A survey of course syllabi was conducted to discover how introductory counseling courses were taught, what they emphasized, what types of assignments were given, what textbooks were used, how inclusive the courses were about the expanding field of counseling, and how worthwhile the syllabi were. Results indicated a very diverse picture. There were many approaches to the teaching of introductory counseling courses, and some programs did not have a required introductory course per se. A great variety of texts were required, and the quality of course syllabi was very uneven. Questions arise as to how appropriate it is to have students begin their professional education by focusing immediately on the study of professional theory, skill training, or specializations such as career counseling or rehabilitation counseling. Results of the survey are appended, and references are included. (TE)