MAC500 Human Development & Change |syllabus|
This course explores how humans grow, learn, and mature across the life-span. Special attention will be given to iidentifying developmentally specific challenges and how to address them in counseling from a Christian perspective. Each student will engage in a personal exploration project. Three hours.

MAC501, 511 & 521 Counseling & the Biblical Text I, II & III |syll 501| |syll 511| |syll 521|
Counselors from the Christian tradition recognize the value and influence of the Scriptures in shaping worldview and clinical practice. These three courses provide a general orientation to the biblical texts and to the various skills and disciplines needd to read, interpret, apply, and communicate the text to their life and professional work. Students will also engage the questions of postmodernism and contemporary culture as they impact the task of biblical interpretation application. Nine hours (Three course).

MAC502 Counseling & Theology: Cultural Issues |syllabus|
This course addresses the question of what it means to think theologically about counseling in our contemporary setting. Christian counselors should reflect on how to fulfill their calling in the light of the teaching of the Bible, the history of Christian tradition, and the specific opportunities and challenges presented by contemporary culture. Three hours.

MAC510 Helping Relationships |syllabus|
Based on the Biblical model of love, the nature of persons, problems and means of change, and informed by clinical research, students in this course will explore and practice the elements, skills, and character qualities needed to build effective helping relationships. Three hours.

MAC512 Psychopathology |syllabus|
Based on a deep understanding of human suffering, students in this course will explore the multi-faceted experience of those struggling with common psychological maladies. Effective interventions will be identified and practiced. Students will also critique a variety of taxonomies used to classify pathology. Three hours.

MAC520 Practicum & Professional Orientation |syllabus|
Based on previous coursework, students will begin to develop their professional identity and skills. The course provides a suportive learning environment for students to assess strengths and weaknesses as a counselor. Small group sessions will provide instruction on how to get the most out of the practicum experience, group consultation on counseling cases, and discussion of problems and issues relating to the life and work of the counselor. Students will reflect on how counseling impacts their own understanding and relationship with God. This course will also explore the ethical issues related to particular counseling environments. During this course students will complete 100 hours of practicum and gain professional experience at an approved practicum site. Three hours.

MAC522 Ethics, Diversity, & Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling |syllabus|
Based on the Christian call to love others, this course will grapple with contemporary standards for ethical counseling practice as well as underlying foundations. Application to multiple settings will be explored. Emphasis will be given to understanding and overcoming cultural barriers/blinders so as to improve effective intercultural communication. Three hours.

MAC600 & 610 Internship & Professional Seminar I & II |syllabus 1| |syllabus 2|
The purpose of these courses is to orient students to the internship experience and to assist and encourage them in their clinical work. They will focus on how to get the most out of internship experiences, counselor identity, group consultation on counseling cases, discussion of problems, and theolgoical and ethical issues related to particular counseling environments. During these courses students will be in the process of completing 600 hours of internship at an approved setting. Three hours each.

MAC601 Marriage & Family Therapy |syllabus|
This course will focus on the theories and practices of marriage and family counseling. Students will be encouraged to think through the major causes of marriage problems and how to skillfully address these issues in the counseling context. Three hours.

MAC602 Counseling & Physiology |syllabus|
Building upon the foundation of a biblical anthropology, this course will develop practical approaches to counseling issues having physiological manifestations, particularly those which affect intellect and mood. In addition, the course will include an introduction to psychopharmacology and will provide criteria for medical and/or psychiatric referral. Three hours.

MAC611 Counseling & Theology: God & Human Beings |syllabus|
This course examines the Christian story and Christian beliefs concerning the being and character of God, his works of creation and providence, the nature of human beings, the nature and implications of sin, and the identity and mission of Christ. In addition, the identity and mission of the Holy Spirit, the nature and application of salvation, the nature and mission of the church, and eschatology . Attention is given to the biblical teaching, historical appropriation, and contemporary expression of these beliefs as well as their implications for Christian life and spiritual formation. Three hours.

MAC620 Advanced Marital Therapy |syllabus|
This course explores advanced skills needed for competent couples therapy. More specifically, students will learn strategies to deal with and train couples to recognize emotional connection points, and effective stratefies to prevent and deal with infidelity. Three hours.

MAC621 Child & Adolescent Counseling |syllabus|
This course will focus on the theory and practice of child, adolescent, and family counseling. Assessment tools unique to these populations will be identified and special focus will be given to the corresponding sections of the DSM. Distincitive treatment strategies such as play therapy will also be highlighted in the course. Finally, this course will also explore where these ideas fit within a Christian framework. Two hours.

MAC704 Models of Counseling |syllabus|
Classical and current theories of counseling will be explored and evaluated in light of the Bible, psychological sophistication, and practical relevance. Theories receiving major focus include: Psychoanalysis, behaviorism, person-centered, family systems and current psychodynamic theory. Two hours.

MAC801 Psychological Assessment |syllabus|
This course gives you theoretical and practical training in clinical assessment as a mental health professional. You will be introduced to the science and art of assessing and reporting client functioning (interviewing, testing, interpretation, and writing). The course will pay particular attention to proper ethical and cultural aspects of assessment. Two hours.

MAC802 Research & Program Evaluation |syllabus|
The focus of this course is on the philosophic foundations, overall value and generally accepted practices of both research design and methodology in the behavioral sciences, specifically as it applies to program evaluation. Two hours.

MAC803 Social & Cultural Foundations of Counseling |syllabus 1| |syllabus 2|
This course builds on a prior coursework in professional ethics and cross-cultural diversity by exploring the historical and philosophical foundations of professional counseling. Students will study underlying assumptions, epistemologies, philosophies of science, theories, and approaches involved in the field of psychology and counseling. The first semester will explore historical and epistemological foundations of the field while the second semester will explore and critique the modern world of Christian counseling. 1 hour each semester (2 total) .

MAC804 Career & Lifestyle Development |syllabus|
The principles of counseling for career and lifestyle development apply both in secular and in ministry environments. This advanced level course supports the Pennsylvania state requirement that those interested in pursuing licensure must have studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors. The course will address theories and their application in formal and informal settings. Students will receive instruction in class, through assignments including a choice of site visitations for a project, and through case studies. The missionally focused capstone of the course will take place in week 5 with the student counselor’s participation in an onsite clinic open to the public. 2 hours.

MAC805 Group Counseling |syllabus|
This course is a comprehensive study of the major theories and techniques used in group psychotherapy and in other small group settings. Special focus will be on the dynamics of group process including the formation, stagesand challenges of groups. 2 hours.