Administrative Course Outline 
                                                                       
                                                     CNS6002 – Counseling Theory 
                                  College of Arts and Sciences – Clinical Mental Health Counseling  
                  
                 COURSE DESCRIPTION: The basic theory, principles, and techniques of counseling and its 
                 application to professional counseling settings are explained. Also considered are the various 
                 theories of counseling and issues (e.g., counselor self-evaluation (moral), ethical, and legal) in 
                 the practice of professional counseling. 
                  
                 COURSE OBJECTIVES:  
                  
                 ▪   CO1 – Apply the basic principles, theories (e.g., individual, systems) and techniques of 
                     counseling to clinical mental health counseling settings. 
                 ▪   CO2 – Discuss a variety of ethical and professional issues in clinical mental health counseling 
                     and begin to develop an individualized position regarding these issues. 
                 ▪   CO3 – Demonstrate the integration of theoretical and experiential learning in order to form 
                     their own personal model of clinical mental health counseling, including counselor 
                     characteristics (e.g., racism, discrimination, power, privilege, oppression) that may influence 
                     the counseling process. 
                 ▪   CO4 – Demonstrate a general understanding of the counseling theories and how counseling 
                     theories are applied in various models of psychotherapy. 
                 ▪   CO5 – Identify and discuss the key elements of the best known theories of counseling and 
                     demonstrate an understanding of the assumptions that are central to the major theories of 
                     counseling. 
                 ▪   CO6 – Understand the role that diversity and cultural values play in constructing and 
                     applying theory and some of the limitations that generalized theories of change may place 
                     on differing cultural values. 
                      
                 PREREQUISITES:                   None 
                  
                 COREQUISITES:                    None 
                  
                 QUARTER CREDIT HOURS:   4.5 Credit Hours 
                  
                 QUARTER:                         Quarter 1 or Approval from the Program Director 
                  
                 COURSE CLASSIFICATION:             
                  
                             ▪   Lecture/Didactic 
                  
                 ACO Approval Date: 11-17-2021                                                                   CNS6002  
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                                                                                  Administrative Course Outline 
                       
                      Total Course / Contact Hours:  45 
                
               GRADING SCALE:  
                
                       100 – 90        A 
                       89 – 80         B 
                       79 – 70         C 
                       69 – 60         D 
                       59 – Below      F 
                
               TEXTBOOKS AND RELATED MATERIALS 
               Faculty - All textbooks and media items are listed on the South University Academic Affairs 
               SharePoint site. This Textbook Listings Link will take you to the most up to date listing of 
               textbook information by College/School. Please review this link and update this information on 
               your syllabus if required. 
                
               REQUIRED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE 
                   ▪  University Standard of hardware, software and browser requirements.  
                
               DISABILITY SERVICES POLICY 
                
               Faculty (campus-based): Please include the policy below when preparing your syllabi. Replace 
               highlighted sections with information specific to the location where the course is being taught. 
                
               South University provides accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. The Disability 
               Services office assists qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and 
               appropriate accommodations and in supporting equal access to services, programs and 
               activities at South University. 
                
               Students who seek reasonable accommodations should notify the Disabilities Services 
               Coordinator at [name and contact information] of their specific limitations and, if known, their 
               specific requested accommodations.  Students will be asked to supply medical documentation 
               of the need for accommodation.  Classroom accommodations are not retroactive, but are 
               effective only upon the student sharing approved accommodations with the instructor.  
               Therefore, students are encouraged to request accommodations as early as feasible with the 
               Disability Services Coordinator to allow for time to gather necessary documentation.  If you 
               have a concern or complaint in this regard, please contact [the designated Disability Services 
               ACO Approval Date: 11-17-2021                                                         CNS6002  
                                                                                            ACO – Page 2 of 14 
                                                                                   Administrative Course Outline 
               Coordinator at your school] in room ###, telephone number ####. Complaints will be handled 
               in accordance with the school’s Internal Grievance Procedure for Complaints of Discrimination 
               and Harassment.   
                
                                              
               ACO Approval Date: 11-17-2021                                                          CNS6002  
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                             Administrative Information: The information listed below is provided as reference for faculty, 
                             program leaders and administrators. If you opt to use any of this information in your syllabus, 
                             please be sure to modify the information so it is applicable as student-facing content. 
                                                                                            Administrative Course Outline 
                  
                 EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES and MAPPING:  
                 Below is a list of Program Learning Outcomes and a Course Learning Outcome Map that shows 
                 the relationship between Course Objectives (Page 1) and Program Learning Outcomes (below) 
                 as approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. Please keep these learning outcomes and 
                 mapping in mind as you prepare for and present this course.   
                  
                 PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLO):  
                  
                     ▪   PLO1 - Demonstrate knowledge and application of all aspects of professional 
                         functioning, to include ethical standards, legal implications, advocacy and social justice, 
                         counselor roles, and professional credentialing. 
                     ▪   PLO2 - Demonstrate the ability to apply multicultural research and core theory to issues 
                         and relationships in the context of culturally competent counseling. 
                     ▪   PLO3 - Apply research and core theory to the needs of diverse individuals across the 
                         lifespan, to include atypical personality and neurological development, addictive 
                         disorders, family and social relationships, and crisis response. 
                     ▪   PLO4 - Demonstrate implementation of research and core theory related to the 
                         processes of decision-making in career development and planning in the context of the 
                         psychology of work.  
                     ▪   PLO5 – Demonstrate knowledge and skill application of the major theories of change, 
                         consultation practices, diagnostic impressions, and evidence-based interventions to a 
                         diverse clientele for the delivery of effective and ethical treatment.  
                     ▪   PLO6 – Apply culturally appropriate group skills, techniques, and theory-based 
                         interventions in the context of group counseling dynamics while exploring effective 
                         facilitation styles. 
                     ▪   PLO7 – Analyze historical and current testing and assessment methods for implementing 
                         ethical and accurate appraisal of diverse clients by individual or group methods.  
                     ▪   PLO8 – Apply needs assessment, program evaluation, and research methods to ethical 
                         and effective practice and to add to the body of literature in the counseling profession.  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                                                   
                 ACO Approval Date: 11-17-2021                                                                   CNS6002  
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