Counseling
Counseling Program 
The University of Wisconsin-Superior, through the Counseling Program of the Educational Leadership Department, offers professional training which leads to a Master of Science in Education Degree (M.S.E.) in Counseling. The program is designed for those individuals who seek advanced professional training in various occupations in the fields of Counseling. There are four tracks within the program, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (LPC or LPCC), School Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy and Human Relations. Each track is an integration of academic foundations and professional skills training and is directed at developing a qualified and specialized professional. In order to accommodate working adults, the Counseling Program run on a semester rotation: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Counseling Programs begins with application for admission to Graduate Studies online at www.uwsuper.edu/graduate. For information call 715-394-8295 . In addition to the application to the Office of Graduate Studies, the application for admission to the Counseling Program must contain:
- Resume and Letter of Intent addressing:
- Service to community
- Volunteer work
- Commitment to others
- Work and professional goals
- Areas which the applicant considers to be his or her strengths or weaknesses.
- Three letters of reference (one or two academic letters from post-secondary instructors and one or two employment letters) that speak to the candidate's ability to succeed in graduate school.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
- An undergraduate degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Education, or related social science with a GPA of 2.75/4.0 or higher. Students admitted as probationary must complete nine semester credits of introductory Counseling courses at the Graduate level with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher to gain unconditional admittance to the program. There is no conditional admission to the School of Counseling Program.
- Pass a Criminal Background Check.
- The Counseling program reserves the option to conduct an interview with candidates.
- All candidates will be evaluated throughout the program on their professional dispositions, including the counseling ethical codes and Wisconsin and Minnesota State licensure laws, expectations and requirements.
Master of Science in Education - Counseling
Counseling M.S.E. Requirements:
The M.S.E. in Counseling is designed for individuals who seek to provide direct human service in a variety of settings within a pluralistic society. Central to the Counseling program is the preparation of professionals in three major counseling functions, which include:
- Prevention of personal and interpersonal problems;
- Fostering of optimal human development; and
- Remediation of existing social-emotional-developmental concerns.
The Counseling degree is comprised of a minimum of 48 graduate semester credits of prescribed graduate-level courses, specific to the student's area of specialization. Students are required to take a clinical concentration in one of the following: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (LPC or LPCC), School Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Human Relations. Because this is a state licensure program, modifications can occur at any time to maintain alignment with state law and accreditation standards. Up-to-date information will be provided on request. A professional portfolio is required for graduation. The portfolio is introduced in the COUN704 Introduction to Counseling class and culminates in the COUN 756 and COUN 758 Internship Classes. For School Counseling students passing scores on the "Praxis: Professional School Counselor 5421" are required for graduation. Academic Service Learning and other High Impact Practices are integrated throughout the program.
The Counseling program is designed to meet State of Wisconsin Licensure requirements. Students considering work in other states are encouraged to get the specifics of that particular state. The Counseling program is aligned with state and national accreditation standards and prepares students for licensure eligibility. For additional information regarding the Counseling program, visit www.uwsuper.edu/graduate. Once in the program, students will develop a program plan of study with an advisor after the first nine credits of graduate work.
Up to 63 total credits are required for this major, depending on the specific track chosen. Counseling core course requirements (42 credits required plus one of the tracks listed below):
The Internship in Counseling requires 600 hours of community- or school-based practice in skill applications within the student's chosen concentration. 240 hours of this internship are direct-service hours. A Marriage and Family Therapy is 600 hours, 300 of which are direct service hours. 150 of these must be with couples or families. This is carried out under the supervision of a licensed site supervisor in cooperation with the university advisor. The internship experience is supported by regular class and advisor meetings to discuss and integrate experiences. More extensive guidelines related to the internship are available upon request.
Clinical Mental Health Track (LPC option) courses (9 credits required):
Clinical Mental Health Track (LPCC option) courses (21 credits required):
Required 9 credits:
Choose 12 additional credits below:
Marriage and Family Therapy Track courses (21 credits required):
School Counseling Track courses (12 credits required):
There is no conditional admission to the School of Counseling Program. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all graduate coursework is measured for program completion for Wisconsin licensure.
Human Relations Track
The Human Relations Track is designed for individuals who seek to work in nonclinical human service setting such as higher education, criminal justice, business, health care, and administration. Most students in Human Relations already are engaged in careers but want to upgrade their skills, explore other interests, or need an additional degree to reach the next level at their place of employment. Students gain an understanding of human behavior, group process, organizational/developmental dynamics, and effective methods of communication through counseling core courses. Before the end of their second semester, Human Relations students develop a plan of study with their advisor. The plan maps out and explains how the set of courses will prepare the student for her or his intended professional focus. The Internship course is taken during the student's last semester of study. 30 credits are required for the Human Relations degree. This is a non-practitioner degree; it does not prepare the student for certification, licensure, or the title of counselor.
Prescribed courses for the Human Resources track are as follows (30 credits total):
Human Relations Track Core Courses (21 4-credits required):
The 600 hour internships in Human Relations are field-based, providing practice in skill applications within the students' chosen fields. They are carried out under the supervision of a site superivsor in cooperation with the university advisor. Experiences are supported by weekly class meetings to discuss and to integrate experiences.The remaining 9 credits can come from Counseling or other graduate-level courses. Students work with their advisor to determine these courses