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Online EdS in Counseling Curriculum

Curriculum Details

30 total credit hours required

Prepare for Class AA certification and deepen your understanding of counseling with an online EdS in Counseling degree from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). In this 10-course program, you’ll explore topics in human sexuality and mental health, research and evaluation in counseling programs, creative arts, school counseling plans, and more.

The EdS program consists of 16-week terms, can be completed in as little as one year, and is fully online. Our expert faculty will guide you through your studies as you work toward accelerating your career and higher earning potential.

Core Courses

Credits

Emphasizes models, types and developmental process of counseling supervision. Includes ethical considerations, program supervision skills, leadership styles, client care management and program planning and evaluation.
Pr. Ed.S. or postgraduate standing.

Advanced independent study in an area within the field of counseling. Selected in-depth topic for study is chosen in consultation with the professor supervising the study. May be taught concurrently with ECED 6902 or ECED 6952.

An advanced seminar in studying specific counseling topics. Students learn to research the topics and write reports in journalistic style according to the American Psychological Association.

Electives – Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires 21 elective credits, School Counseling requires 12 elective credits

Credits

The course explores the relationship between mental health and human sexuality and the role of the professional counselor. Topics include: biological foundations, research methods, gender roles, attraction and love, variations in sexual behavior, life cycle, dysfunction, sex therapy and credentialing.

Explores the linkages between human spirituality and counseling using the theoretical and research base of wellness counseling. The value and appropriateness of utilizing the clients’ spirituality in the clinical settings to further health development and holistic well-being are discussed.
Pr. Graduate standing.

Course examines suicide with specific attention to prevention, intervention, and postvention. Students will gain an understanding of suicide epidemiology and theory, risk and protective factors. This course will familiarize students with evidence-based practices and ethical considerations in treatment.
Pr. Graduate standing.

This course will address the psychological, social, and cultural manifestations of grief arising from bereavement, along with counseling interventions. Course
Pr. Graduate standing.

This course examines the trajectory of early human development for children and their parents. Normal and abnormal development will be examined. A mental health perspective will be employed to inform assessment of mental/emotional problems in young children and present current treatment approaches.
Pr. Graduate standing.

Provides study and experience in measurement, appraisal and evaluation of a broad range of objectives in counseling. Emphasizes research designs and procedures appropriate for evaluating counseling programs and outcomes. Cross-listed with FNDS 6610 Research in Education.
Pr. Ed.S. standing.

Supervised experiences in group and individual counseling, program development, consultation and supervision.
Pr. Ed.S. standing, ECED 6914, ECED 6924, ECED 6925 or equivalent.

Advanced supervised experience in group and individual counseling, program development, consultation and supervision.
Pr. Ed.S. standing, ECED 7926 or equivalent.

Includes the history, theoretical approaches, techniques and methods, applications to special settings or populations and legal and ethical issues of the use of play therapy in the treatment of children. Includes a supervised experiential component in a play therapy setting.

Provides comprehensive training in varied theoretical approaches in the application of play therapy with emphasis on the developmental processes of play therapy. Includes supervised practice in play therapy settings.

Overview and introduction to the counseling profession in community settings, including the history, philosophy, organization, preparation standards, credentialing, and roles with related professions. Promotes knowledge unique to mental health counseling in community settings

ECED 6250, ECED 6100, ESPE 6350, ESPE 6800, or other approved diversity course

Includes career development theories, information systems and resources, vocational assessment, career planning, decision-making models and computer-based career applications. Stresses the developmental nature of decision making throughout life and the interrelationship of work, family, culture, gender and age with career development.

Provides opportunities for students to understand the effects of attitudes, experiences, ethnicity and other cultural factors on the counseling process and relationship. Also includes counseling strategies for client populations experiencing loss, victimization, discrimination or other specific concerns.

Provides experiential and didactic opportunities to learn the application of modern counseling theories, including family systems and brief therapy approaches. Emphasis on goal setting, assessing client needs, designing intervention strategies and evaluating counseling outcomes.

This course includes child and adolescent development with emphasis on counseling strategies and consultation skills for counselors working with various agencies in cases of child abuse and neglect. This course meets CAST certification requirements.

Includes physical, psychological, social, emotional and intellectual development over the life span. Emphasizes strategies for healthy development and environment factors that affect normal and abnormal behavior. Also includes developmental crises such as family abuse, disabilities, addiction and psychopathology.

Provides an overview of addictions counseling; covers topics such as addiction issues, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, ethical and professional issues in addictions counseling practice, individual/group counseling strategies with diverse populations, pharmacological trends and effects of substance abuse.

Course focuses on the development of skills and knowledge for crisis intervention and management in counseling Application is made to individual crisis intervention as well as to broader disaster contexts.

Course provides counselors and other human service workers with an overview of the processes and theories involved with counseling families. More specifically, the focus is on preparing students to think systematically and to learn about family concepts, dynamics, theories and techniques.

Course provides counselors and other human service workers with an overview of the processes and theories involved with counseling older persons. Attitudes and myths about aging, challenges of aging, trends, research, empowering older persons, and accessing community resources are addressed.

Advanced course that includes current literature on the use of a variety of creative arts in counseling and the opportunity to implement creative strategies with clients. Includes theoretical and practical applications with different age groups regarding counseling strategies using the arts.

This course will address intervention and prevention of crisis and trauma in schools. It will include kinds of disasters and trauma, working with off-campus agencies, community and media. Students will prepare a school crisis plan.

Concentration Courses – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Credits

Required of all candidates for the Ed.S. in counseling. Opportunity to integrate theory and course work with practical application. Must be taken during the final two semesters of enrollment in the Ed.S. program.
Pr. all Ed.S. core courses, departmental approval.

Concentration Courses – School Counseling

Credits

This course includes child and adolescent development with emphasis on counseling strategies and consultation skills for counselors working with various agencies in cases of child abuse and neglect. This course meets CAST certification requirements.

This course will address intervention and prevention of crisis and trauma in schools. It will include kinds of disasters and trauma, working with off-campus agencies, community and media. Students will prepare a school crisis plan.

ECED 6250, ECED 6100, ESPE 6350, ESPE 6800, or other approved diversity course

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