly class) in addition to the two required courses each quarter from the first year of the Standard Curriculum. The second year consists of 3 quarters of Supervised Practicum in addition to the two required courses each quarter from the Standard Curriculum and electives as desired, and the third year consists of three quarters of Supervised Externship and the required courses from the Standard Curriculum that accompany the Externship. With the approval of the academic advisor, Two Plus students may choose to take additional courses in the third year beyond the program's requirements in order to enrich their educational experience. Applicants may ask to be reviewed for the Two Plus Curriculum; however, final decisions about eligibility for Two Plus are made by the Applicant Review Committee.
Required Courses
The Standard and Two Plus Curricula are comprised of 23 and 26 required courses/units, respectively, that fall within specified subject areas; the 24th and 27th course/unit is an elective chosen by the student with the approval of the academic advisor. Students enroll in the specific courses within each subject area as indicated on their curriculum charts, which vary according to specialization (see curriculum charts). Each course is offered once a year during the same quarter each year. Students are expected to take these courses in the recommended sequence, although in some cases, the academic advisor may design a course schedule more suitable to the student's academic and clinical training needs. Additional courses may be taken with the approval of the student's academic advisor. The required courses/subject areas are as follows:
Theoretical Foundations (8 units)
|
| COUN PSY-411 (1) |
Individuals and Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints |
| COUN PSY-412 (1) |
Group and Organizational Dynamics |
| COUN PSY-414 (1) |
Psychology of Adult Development |
| - or - |
| COUN PSY-434 (1) |
Psychosocial Development in Children & Adolescents |
| COUN PSY-415 (1) |
Psychopathology Through the Adult Life Course |
| COUN PSY-416 (1) |
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy |
| COUN PSY-422 (1) |
Marital and Family Therapy |
| COUN PSY-427 (1) |
Career Psychology |
| COUN PSY-452 (1) |
Substance Abuse Counseling |
| |
Research (1 unit)
|
| COUN PSY-406 (1) |
Research Methods in Counseling Psychology |
|
Clinical Assessment and Intervention (14 units in Standard, 17 units in Two Plus)
|
| COUN PSY-417 (1) |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
| - or - |
| COUN PSY- 436 (1) |
Child Therapy |
| COUN PSY-426 (1) |
Assessment of Individual Differences |
| - or - |
| COUN PSY-435 (1) |
Child Psychological Assessment |
| - or - |
| COUN PSY-430 (1) |
Vocational Assessment |
| COUN PSY-479-1, 2, 3 (3)* |
Introduction to Clinical Practice |
| COUN PSY-480-1 (1) |
Counseling Methods I: Interviewing and Assessment |
| COUN PSY-480-2 (1) |
Counseling Methods II: Intervention |
| COUN PSY-480-3 (1) |
Counseling Methods III: Special Issues |
| COUN PSY-481-1, 2, 3 (3) |
Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology |
| COUN PSY-482-1, 2, 3 (3) |
Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology |
| - or - |
| COUN PSY-582-1, 2, 3 (3) |
Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (to defer loans) |
| COUN PSY-483-1 (1) |
Professional Ethics |
| COUN PSY-483-2 (1) |
Cultural Diversity |
| COUN PSY-483-3 (1) |
Professional Issues |
*479-1, 2, 3 for Two Plus students only
Specialization Courses
The "specialization" or track component of the curriculum is a cluster of theoretical courses and a Supervised Externship related to the area of professional interest and designed to enable students to gain expertise in the area, increase their marketability as experts in the area and become professionally identified with the area during their training. Courses specific to and required in each track are:
- General Psychological Counseling Track
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Assessment of Individual Differences
- Child Assessment and Intervention Track
Child and Adolescent Development
Child Psychological Assessment
Child Therapy
- Career Counseling Track
Adult Development
Vocational Assessment
Contemporary Issues in Career Psychology
With approval of the academic advisor, students may take elective courses in the area of specialization beyond those required by the program in order to enhance their expertise to the fullest possible extent.
Curriculum Charts
Standard Two-Year Curriculum
Psychological Counseling Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I: Interviewing & Assessment (1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II: Assessment & Intervention(1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: Special Issues (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints (1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
414 Psychology of Adult Development: Theory & Research (1)
434 Psychosocial Development in Children & Adolescents: Implications for Counseling (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/9 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
417 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Adults & Children (1)
|
426 Assessment of Individual Differences in
Personality & Intelligence (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
*Elective (1)(*eg. 453 Treatment of Trauma
or another elective determined with academic advisor)
|
Two-Plus Curriculum
Psychological Counseling Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter - 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
9 credit units/ 9 tuition units
|
479-1 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-2 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-3 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints (1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
414 Psychology of Adult Development: Theory & Research (1)
or
434 Psychosocial Development in Children & Adolescents: Implications for Counseling (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/ 9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I: Interviewing & Assessment (1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II: Assessment & Intervention (1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: Special Issues (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
417 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Adults & Children (1)
|
426 Assessment of Individual Differences in
Personality & Intelligence (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
*Elective (1)(*eg. 453 Treatment of Trauma
or another elective determined with academic advisor)
|
|
Year Three
|
Fall Quarter - 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
|
6 credit units/6 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
Standard Two-Year Curriculum
Child Assessment & Intervention Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I: Interviewing & Assessment (1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II: Assessment & Intervention
(1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: Special Issues (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints (1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
434 Psychosocial Development in Children & Adolescents: Implications for Counseling (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter - 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit untis/
9 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
436 Child Psychotherapy (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
|
435 Child Psychological Assessment (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
*Elective (1)
(*eg. 453 Treatment of Trauma or another elective determined with academic advisor)
|
Two-Plus Curriculum
Child Assessment & Intervention Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
9 credit units/9 tuition units
|
479-1 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-2 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-3 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints (1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
434 Psychosocial Development in Children & Adolescents: Implications for Counseling (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter-4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter-4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I: Interviewing & Assessment
(1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II: Assessment & Intervention
(1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: Special Issues (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology(1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
435 Child Psychological Assessment (1)
|
436 Child Psychotherapy (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
*Elective (1)
(*eg. 453 Treatment of Trauma or another elective determined with academic advisor)
|
|
Year Three
|
Fall Quarter- 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Spring- 2 credit units/2 tuition units
|
|
6 credit units/6 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
Standard Two-Year Curriculum
Career Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit untis/9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I (1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II (1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints
(1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
414 Psychology of Adult Development: Theory & Research (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/
9 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
417 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (1)
|
430 Vocational Assessment (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
419 Contemporary Issues in Career Psychology (1)
|
Two-Plus Curriculum
Career Track
|
Year One
|
Fall Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 3 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
9 credit units/
9 tuition units
|
479-1 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-2 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
479-3 Introduction to Clinical Practice (1)
|
|
|
411 Individuals & Systems: Psychodynamic Viewpoints (1)
|
412 Group & Organizational Dynamics (1)
|
414 Psychology of Adult Development: Theory & Research (1)
|
|
|
416 Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy (1)
|
415 Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course (1)
|
427 Career Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Two
|
Fall Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
Spring Quarter- 4 credit units/
3 tuition units
|
|
12 credit units/
9 tuition units
|
480-1 Counseling Methods I: Interviewing & Assessment (1)
|
480-2 Counseling Methods II: Assessment & Intervention (1)
|
480-3 Counseling Methods III: Special Issues (1)
|
|
|
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
417 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Adults & Children (1)
|
430 Vocational Assessment (1)
|
406 Research Methods in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
422 Marital & Family Therapy (1)
|
452 Theory & Technique of Substance Abuse (1)
|
419 Contemporary Issues in Career Psychology (1)
|
|
Year Three
|
Fall Quarter- 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Winter Quarter- 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
Spring- 2 credit units/
2 tuition units
|
|
6 credit units/6 tuition units
|
482-1 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-2 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
482-3 Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
|
|
483-1 Ethics & Legal Issues in Mental Health Practice (1)
|
483-2 Cultural Diversity in Counseling (1)
|
483-3 Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology (1)
|
Licensure
Students planning to apply for the Illinois Clinical Professional Counselor license must take all of the following courses. Students planning to apply for counselor licensure outside of Illinois are encouraged to gather information about the licensure requirements for the respective state and present this material to the Program Director who will determine whether the state's academic requirements may be able to be added to the student's curriculum.
Courses in this program required for Illinois licensures are:
|
COUN PSY-406
|
Research Methods in Counseling Psychology
|
|
COUN PSY-412
|
Group and Organizational Dynamics
|
| COUN PSY-414 |
Adult Development |
| or |
|
| COUN PSY-434 |
Child and Adolescent Development |
|
COUN PSY-415
|
Psychopathology through the Adult Life Course
|
|
COUN PSY-416
|
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
| COUN PSY-417 |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
| or |
|
| COUN PSY-436 |
Child Therapy |
|
COUN PSY-422
|
Marital and Family Therapy
|
| COUN PSY-426 |
Assessment of Individual Differences |
| or |
|
| COUN PSY-435 |
Child Psychological Assessment |
| or |
|
| COUN PSY-430 |
Vocational Assessment |
|
COUN PSY-427
|
Career Psychology
|
|
COUN PSY-452
|
Substance Abuse
|
|
COUN PSY-480-1
|
Counseling Methods I: Interviewing and Assessment
|
|
COUN PSY-480-2
|
Counseling Methods II: Intervention
|
|
COUN PSY-480-3
|
Counseling Methods III: Special Issues
|
|
COUN PSY-481-1,2,3
|
Supervised Practicum in Counseling Psychology
|
|
COUNPSY-482-1,2,3
|
Supervised Externship in Counseling Psychology
|
|
COUN PSY-483-1
|
Professional Ethics
|
|
COUN PSY-483-2
|
Cultural Diversity
|
|
Education 
