The College of Education’s new Bachelor of Arts major in Counseling and Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) advances training and introduces students to the world of counseling and the helping professions.
Program Overview
Counseling and Behavioral Health Services is an innovative, non-licensure major that is intended to leverage College of Education faculty expertise in counseling and human behavior to prepare students for entry level helping positions in nonprofit agencies, government agencies, community centers, clinics, and service navigation programs.
Students will complete a 39-semester-hour curriculum in the major, pairing a significant emphasis in counseling skills with courses in applied counseling, psychology, ethics, career development, and introductions to and theoretical foundations of human services fields.
Fast Facts
- Introduces students to the world of counseling and the helping professions
- Prepares undergraduate students for entry level, non-licensure positions in the behavioral health workforce
- Provides a strong foundation that can be applied toward counseling/mental health related graduate studies
Program Resources
Learning Objectives
- Recognize and define the concepts and functions of the helping professions and their respective professional environments.
- Demonstrate basic interpersonal communication, leadership, and ethical problem-solving skills used in the helping professions.
- Illustrate how social, economic, cultural, and other contextual factors affect behavioral health care access and disparities.
- Demonstrate awareness of the role of advocacy in the behavioral healthcare system and behavioral health policy environment.
- Exhibit critical thinking, problem-solving, and written and oral communication skills to strategically address complex issues and formulate innovative, holistic, and sustainable solutions.
Core Courses
All counseling and behavioral health services students must complete the following courses:
- PSQF:1101 Introduction to the Helping Professions
- PSQF:2115 Introduction to Counseling Psychology
- CSED:1102 Helping Skills for Community Settings
- PSQF:2125 Applied Theories of Counseling and Change
- PSQF:1103 Introduction to Assessment in Counseling and Behavioral Health
- PSQF:3104 Multicultural Counseling and Psychology
- PSQF:3215 Applied Health Psychology
- CPH:4210 Public Health Policy and Advocacy
- EDTL:4950 Behavioral and Social Interventions
- CSED:4953 Experiential Learning Course: Research, Internship, Study Abroad, Service Learning)
Electives ( 9 s.h.)
May include, but not limited to:
PSQF:2116 | Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:3115 | Sports Psychology | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4178 | Microcounseling | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4140 | Foundations of Leadership for Community Agencies | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:4162 | Introduction to Couples and Family Therapy | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4176 | Child Abuse: Assessment, Intervention, and Advocacy | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4195 | Ethics in Human Relations and Counseling | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4174 | Positive Psychology | 3 s.h. |
HHP:2280 | Cultural Competency and Health | 3 s.h. |
SSW:1200 | Mental Health Across the Lifespan | 3 s.h. |
MGMT:3500 | Non-Profit Organizational Effectiveness I | 3 s.h. |
MGMT:3600 | Non-Profit Organizational Effectiveness II | 3 s.h. |
CPH:1400 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 3 s.h. |
CPH:1600 | Public Health Science | 3 s.h. |
CPH:1800 | Social and Psychological Determinants of Health | 3 s.h. |
CPH:2400 | The US Health System in a Global Context | 3 s.h. |
CPH:3200 | Public Health as a Public Good | 3 s.h. |
CPH:3500 | Global Public Health | 3 s.h. |
“A distinctive aspect of this program is that it will offer a number of clinical and human service oriented specialties that will add unique value for the students.”
Noel Estrada-Hernández, professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, DEO of the Department of Counselor Education, and co-developer of the CBHS program.
Informal Concentration Areas (ICA)
CBHS provides multiple Informal Concentration Areas (ICAs), which are meant to be fluid over time in order to best reflect trends and issues in the helping professions field.
School Mental Health
The School Mental Health informal concentration area (ICA) equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to support the mental health and well-being of students in educational settings. Courses will provide a comprehensive understanding of the mental health challenges faced by students in school environments. Also, students will learn about the developmental, social, and emotional factors that affect student mental health.
Course | Credits |
PSQF:4133 The Adolescent and Young Adult | 3 s.h. |
PSQF:2116 Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology | 3 s.h. |
CSED:5300 Culturally Relevant Social/Emotional Learning | 3 s.h. |
Career opportunities for students with an CBHS focus in school mental health may include:
- School Support Advocate: Providing support services to students, helping them with academic, social, and emotional issues.
- Youth Mental Health Advocate: Working in non-profits or community organizations to advocate for the mental health needs of young people.
- Student Support Specialist: Coordinating support services and programs that promote student mental health and well-being.
- Educational Consultant: Advising schools on best practices for supporting student mental health.
- Crisis Counselor: Providing immediate support and intervention for students experiencing mental health crises.
Addictions
The Addictions ICA prepares students to make significant contributions in the field of addiction treatment and prevention. This informal concentration area intends to increase student’s knowledge and advocacy skills needed to understand, prevent, and treat substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors. Students will learn skills that will allow them to provide support addressing the impact of addiction on individuals, families, and communities.
State certification in addictions: State requirements can be found here: https://iowabc.org/credentials/cadc
Course | Credits |
CSED:4185 Introduction to Substance Abuse | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4132 Addictions and Impulse Control | 3 s.h. |
CPH:1800 Social and Psychological Determinants of Health | 3 s.h. |
Career opportunities for students with an Addictions ICA may include:
- Addiction Counselor: Working directly with individuals struggling with substance use disorders, providing therapy and support.
- Case Manager: Assisting clients in accessing resources and services to support recovery and rehabilitation.
- Prevention Specialist: Developing and implementing programs aimed at preventing substance abuse in communities and schools.
- Rehabilitation Specialist: Working in rehab centers to support individuals in their recovery journey.
- Social services: Providing broader support services to individuals and families affected by addiction, including counseling and resource connection.
- Public Health Advocate: Engaging in public health initiatives that address addiction at the community or policy level.
Corrections
The Corrections informal concentration area (ICA) orients students for careers in the criminal justice system and social programs particularly focusing on the management, rehabilitation, and reintegration of offenders. Courses will provide students with an understanding of the corrections system, including jails, prisons, probation, and parole. Students will learn about the social, psychological, and environmental factors that lead to criminal behavior. Also, will develop awareness of the important concepts of rehabilitation and reintegration.
Course | Credits |
CRIM:3417 Community Corrections | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4132 Addictions and Impulse Control | 3 s.h. |
CSED:4175 Motivational Interviewing | 3 s.h. |
Career opportunities for students with an CBHS focus in corrections may include:
- Correctional Officer: Supervising inmates in jails, prisons, and detention centers.
- Probation Officer: Supervising offenders placed on probation instead of serving time in prison.
- Parole Officer: Managing offenders released from prison on parole, ensuring they comply with the terms of their release.
- Correctional Treatment Specialist: Developing rehabilitation programs and providing counseling to inmates.
- Case Manager: Coordinating services and resources for offenders to support their reintegration into society.
- Juvenile Justice Specialist: Working with juvenile offenders in detention centers, probation programs, or rehabilitation facilities.
- Community Corrections Worker: Engaging in alternative correctional programs that focus on rehabilitating offenders within the community.
Faculty
CBHS is comprised of faculty from the College of Education’s Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, and Counseling Education and Supervision programs. To see associated faculty, please: Visit Faculty Listing.
Admissions and Application
Students may be admitted to the major through Direct Admission, Regular Admission, or Transfer Admission.
Direct Admission is designed for first-year students applying to Iowa for the fall semester. Applicants who present an ACT composite score of 21 or higher (waived for fall 2024 and spring 2025) and a final high school GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible for Direct Admission into the Counseling and Behavioral Health Services major.
Regular Admission is available to students who have completed a minimum of 12 s.h. of graded course work at the University of Iowa and who have a UI cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
Transfer Admission is available to students who have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 on a minimum of 24 s.h. of acceptable graded credit earned after high school graduation.
For information about the admission and application process, please contact sheryl-bass@uiowa.edu.
News
College of Education launches new undergraduate counseling major
New Counseling and Behavioral Health Services degree designed to for undergraduate students who want to develop a foundation in helping processes and human behavior.
Contact Us
Martin Kivlighan, Program Director
319-335-5333
martin-kivlighan@uiowa.edu
Sheryl Bass, Academic Advisor
319-335-1152
sheryl-bass@uiowa.edu