Counseling Program of Study

Counseling Program of Study

The UNC Charlotte's Master's Degree in Counseling is CACREP-accredited and consists of 60 credit hours (20 courses). Students complete a combination of core courses, clinical courses, concentration-specific courses, and electives. These include:

  • Two counseling skills courses
  • Courses in lifespan development, social justice counseling, counseling theories, group counseling, and more
  • A practicum course (150 hours in a counseling setting) and two internship courses (each 300 hours in a counseling setting)

Students can specialize in addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or school counseling. They also may elect to add a secondary concentration in play therapy or a certificate in gerontology.


Department of Counseling faculty members serve as advisors to Master's counseling students and work collaboratively with each student to design a program of study that meets all requirements and aligns with advisees' preferences for time to completion. These planning worksheets may be useful in the process:

Program of Study (Microsoft Word)

Course Planning by Semester (Microsoft Word)

Courses are offered in Fall (FA), Spring (SP), and/or Summer (SU) as designated.


Required Courses

The Master's Degree in Counseling includes these Core Courses:

CSLG  6104

Counseling Across the Lifespan (FA, SP, SU)

RSCH 6101

Educational Research Methods (FA, SP,SU)

RSCH 6109

Assessment and Evaluation Methods (FA, SP, SU)

CSLG 6100           

Theories of Counseling* (FA,SU)

CSLG 6101           

Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling* (FA, SU)

CSLG 6110           

Counseling Techniques* (FA, SP)

CSLG 6111           

Advanced Counseling Techniques (FA, SP, SU)

CSLG 6120           

Group Counseling (FA, SP)

CSLG 6145           

Multicultural & Social Justice Counseling* (FA, SP, SU)

CSLG 6150           

Career Development and Counseling (SP, SU)

*Required prior to Practicum in Counseling

The Master's Degree in Counseling includes these clinical courses:

CSLG 7430           

Practicum in Counseling (FA, SP) (150 hours)

CSLG 7435           

Internship I (FA, SP, SU) (300 hours)

CSLG 7435           

Internship II (FA, SP, SU) (300 hours)

 

The School Counseling Concentration includes these courses:

CSLG 7141            

The Professional School Counselor* (FA, SU)

CSLG 7646            

Advocacy & Leadership in Professional School Counseling (FA, SP)

CSLG 7140            

Consultation in School Counseling (SP, SU)

 

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration includes these courses:

CSLG 7170         

Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling* (FA, SU)

CSLG 6153           

Diagnosis & Treatment in Counseling (SP, SU)

CSLG

One Addictions Elective

 

The Addiction Counseling Concentration includes these courses:

(See when courses are offered, one course per semester, except summer

CSLG 7170           

Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling* (FA, SU)

CSLG 6153           

Diagnosis & Treatment in Counseling (SP, SU)

Four Addiction Courses and Completion of the Internship I & II experience in an Addiction Counseling Facility/Location.

CSLG 6160

Theories of Addiction**

CLSG 6161

Assessment and Diagnosis of Addictive Disorders**  

CSLG 6162

Interventions in Addiction Counseling** 

CSLG 6163

Treatment Planning and Relapse Prevention in Addiction Counseling**

CSLG 6164

The McLeod Institute on Addiction (Pre-SU 1)

**Courses required for Addictions Counseling Concentration

The Play Therapy Concentration requires the following courses:

(Note: The Play Therapy Concentration is completed in addition to a primary degree concentration, such as School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling) 

Required:

 

CSLG 7142

Intro to Play Therapy (FA, SP, SU)

In addition, select 2 of these 3:

CSLG 7143

Child-Centered Relationship Training: An Approach for Training Parents/Caregivers/Teachers (SP)

CSLG 7144

Contemporary Theories of Play Therapy (FA)

CSLG 7147

Multicultural & Social Justice Issues in Play Therapy (hybrid, FA)

Elective

To be approved by Director of Play Therapy Concentration

CSLG 7145

Special Topics in Play Therapy (e.g. Conference (hybrid, Pre-SU II); Expressive Arts)

 

Course above not selected or approved by Director of PT program

Note: Courses outside your concentration (e.g., CSLG 6153, CSLG 6164) can be used as an elective.

Electives

Students in the School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrations are required to complete four electives. Students in the Addiction Counseling concentration are required to complete one elective. Possible electives vary by semester, but routinely offered electives are listed below.

CSLG 6000

(Topics Vary)

Expressive Arts across the Lifespan (SU)

Trauma in Counseling (SU)

CSLG 6201

Counseling Needs of Women (Alternate SP, even years)

CSLG 6205

Counseling Older Adults (SU)

CSLG 7142

Introduction to Play Therapy (FA, SP, SU)

CSLG 7146

Counseling Adolescents (SU) 

CSLG 7600

Sexual Orientation Diversity in Clinical Practice (Alternate SP, odd years)

CSLG 7601

Counseling & Spirituality (SP)

CSLG 7680

Crisis Counseling (FA,SU)

CSLG 7681

Grief & Loss Counseling (FA)