Curriculum and Requirements
Professional Training Based on Demonstrated Outcomes
The Department of Counseling Psychology at Dominican offers two competency/outcome-based programs of academic and professional training. One leads to the degree of Master of Science in Counseling Psychology and the other leads to a degree of Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy. The degree with Concentration is designed to meet the requirements of the Business and Professions Code, Section 4980.37 for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Dominican's Master's program in Counseling Psychology deliver a broad-based, comprehensive curriculum through a combination of coursework, supervised fieldwork, and participation in personal psychotherapy.
Student Learning Outcomes
The student will demonstrate:
- An ability to effectively apply theory and evidenced based techniques of counseling, client advocacy and collaboration, and psychotherapy as assessed by: performance in counseling and consultation techniques courses; completing the general Master's Proficiency Project (GMPP); or the comprehensive clinical Proficiency Review (CCPR); and passing the exams for licensure at a significantly hight rate than the state average.
- An understanding of career paths and opportunities in counseling, consultation, and client advocacy as measured by: alumni responses to the alumni survey and the On-Site Supervisor's Field Placement Evaluation Form.
- Technological literacy in the use of computers to help in selecting field placements, to gather information for writing assignments and to learn the possible applications of technology to the field of counseling, as measured by: performance in individual courses; performance on the Comprehensive Clinical Proficiency Review (CCPR) case study; or the General Master's Proficiency Project (GMPP).
- Effectiveness and clarity in both written and verbal communication as measured by: classroom performance, the CCPR Reviewer's Rating Scale; the students' On-Site Supervisor's Field Placement Evaluation Form or the General Master's Proficiency Project (GMPP); and performance on case presentations in Fieldwork Seminars.
- An understanding of human diversity issues including socio-economic diversity in counseling and application of congruent interventions with diverse populations utilizing community resources as measured by: performance in the course CP 5219: Human Diversity; the CCPR Reviewer's Rating Scale; and the On-Site Supervisor's Field Placement Evaluation Form; or the General Master's Proficiency Project (GMPP).
- An understanding of and an ability to apply current law and professional ethics to specific client situations as measured by: performance in the courses CP 5294: Fieldwork in Counseling Seminar; CP 5217: Professional Ethics and Law; the CCPR Reviewer's Rating Scale, and the On-Site Supervisor's Field Placement Evaluation Form.
- An ability to build client resilience as measured by: performance in counseling technique courses; performance in Fieldwork Seminar; and On-Site Supervisor's Field Placement Evaluation Form.
Curriculum
The Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology may require up to 60 semester units, depending upon a student's current level of professional and academic competence and chosen specialization. Six of these units may be transferred from another institution with the approval of the Chair of the Department of Counseling Psychology. All classes are limited to a maximum of 22 students, depending upon course content. Fieldwork seminars are limited to a maximum of eight students. Students who have not already taken an undergraduate course in Theories of Personality must take this course prior to the completion of their first year in the program before advancing to candidacy. Phases of Human Development (CP 5231) is a prerequisite for Advanced Counseling Techniques: Psychodynamic (CP 5207). It is recommended that students take these prerequisites early in the program. Candidacy is a prerequisite for Advanced Counseling Techniques: Family Therapy (CP 5246) and Advanced Counseling Techniques: Couple Therapy (CP 5247). The core courses offered by the Department of Counseling Psychology at Dominican and the concentration are as follows:
Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology Requirements
CP 5200 Introduction to Counseling: Client-Centered and Crisis Intervention Techniques - 3 units
CP 5203 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral - 3 units
CP 5204 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Groups - 3 units
CP 5205 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Assessment and Treatment of Children - 3 units
CP 5207* Advanced Counseling Techniques: Psychodynamic - 3 units
CP 5208 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Brief and Strategic Therapies - 3 units
CP 5209** Advanced Counseling Techniques: Client Advocacy & Collaborative Care - 2 units
CP 5214 Domestic Violence - 1 unit
CP 5215 Child Abuse: Assessment, Reporting, and Treatment - 1 unit
CP 5216 Alcohol and Substance Abuse - 2 units
CP 5217 Professional Ethics and Law - 2 units
CP 5219 Human Diversity - 2 units
CP 5221 Psychological Assessment - 3 units
CP 5222** Research in Human Systems and Treatment Outcome - 2 units
CP 5225 Alternative and Innovative Psychotherapies - 2 units
CP 5231 Phases of Human Development - 3 units
CP 5237 Psychopathology and Treatment Planning - 3 units
CP 5294*** Fieldwork in Counseling (2 semesters) - 6 units
CP 5701 General Master's Proficiency Project Development (2 semesters) - 2 units
Total for Master of Science: 47 units
* Prerequisite: CP 5231: Phases of Human Development, or consent of instructor
** Students can take either CP 5209 or CP 5222 to complete their master's program requirements
*** Prerequisite: CP 5217: Professional Ethics and Law
Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy
CP 5200 Introduction to Counseling: Client-Centered and Crisis Intervention Techniques - 3 units
CP 5203 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral - 3 units
CP 5204 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Groups - 3 units
CP 5205 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Assessment and Treatment of Children - 3 units
CP 5207* Advanced Counseling Techniques: Psychodynamic - 3 units
CP 5208 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Brief and Strategic Therapies - 3 units
CP 5209** Advanced Counseling Techniques: Client Advocacy & Collaborative Care - 2 units
CP 5214 Domestic Violence - 1 unit
CP 5215 Child Abuse: Assessment, Reporting, and Treatment - 1 unit
CP 5216 Alcohol and Substance Abuse - 2 units
CP 5217 Professional Ethics and Law - 2 units
CP 5218 Geriatrics and Long-Term Care - 1 unit
CP 5219 Human Diversity - 2 units
CP 5221 Psychological Assessment - 3 units
CP 5222** Research in Human Systems and Treatment Outcome - 2 units
CP 5224 Psychopharmacology - 3 units
CP 5225 Alternative and Innovative Psychotherapies - 2 units
CP 5231 Phases of Human Development - 3 units
CP 5237 Psychopathology and Treatment Planning - 3 units
CP 5245 Clinical Aspects of Human Sexuality - 1 unit
CP 5246 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Family Therapy - 2 units
CP 5247 Advanced Counseling Techniques: Couple Therapy - 2 units
CP 5294 Fieldwork in Counseling (4 semesters) - 12 units
Total for Masters of Science with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy: 60 units
* Prerequisite: CP 5231: Phases of Human Development, or consent of instructor
** Students can take either CP 5209 or CP 5222 to complete their master's program requirements
*** Prerequisite: CP 5217: Professional Ethics and Law
Declaration of Concentration and Advancement to Candidacy
Students may apply for advancement to candidacy after proof of completion of the undergraduate Theories of Personality requirement and during the semester in which students will complete 24 units, nine units of which must be either in counseling techniques courses CP 5200, 5203, 5204, 5205, 5207, 5208, or 5209, two of which must be in CP 5217 Ethics & Law, and at least three units must be in CP 5294: Fieldwork in Counseling Seminar. Students may submit an Application for Candidacy and Concentration Form in either the General Master's or MFT Concentration.
The progress of all students in the Department of Counseling Psychology is continually evaluated by department faculty in terms of students' demonstrated academic ability and potential for clinical competency and ability to provide counseling services for others.
Fieldwork Experience
Students work in a variety of approved fieldwork settings. Both the fieldwork site and the fieldwork supervisor must be approved by the Director of Fieldwork Placement before a site is eligible for approval. A minimum of 500 hours of fieldwork is an integral part of the Counseling Psychology program. Students work in governmental agencies, schools, colleges or universities, non-profit and charitable corporations, or licensed health facilities. Licensed professionals closely supervise all students during their fieldwork placements. In addition, faculty members serve as fieldwork consultants teaching Fieldwork in Counseling Seminars, which are limited to a maximum of eight students.
Counseling Psychology Course Descriptions
Click here to go to the 2008-2010 Catalog for Counseling Psychology course descriptions.
