Self-Designed

This flexible concentration, intended for students who have a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related discipline, allows you to continue your studies in a manner that suits your professional development needs. Students who haven’t completed coursework in the following areas will need to do so during the CAGS program: professional orientation to counseling, quantitative research methods, social behavior and diversity, counseling theories, human development, career development, group counseling, testing and assessment, counseling skills, and counseling practicum.

Counselor Education Core – 9 credits
3

CO 7210 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling

This post-graduate course is designed as an intensive experience in advanced training in play therapy counseling skills in the work with children. Classes will be a combination of discussion, video presentation, case presentation, personal reflection, tape reviews and group supervision. Students will have the opportunity to conduct parent interviews, creating treatment plans and provide observations of each child in this learning experience. Prerequisites: CO 7010 and CO 7020.
3

CO 7300 Counseling Supervision

This course addresses theoretical, ethical, legal, relational and practical issues in counseling supervision. In addition to reviewing the fundamentals of counseling supervision, the course will provide an experientially based opportunity to develop and practice relevant supervision strategies.
3

EP 7050 Qualitative Methodology and Applied Research

This course addresses qualitative research methodologies with a particular emphasis on constructing grounded theory. Candidates will engage in the process, design, and critique of qualitative inquiry and research. Organizational and community issues will be explored and discovered through the analysis of patterns of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors within interpersonal and intercultural contexts. Descriptive analysis of initiating the inquiry, gathering and picturing the data, recording and analyzing data, and evaluating the study. (Prerequisite: EP 7020, EP 7030, and a course in research design).

Electives – 18 credits

With your advisor, you’ll choose 18 credits of electives appropriate for your program of study.

Capstone Experience – 6 credits
6

CO 5800 Counseling Internship

An internship for students in the Self-Designed concentration of the Counselor Education program. Students are expected to gain experience in the area of specialization chosen for the degree concentration. The internship is designed to be the culminating experience of the program. Prerequisite: Completion of all major required courses and permission of the instructor.
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6

ED 5210 Counseling Internship: Self-Designed

A supervised practicum experience in one of several cooperating institutions or agencies in New Hampshire. The purpose is to gain meaningful work experience through applying knowledge learned in previous course work to the on-the-job situation. Commitment includes a negotiated number of hours per week and participation in seminars. Supervision is by the institution or agency concerned, and by Plymouth faculty. Students anticipating more than three hours of credit should confer early in their program with the department chair to free up sufficient blocks of time. Permission of advisor, department chair and Associate Vice President is required.
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6

ED 5950 Graduate Thesis

Students select a topic for study in consultation with their program advisor and related faculty. A time-line, thesis publication and defense are outlined. Three copies of the thesis must be submitted with a bound copy that remains on file in the College of Graduate Studies office.