Adler graduate school

Marriage & Family Course Work for Licensure Preparation

(For applicants already holding a Master’s degree)
The track for licensure only at the Adler Graduate School allows some students to take only those courses required for licensure by Minnesota licensing Boards, including Marriage & Family Therapy, and Behavioral Health and Therapy, provided the student already holds a Master’s degree from another institution. To be considered for licensure only, applicants must submit all official transcripts reflecting previous graduate degrees, plus the AGS application form and fee. Applicants must meet with the Director of Admissions to determine which courses they need to meet licensure requirements.

Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy –

School Counseling Emphasis

Adlerians have a long history of positively impacting students and teachers in school settings. AGS’ School Counseling Program guides its graduates toward the acquisition of the knowledge and skills needed to provide competent counseling in Kindergarten – Grade 12 (K-12) school settings.

School Counseling students complete a 50-semester credit program over an approximately 30- to 36-month time period. Completion of the School Counseling sequence leads to a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy and licensure as a School Counselor in the State of Minnesota.
School Counseling Emphasis – Required School Counseling Courses:

570 Foundations of 21^st Century School Counseling

571 Group Counseling in Schools

572 Counseling Exceptional Children

573 Advanced School Counseling Skills

574 Career Counseling – School Counseling

575 Clinical Issues in School Counseling
School Counseling Emphasis – Required Adlerian and General Courses:

500 Principles of Research

505 Developmental Psychology

511 Introduction to Adlerian Psychology & Child Guidance

513 Comparative Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy

521 Values, Ethics and Legalities

521.1 Values, Ethics & Legalities in School Counseling

523 Multicultural Counseling

525 Essential Interviewing Skills

544 Counseling Children and Adolescents

School Counseling Emphasis – Required Field Experiences:

977 School Counseling Practicum

978 School Counseling Internship
School Counseling Emphasis – Required Capstone Experiences:

580 Integrative Portfolio

599A Introduction to Graduate Writing

599B Introduction to the Literature Review

Certificates for Professional Development
Adlerian Studies Certificate
The Certificate in Adlerian Studies is a unique online program for mental health professionals to study Adlerian psychology, its theoretical foundations, and its practical applications. This 12-credit certificate includes four 3-credit courses which are delivered almost exclusively through online distance education methods, with the exception of the popular 3-day residential weekend. The Certificate in Adlerian Studies is derived from the Master of Arts degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy emphasis in Adlerian Studies.
Adlerian Studies Certificate course sequence:

101OL Adler Online Program and School Orientation

710 Individual Psychology: Communal Ties and Family Guidance

711 Individual Psychology: Historical and Theoretical Foundations, or

511 Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Child Guidance

514 Psychodynamics of Psychopathology, or

750 Social Interest: Theory and Use

770 Therapeutic Process and Developing a Professional Identity

Career Counseling Certificate
Career plays a significant role in the identity, lifestyle, and sense of well-being for most individuals. The field of career counseling is a dynamic and rewarding one. Due to the rapidly changing economy, individuals are switching jobs and careers more frequently than ever. Career professionals need cutting-edge tools to assist their clients with the process of reinventing themselves.
The Certificate in Career Counseling is a unique program for those who already have a Master’s degree in Counseling or a related area. It is derived from the Master of Arts Degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy emphasis in Career Counseling, which is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Certificate in Career Counseling takes a holistic approach, teaching students how to help clients take ownership of their careers, market themselves effectively for new opportunities, manage transitions, and maximize career fulfillment. The curriculum is designed around helping students master the 12 core competencies established by the National Career Development Association (NCDA):
Those who complete the Certificate in Career Counseling are prepared to serve in a wide array of roles as professional career counselors, consultants, and specialists in many settings, including community agencies, schools, colleges and universities, private practice, employee assistance programs, non-profits, governmental and military agencies, human resources, training and development, correctional institutions, and businesses and industry. This 17-credit certificate includes five three-credit courses and a two-credit field experience.
511 Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Child Guidance

562 Foundations of Career Development

563 Career Assessment, Exploration & Transition
564 Navigating the Employment Process
565 Successful Career & Program Management
Field Experience:

968 Internship in Career Development (2 credits), plus 200 hours of field experience

Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Certificate

Adler Graduate School offers a Co-Occurring Disorders Certificate Program. The certificate program is designed for graduate students who have completed a Master of Arts or Sciences degree in any mental health field and wish to earn a Certificate in Co-Occurring Disorders. This certificate presents a progressive approach to working with persons who simultaneously display both mental health and substance use disorders, helping the client and therapist work toward a more holistic, integrated, and positive outcome. Counselors and therapists with training in Co-Occurring Disorders work in settings that provide education, criminal justice, and mental and chemical health services to individuals, couples, and families.   Depending on courses completed and fieldwork activities, graduates with a Co-Occurring Disorders Certificate are prepared to apply for LADC, LPC, and LPCC licensure in Minnesota.

Co-Occurring Disorders Certificate course sequence:

511 Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Child Guidance

581 Foundations of Co-Occurring Disorders

582 Psychopharmacology

583 Case Management and Treatment Planning for COD

584 Evaluation and Evidence-Based Practice in COD

585 Integrative Seminar
Field Experience requirements:

987 Practicum in COD (300 hours)

988 Internship in COD (550 hours)
Adler Graduate School also offers opportunities for additional coursework in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC).


Fieldwork Experience
On-site fieldwork experience is an integral part of the Adler Graduate School’s Master of Arts Degree with a Counseling and Psychotherapy emphasis. Students are required to spend time at a fieldwork site throughout the course of their program. The Field Experience Coordinator for each program helps students to find sites relating to their interests.

Didactic Instruction
Students in the Master of Arts Degree program are required to complete both an Individual and a Group Didactic experience. The Didactics are designed to offer a firsthand experience with the therapeutic process, working directly with a professional role model. Didactic Instructors interact with AGS students only as Didactic Instructors, not as classroom faculty.
Individual Didactic: This required experience provides an opportunity to identify, explore, and modify attitudes or behaviors that might interfere with the ability to function as a competent counselor. Individual Didactic Instruction is limited to ten sessions. If the Didactic Instructor and/or student feels there are issues to be addressed that exceed the limits of ten Didactic sessions, the student may arrange for therapy or consultation with an outside therapist. Following this additional attention, if the student has not completed Individual Didactic Instruction, she/he will return to the original Didactic Instructor to complete remaining sessions.
Students contact and work directly with a Didactic Instructor by choosing from an approved list. AGS is notified in writing by the Didactic Instructor when the required ten sessions have been completed. At least five sessions of Individual Didactic Instruction must be completed before Group Didactic Instruction can be taken. The experience will appear on transcripts as a pass/fail grade. Prerequisite: #515 Life Style Analysis

Group Didactic: This required experience provides an opportunity to increase understanding and skills in the areas of personal, interpersonal and small group communication and to facilitate professional development in a setting in which constructive feedback may be obtained. As members of a Didactic Group, students are expected to participate with openness and candor. The experience will appear on transcripts as a pass/fail grade. Prerequisite: At least five sessions of #528 Individual Didactic Instruction completed