The counseling program in the Department of Educational Psychology offers two distinct concentration areas:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
Given UWM’s location in the largest urban area in Wisconsin, the counseling faculty is committed to training multiculturally competent community counselors and school counselors to serve clients in urban environments. Both concentrations share a core preparation in the areas of counseling and educational psychology. As students make progress in their program of studies, their focus will take on a more specialized training with content specific courses and field placements where they will refine their counseling skills in practical settings.
The concentrations train counselors to work with a diverse group of clients in urban settings and to deliver services in an ethical manner, as outlined by professional codes of conduct. They share in common courses comprising an Educational Psychology core of studies, a general Counseling core of studies, and a Concentration core. The Educational Psychology core provides knowledge for understanding research and professional scholarship, techniques of educational and psychological measurement, and typical human growth and development across the life-span. The Counseling core courses provide training in basic helping processes and relationships, career development, social and diversity issues in counseling, group work, appraisal of client issues, counseling theory, and the role of family systems. The Concentration core provides training in advanced strategies for helping clients change, and opportunities for increasing competency with specific populations through field placement. Pre-Practicum, Practicum I and Practicum II provide 700 hours of supervised clinical training which involves the refinement of more advanced and sophisticated counseling skills in placements in actual counseling settings.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares students for work in a variety of community settings such as mental health clinics, community agencies, counseling centers, colleges and universities, and business and industry. Students arrange their program of studies in consultation with their advisors so that the 60 credits earned toward a master’s degree will meet selected state certification requirements.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application
Before applying please see the Educational Psychology Website for department-specific application requirements.
Admission
An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
- Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.
- Initial advisor assignment will be made by the area chair of the concentration to which the applicant has applied.
- For the concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and School Psychology: a resume or curriculum vitae.
- Completion of the reason statement in the application.
Admission - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
Admission to the master's concentrations in counseling takes place in the fall. The Department of Educational Psychology deadline for receipt of completed applications is February 15.
If you are interested in applying to one of the master’s concentrations in counseling, please see the Educational Psychology Website for more information. A student handbook containing detailed information on each program is available online; it can be accessed by clicking on the specific program of interest in the left-hand navigation bar. For further questions not addressed on the website, contact the Department of Educational Psychology at edpsydpt@uwm.edu.
Students who seek admission to the Clinical Mental Health or School Counseling concentrations within the counseling area must apply through the Graduate School for admission to the Department of Educational Psychology. Please note that Graduate School deadlines are earlier because they receive, evaluate, and send completed graduate school applications to the Department. Upon admission, the student is assigned to a faculty member of the Department of Educational Psychology-Counseling Area who shall serve as the student's advisor.
The Counseling Area follows the admissions requirements of the Graduate School and the Department of Educational Psychology.
- 48 credits are required for the School Counseling concentration.
- 60 credits are required for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration.
Credits and Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Psychology Core | ||
| ED PSY 624 | Educational Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research | 3 |
| ED PSY 720 | Techniques of Educational and Psychological Measurement | 3 |
| Counseling Core | ||
| COUNS 710 | Counseling: Theory and Issues | 3 |
| COUNS 711 | Foundations in Career Development | 3 |
| COUNS 714 | Essentials of Counseling Practice | 3 |
| COUNS 715 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUNS 774 | Trauma Counseling I: Theory and Research | 3 |
| COUNS 800 | Group Counseling Theory | 3 |
| COUNS 904 | Family Systems Theory, Research, and Practice | 3 |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | ||
| COUNS 600 | Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUNS 702 | Neuroscience and Medical Aspects of Counseling | 3 |
| COUNS 755 | Counseling Pre-Practicum | 3 |
| COUNS 751 | Multicultural Considerations in Lifespan Psychopathology | 3 |
| COUNS 765 | Supervised Practicum 1 in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUNS 812 | Clinical Studies in Counseling | 3 |
| COUNS 820 | Counseling Appraisal and Clinical Decision-Making | 3 |
| COUNS 970 | Supervised Practicum 2 in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| SOC WRK 791 | Current Topics in Social Work: (Topic for required credit is AODA.) | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 3 elective credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
In addition to the courses listed above, students must complete a comprehensive examination, a master’s paper, or a thesis (no more than three thesis credits to apply towards the degree).
Additional Requirements
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. A student who is not assigned to an advisor at time of admission should immediately contact the Department Chair.
Thesis
Optional. Up to 6 degree credits may be awarded for thesis research.
Comprehensive Examination
The student who writes a thesis must pass a final oral examination in defense of that thesis. The student who does not write a thesis must pass a final oral or written comprehensive examination.
Time Limit
The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment.
Educational Psychology MS: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Learning Outcomes
Students graduating will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical concepts, and awareness of legal issues regarding professional activities with individuals, groups, and organizations.
- Exhibit behavior and comportment that reflect the professional values and attitudes of counseling and psychology.
- Demonstrate appropriate understanding and use of the role and practice of supervision.
- Demonstrate understanding and application of evidence-based theories and practice of counseling and psychotherapy.
- Form and maintain productive and respectful relationships with clients, peers/colleagues, supervisors, and professionals from within and across disciplines.
- Apply evidence-based intervention and prevention strategies designed to alleviate suffering and to promote health and well-being of individuals, groups, communities, and/or systems.
- Demonstrate knowledge, self-awareness, and skills in working with individuals, groups, and communities who represent various cultural and personal backgrounds and characteristics (e.g., cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status) and context.
- Understand and apply theories of psychopathology and relevant classification systems.
- Understand and apply methods of evaluation of individuals.
- Demonstrate knowledge of scientific methods and their application to evaluate practices and interventions.
- Understand the role of work in people’s lives.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the relationship between biological factors and human functioning.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human development, wellness, and learned bases of behavior across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate knowledge of individuals in the context of their environment and how the environment (e.g., geographical, ideological, demographic, familial, institutional) affects functioning.