Counseling Degree Program (M.S.)

The Master of Science (M.S.) Degree program in Counseling provides graduate level training for students interested in preparing themselves for counseling in a variety of educational and community settings. Emphases are available in school counseling, higher education, and community counseling.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of counseling concepts identified as central by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs and licensure standards for the State of Wisconsin. Students will develop skills in: assessing personal issues related to client problems; collecting and analyzing information in determining appropriate counseling interventions; employing appropriate facilitative techniques; and preparing documents such as counseling-related reports, treatment plans, and education programs.

For more information on the Counseling program please visit http://academics.uww.edu/counseled. At this site, you can access information regarding the program, faculty, emphases, courses and the admission process.

Program Coordinator:

Ms. Tammy Albrecht
Winther 5056
Phone: (262) 472-5401
Email: albrecht@uww.edu

Department Secretary:

Winther 6035
Phone: (262) 472-5426
Email: counslred@uww.edu

Additional Program Policies:

1. Students admitted to the program must begin and complete their course work, including internship, at the time and in the manner indicated on their program schedule at admission, or receive prior written approval for alteration of their program from their adviser. Students failing to comply with this policy may be dropped from the program. Students will have an opportunity to appeal this action.

2. The Counselor Education Department faculty will review all students’ progress as they proceed through the program.

3. Elective courses must be approved by students’ advisers prior to enrolling in the courses.

4. Students may enroll in at most six units of course work during any given summer session.

5. Students must earn a grade of at least a B in COUNSED-718 Principles of Counseling, and at least a BC in any other courses applied toward the degree. No more than two courses in which a grade of BC is earned may be applied toward the degree.

6. A grade point average of at least 3.00 (B) over all of the graduate work taken at UW-Whitewater is required for admission to the internship experience. The required academic year-long internship must commence in the fall. A policy statement may be obtained from the program coordinator.

7. The academic requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for the State of Wisconsin are met through the 48-unit program in Community Counseling. Persons interested in licensure as a school counselor meet DPI licensure requirements upon completion of the program and endorsement by the department. Students interested in state certification as a family therapist and/or clinical membership in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy may be required to do course work and clinical supervision beyond the program requirements in order to meet the academic preparation and professional standards. Additional course work and supervision may also be required for students seeking Wisconsin licensure as an alcohol and/or drug counselor.

Program Prerequisites:

Students wishing to enter the degree program must have sufficient background in the behavioral sciences, including a course or courses in human development, abnormal psychology, and a course in statistics. Academic background will be examined prior to admission and discussed in the admission interview. Specific deficiencies will be identified at that time.

Students may be admitted to the program with deficiencies. Any deficiencies identified must be removed prior to enrollment in course work beyond the first nine credits. The preparation provided by this prerequisite course work in the behavioral sciences is necessary in order to understand the advanced behavioral science concepts and statistics presented in courses in the degree program.

Courses taken to remove deficiencies may be at the undergraduate or at the graduate level. Credits earned to remove deficiencies will not count toward the degree requirements.

Degree Requirements:

Forty-eight units of coursework; these include practicum and internship requirements, but not thesis. The thesis option is available for 1-6 units and is in addition to the 48 units. Course and emphasis requirements are given below. However, emphases, required course sequences, and elective courses should be selected in consultation with advisers to match individual career paths.

COUNSELING (M.S.)

CORE COURSES - 39 UNITS

COUNSED 718 PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING
COUNSED 719 APPRAISAL PROCEDURES IN COUNSELING
COUNSED 720 CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND INFOMATION SERVICES
COUNSED 721 GROUP PROCEDURES IN COUNSELING
COUNSED 722 THEORIES OF COUNSELING
COUNSED 728 CLINICAL STUDIES COUNSELING
COUNSED 736 COUNSELING ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
COUNSED 741 SOCIAL & CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS IN COUNSELING
COUNSED 751 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES: ETHICS & CONSULATION
COUNSED 793 SUPERVISED PRACTICUM
COUNSED 795 INTERNSHIP (6 UNITS, 3 UNITS/ SEMESTER)
EDFOUND 740 TECHNIQUES OF RESEARCH

EMPHASES - 9 UNITS
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING EMPHASES:

A. COMMUNITY COUNSELING EMPHASIS
COUNSED 731 INTRODUCTION TO MARRIAGE & FAMILY COUNSELING
COUNSED 734 FAMILIES: ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS
COUNSED 746 COUNSELING & CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROCESS

B. HIGHER EDUCATION EMPHASIS
COUNSED 729 STUDENT SERVICES IN HIGHER ED
COUNSED 748 ADMINISTRATION IN COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL
ELECTIVES 3 UNITS
C. SCHOOL COUNSELING EMPHASIS
COUNSED 738 PERSPECTIVES IN SCHOOL COUNSELING
COUNSED 743 COUNSEL IN ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOLS
COUNSED 745 COUNSELING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY COURSES
COUNSED 724 CAREER COUNSELING OF ADOLESCENT & ADULT
COUNSED 732 PRACTICES OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY COUNSLING
COUNSED 733 THEORIES & TECHNIQUES OF MARRIAGE COUNSELING
COUNSED 749 CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY