Pre-Counseling Tracks
The pre-counseling tracks in philosophy and in religious studies are designed to provide core knowledge and basic skills to philosophy and religious studies majors who are considering graduate work in counseling, mental health and other service-based professions. Courses are designed to promote:
- self-awareness
- effective decision-making skills
- development of positive character traits
- core knowledge of historical philosophical ideas and religious and cultural practices
- a deep understanding of rights and responsibilities in relationships across a wide range of contexts and settings
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | 3 | |
| Knowledge Domains | ||
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | ||
| PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Social Science elective | 3 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.) | ||
| COUN 1587 | Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| SPA elective | 3 | |
| First-Year Experience | ||
| LASS 1510 | Exploring Critical Questions in LASS | 3 |
| Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| REL 2601 | Introduction to World Religions | 3 |
| REL 2608 | The Examined Life | 3 |
| History of Religion | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| African-American Religion | ||
| African and Neo-African Religion | ||
| The World of Islam | ||
| Popes Saints and Rebels | ||
| Buddhist Beliefs Practices and Debate | ||
| Hindu Traditions | ||
| Muslim Thinkers and Mystics | ||
| Reform, Revolt, or Revolution in Islam | ||
| Islamic Culture and Literature | ||
| Methodologies in the Study of Religion | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Religion and Race | ||
| Liberation Theologies and Revolutionary Change | ||
| Religion and Violence | ||
| Feminism, Ecology and Religion | ||
| Psychology of Religion | ||
| Methods and Study of Religion | ||
| Anthropology of Religion | ||
| Scriptural Studies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Hebrew Scriptures | ||
| Jesus and the Gospels | ||
| Women And the Bible | ||
| Religious Studies | ||
| All of the following: | 7 | |
| Seminar in Religious Studies | ||
| Capstone Cooperative Seminar | ||
| Senior Capstone Project | ||
| Select remaining hours in Religious Studies. 1 | ||
| Pre-Counseling Track | ||
| Required Electives: | ||
| PHIL 1561 | Technology and Human Values | 3 |
| PSYC 3702 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 3775 | Personality | 3 |
| PSYC 4800 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
| COUN 2650 | Foundations of Helping Skills for Allied Health Professionals | 3 |
| Minor | 18 | |
| University Electives | 14 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 123-124 | |
| 1 | It is assumed that the remaining hours will be selected in religious studies. In some cases, courses outside religious studies may be accepted as part of the religious studies major if they deepen the student's understanding of religion. All such courses must have the approval of the chair. |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| REL 2601 | Introduction to World Religions | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| First Year Experience | 3 | |
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| REL 2608 | The Examined Life | 3 |
| PSYC 1560 | General Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| COUN 1587 | Introduction to Health and Wellness in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 2619 or MATH 2623 | Introduction to Logic or Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Natural Science 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| PSYC 3702 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| REL 2621 or PHIL 2625 | Religion and Moral Issues or Introduction to Professional Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3711 or PHIL 3725 | General Ethics or Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 1561 | Technology and Human Values | 3 |
| REL 2605 | Myth, Symbol, and Ritual | 3 |
| Natural Science plus lab 15XX/26XX | 4 | |
| PSYC 3775 | Personality | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| REL 3708 | African-American Religion | 3 |
| REL 3720 | The World of Islam | 3 |
| REL 3722 | Popes Saints and Rebels | 3 |
| REL 3726 | Buddhist Beliefs Practices and Debate | 3 |
| ANTH 4815 | Anthropology of Religion | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSYC 4800 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
| Social Science General Education | 3 | |
| REL 4850 | Seminar in Religious Studies | 3 |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| REL 3751 | Liberation Theologies and Revolutionary Change | 3 |
| REL 3754 | Feminism, Ecology and Religion | 3 |
| REL 3756 | Psychology of Religion | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COUN 2650 | Foundations of Helping Skills for Allied Health Professionals | 3 |
| Elective 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| REL 3708 | African-American Religion | 3 |
| REL 3720 | The World of Islam | 3 |
| REL 3722 | Popes Saints and Rebels | 3 |
| REL 3726 | Buddhist Beliefs Practices and Debate | 3 |
| ANTH 4815 | Anthropology of Religion | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Elective 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| REL 4871 | Senior Capstone Project | 3 |
| REL 4869 | Capstone Cooperative Seminar | 1 |
| Elective 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 121-122 | |
Learning Objectives
PRE-COUNSELING OBJECTIVES
- The student will competently analyze and critically evaluate his/her own beliefs and the beliefs and traditions of others.
- The student will master the basics of theoretical writing, including the development of precise definitions, effective analysis of texts, traditions, and theoretical positions, and effective development, defense, and critique of arguments.
- The student will exhibit knowledge of religious traditions and rituals, as well as cultural practices, beliefs, and values that guide behavior, decision-making, and social policy, and will demonstrate understanding of this diversity and skill in using this knowledge as a reference for understanding others.
- The student will exhibit a detailed understanding of personal yet timeless questions about spirituality, life after death, ethics, personal relationships, and well-being, and will competently use this knowledge to help others address similar questions and concerns.