The courses required for the Master of Arts in Counseling degree reflect the national counseling program standards. These program requirements are based on the 2009 Standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Enrolled and prospective students may request a course syllabus by emailing COUNAdmissions@family-institute.org.
Curricula Options
We offer two options, Standard Curriculum and Two-Plus Curriculum.
Standard Curriculum
Two Year Program
Requires 24 courses
The Standard Curriculum is an intensive program for students with an academic background in psychology or human services and prior clinical experience. Immediately upon starting the program, the Practicum fieldwork experience begins at The Family Institute. This first year includes closely supervised client counseling while taking courses and participating in the Preceptorship experience. It is this closely supervised experience that allows students to participate in a "learning-by-doing" model.
Coursework Details
The Standard Curriculum is a full-time two-year program with 24 courses to complete.
Practicum Details
In the Practicum year, you will enroll in the three-quarter Counseling Methods course along with two additional courses, meet weekly with a preceptor and complete the Practicum at The Family Institute, where a minimum of 60 hours of direct client contact is accrued.
Internship Details
In the Internship year, you will work at an external field site to accrue a minimum of 600 hours of experience, with 240 hours spent in direct client contact. Two additional courses per quarter and attendance at a weekly Case Conference is required during your internship.
Two-Plus Curriculum (For Career Changers)
Two Year Program
Requires 27 courses
Two-Plus is a special curriculum designed for qualified students entering the counseling 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 program and reflects the program’s appreciation of the value of a “second career,” while recognizing the importance of adequate preparation for practice in this highly complex and challenging field.
Course Details
Students complete an accelerated summer of study doing two of the three introductory courses (479-1 & 2). They then transition into the standard program, completing the third introductory course 479-3 in the Fall quarter as an overload.
COURSEWORK DETAILS
The Two-Plus Curriculum is a full-time two-year program with 27 courses to complete.
Practicum Details
In the Practicum year, you will enroll in the three-quarter Counseling Methods course along with three additional courses, meet weekly with a preceptor and complete the Practicum at The Family Institute, where a minimum of 60 hours of direct client contact is accrued.
INTERNSHIP DETAILS
In the Internship year, you will work at an external field site to accrue a minimum of 600 hours of experience, with 240 hours spent in direct client contact. Two additional courses per quarter and attendance at a weekly Case Conference is required during your internship.
Specialization Courses in Child & Adolescent Counseling
By the Winter Quarter of the first year of the program, you can declare an interest in the Child and Adolescent Specialization. This specialization is designed to to gain expertise in the area, increase your marketability as an expert and become professionally identified during your training. This specialization requires enrollment in a "cluster" of courses that include:
- An assessment (COUN 426-20 Assessment in Counseling [Child & Adolescent Focus])
- Development (COUN 414-20 Human Growth & Development [Child & Adolescent Focus])
- Therapy (COUN 436 Child and Adolescent Counseling & Psychotherapy)
- Complete fieldwork experience related to the area of professional interest
Specialization courses are included in the 24 courses required for the Standard Curriculum and the 27 courses required for the Two-Plus Curriculum.
If you desire to complete child and adolescent coursework but do not want to declare a full specialization, you advisor will work with you to choose one or two child and adolescent courses. In addition, if you are not sure if this specialization is right for you, discuss your options with your advisor before the end of Winter Quarter of the first year of the program.
When applying to graduate schools, I was looking for programs that emphasize the necessity of clinical training with extensive coursework. Northwestern's unique counseling program has exceeded these expectations in so many ways. The clinical training has exposed me to many educational opportunities and learning experiences that have shaped me as a growing clinician. Having to engage in clinical training while taking classes enhances the learning of the practicing clinician and gives space to apply the material and concepts within your clinical work. These same opportunities open the door for professional networking, allowing you to build resources that will help establish and further your career as a growing clinician. Lastly, the reflective practitioner component was extremely vital and necessary to promote growth as a clinician as it pushes you to know yourself and how that can impact treatment for clients. Reflecting on all of these components, I can confidently say I will leave this program prepared and well educated to embark in a career as a practicing counselor.
Courses & Curriculum
The Counseling: On-Campus Learning program is a cohort model where all students enter at the same time and take the same sequence of courses.
Two-Plus Year 1
Summer Quarter
479-1 Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Three-quarter in-depth orientation to the counseling profession for "Two Plus" students entering the counseling field for the first time following a career in another discipline.
479-2 Introduction to Clinical Interviewing
Three-quarter in-depth orientation to the counseling profession for "Two Plus" students entering the counseling field for the first time following a career in another discipline.
Standard Year 1/Two-Plus Year 1
Fall Quarter
479-3 Contemporary Topics in Counseling (Two-Plus Year 1 Only)
Three-quarter in-depth orientation to the counseling profession for "Two Plus" students entering the counseling field for the first time following a career in another discipline.
411-0 Psychodynamic Counseling: Individuals and Systems
Psychodynamic theories of personality and social systems. Application to analysis of interpersonal and helping relationships; personality development and dynamics; psychopathology, assessment and intervention in relation to individuals and organizations.
416-0 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
In-depth examination of the basic theoretical frameworks that inform the practice of counseling and psychotherapy.
480-1 Methods 1: Introductory Counseling Skills
Focused on the development of skills, concepts and core competencies related to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy. This course includes evaluation of practice sessions with actual clients and must be taken in conjunction with 481: Supervised Practicum in Counseling.
481-1 Supervised Practicum in Counseling -1
Practicum supervision and practicum preceptor supervision group.
Winter Quarter
415-0 Psychopathology and Diagnosis in Counseling
Development of diagnosis skills using the DSM-IV. Developmental vulnerabilities, transitions and tasks will be discussed. Application of diagnostic information for case conceptualization and treatment planning.
480-2 Methods 2: Advanced Counseling Skills
Focused on the development of skills, concepts and core competencies related to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy. This course includes evaluation of practice sessions with actual clients and must be taken in conjunction with 481: Supervised Practicum in Counseling.
483-2 Multicultural Counseling
Introduction to the process of providing counseling from a multi-cultural perspective; understanding of issues and trends in a multicultural society.
481-2 Supervised Practicum in Counseling -2
Practicum supervision and practicum preceptor supervision group.
Spring Quarter
412-0 Group Counseling Theory and Practice
Understanding of group dynamics and intergroup relations, including purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods and skills in a multicultural context. Application to decision-making groups, educational groups, therapy groups and human-service delivery groups and systems. Participation in a weekend group relations conference.
Pick either 413-0 OR 414-0
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413-0 Human Growth and Lifespan Development -2 (Child Focus)
Provides an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in a multicultural context. Implications for assessment and preventive and/or supportive intervention strategies. This course has an additional specific focus on child development
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414-0 Human Growth and Lifespan Development (Adult Focus)
Provides an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in a multicultural context. Implications for assessment and preventive and/or supportive intervention strategies. This course has an additional specific focus on adult development.
480-3 Methods 3: Skills for Social Justice Advocacy, Outreach and Prevention
Focused on the development of skills, concepts and core competencies related to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy. This course includes evaluation of practice sessions with actual clients and must be taken in conjunction with 481: Supervised Practicum in Counseling.
481-3 Supervised Practicum in Counseling -3
Practicum supervision and practicum preceptor supervision group.
Standard Year 2/Two-Plus Year 2
Fall Quarter
406 Research Methods in Counseling
Understanding of types of research methods, basic statistics and ethical considerations in research; principles, practices and applications of needs assessment and program evaluation.
Select either 417-0, 436 OR 429-0
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417 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Application of cognitive behavioral approach with a broad range of populations. An integrated approach is emphasized.
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436 Child and Adolescent Counseling and Psychotherapy
Examination of central issues in child psychotherapy and the mainstream treatment approaches including psychoanalytic, play, cognitive-behavioral and behavioral therapy. Emphasis on high frequency problems for which children enter therapy.
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429-0 Human Sexuality
A multidimensional, biophysical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of sexual difficulty in individuals and couples. Sexual problems discussed include disorders of desire, aversion, arousal, orgasm and pain.
483-1 Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
Understanding of the ACA ethical standards and their applicant to treatment; review of ethical decision-making models and major ethical and legal issues in the practice of professional counseling.
482-1 Supervised Internship in Counseling -1
Internship supervision and internship case consultation.
Winter Quarter
Pick either 423-0 OR 426-0
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423-0 Assessment in Counseling - 2 (Child & Adolescent Focus)
Understanding of individual approaches to assessment in a multicultural society across the lifespan, Review of commonly used assessments in counseling including rationale, characteristics, administration and interpretation. This course has an additional specific focus on child and adolescent assessment.
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426-0 Assessment in Counseling (Adult Focus)
Understanding of individual approaches to assessment in a multicultural society across the lifespan, Review of commonly used assessments in counseling including rationale, characteristics, administration and interpretation. This course has an additional specific focus on adult development.
422-0 Family, Marital and Couple Counseling
Theoretical foundations of family, marital, and couples therapy. Systematic examination of major models, theories, skills and practices.
452-0 Addictions Counseling
Focused on the development of skills, concepts and core competencies related to the theory and practice of addiction counseling. This course includes screening, assessment of dependence, change and recovery, co-occurring disorders, prevention, intervention and treatment.
482-2 Supervised Internship in Counseling -2
Internship supervision and internship case consultation.
Spring Quarter
427 Career and Lifestyle Planning
Theories of career choice, career commitment and life-course development applied to research and practice in career counseling.
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453 Evaluation & Treatment of Trauma Disorders
Review of the nature of posttraumatic conditions; the psychobiology underlying stress, trauma and dissociation and the treatment of posttraumatic conditions.
483-3 Professional Topics in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Review of all aspects of roles of professional counselors including history, roles, organizational structures, counselor identity and licensure requirements. Review of current treatment topics.
482-3 Supervised Internship in Counseling -3
Internship supervision and internship case consultation