COUC 503 Gate 1: Counseling Foundations: Orientation to Program

This COUC 503 course equips students for advancement through the CMHC and MFC programs by introducing them to their Faculty Advisor Mentor (FAM) and other advisees in their Learning Community, providing an overview of graduate work in clinical mental health and marriage and family counseling, engaging in a state licensure review, and establishing key foundational competencies and expectations. This is a 0 credit course and is pass/fail. Approval through Gate 1 indicates the student has completed this required component and can continue through the program.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

This course serves as a comprehensive orientation to the counseling program, equipping the student with essential knowledge and expectations crucial for his or her academic and professional journey. It covers a wide range of topics, from core counseling competencies and ethical standards to personal growth and spiritual formation, ensuring the student is well-prepared for the challenges of graduate-level work and future counseling practice. By addressing both academic and personal development aspects, this gate lays a strong foundation for the student’s success in the program, future fieldwork, and the eventual role as a professional counselor.

Assigned readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

The student will complete an assessment that reflects on faith integration in this course.

The student will submit his or her completed Planned Program of Study (PPS) document. (CLO: A, D)

The student will provide his or her preferred phone number for situations in which his or her Faculty Advising Mentor (FAM) needs to contact him or her.

This quiz reviews the Learn items from the assigned Module: Week, which covers orientation information to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. (CLO: A)

For this quiz, the student will upload the documentation verifying that his or her purchased the background check with American DataBank. (CLO: A)

For this quiz, the student will download the Student Agreement Form, review it in its entirety, and sign the document. Once signed, the document will be uploaded to the quiz.

This quiz reviews the Learn items from the assigned Module: Week, and covers ethics and academic integrity in the classroom and in the professional world. (CLO: B, E)

This quiz reviews the process of using and submitting to CORE (CompMS). (CLO: C)

This brief quiz is designed to help the student reflect on what he or she has learned about using Turnitin and the Online Writing Center. The student should answer honestly—some items are self-attestation and others are knowledge checks. (CLO: C)

This self-assessment is designed to help the student reflect on his or her growth as a counselor-in-training. There are no right or wrong answers—just an honest snapshot of where the student is right now. The student will return to this assessment at various points in the program to track his or her development. (CLO: A, B, E)

As part of the student’s ongoing development as a professional counselor, this quiz will help the student assess his or her personal growth in key dispositional areas. The student should respond honestly and thoughtfully. The student’s answers will not be graded—this is a tool for reflection and growth. After completing the quiz, the student will be prompted to identify one area in which he or she would like to grow this semester and how he or she plans to take a step forward. (CLO: B, E)

For this quiz, the student will upload the documentation verifying that he or she has created his or her American DataBank account, associated with his or her background check. (CLO: D)

This quiz is designed to help the student reflect on important practicum-related information. The student should read each question carefully and select the most accurate answer. One question is based on the student’s personal follow-up action. (CLO: D)

This quiz reviews the Learn material in the assigned Module: Week and covers biblical and faith integration at Liberty University and in the CMHC program in preparation for the field. (CLO: B, E)

For this quiz, the student will reflect on the completion of key course requirements. (CLO: D)

For this quiz, the student will rate his or her experience in COUC 503. (CLO: D)