Master of Science in Education - Counseling
Concordia offers multiple Counseling Education tracks:
- School Counselor (K-12) – WDPI License #7054. The School Counselor Program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The program follows the licensing requirements for school counselors.
- Professional Counselor – WDSPS Certificate 226-Licensed Professional Counselor in Training students may also be endorsed for a Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SAC-IT) 130 License - See the counseling program director for specifics on SAC-IT endorsement requirements.
- Counseling Foundations - Non-Licensable Degree - See counseling program director for specifics for this counseling master degree alternative.
- The Christian Counseling Certificate is a 15-credit program designed for individuals who are currently working in or planning to work in a church, church school, or Christian agency setting.
The Objectives of the Counseling Degree
Concordia University's Graduate Counseling Program prepares its graduates to be ethical servant leaders who value the diversity of God's children and embrace social justice with compassion. Graduates help others to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in mind, body and spirit.
Graduates of the Counseling program will:
- Integrate evidence-based counseling theories, techniques and interventions into professional practice
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards
- Actively engage in self-reflection and lifelong learning
- Serve clients according to their unique diverse needs
- Help clients to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in mind, body and spirit
- Analyze needs of clients and students based on data and assessments
Students from outside of Wisconsin
Please keep in mind that upon successful completion of the program, you will be endorsed for licensure in the state of Wisconsin. You are encouraged to explore what you will need in your state to complete your practicum experiences as well as licensure as a school counselor or professional counselor. You will need to meet all criteria in the state of Wisconsin to complete your degree through Concordia. Exploration of these criteria for practicum and licensure is your responsibility and should be completed prior to entering the program or as soon as possible upon admittance to the program.
International Students
Please keep in mind that upon successful completion of the program, you will be endorsed for licensure in the state of Wisconsin. You are encouraged to explore what you will need in your country to complete your practicum experience as well as licensure as a school counselor or professional counselor. You will need to meet all criteria in the state of Wisconsin to complete your degree through Concordia. Exploration of these criteria for practicum and licensure is your responsibility and should be completed prior to entering the program or as soon as possible upon admittance to the program.
All transcripts must be from a regionally accredited university and reviewed by a credential evaluation service. Concordia recommends either: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluations (AICE).
Program Learning Outcomes
- Integrate evidence-based counseling theories, techniques and interventions into professional practice
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards
- Actively engage in self-reflection and lifelong learning
- Serve clients according to their unique diverse needs
- Help clients to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in mind, body and spirit
- Analyze needs of clients and students based on data and assessments
Curriculum for School Counseling
A total of 45 credits are required for students seeking endorsement for licensure as a School Counselor. Students without a teaching license must complete an additional 3 credit course in classroom management.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 36-39 | |
| Practicum and portfolio | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 45-48 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Counseling Theory | ||
| COUN 5000 | Counseling Theories and Issues | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development | ||
| COUN 5020 | Human Development | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | ||
| COUN 5040 | Social Cultural Foundations in Counseling | 3 |
| Helping Relationships | ||
| COUN 5100 | Consultation Strategies | 3 |
| COUN 5130 | Trauma Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5200 | Individual Counseling | 3 |
| Group Work | ||
| COUN 5210 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| Career and Lifestyle Development | ||
| COUN 5120 | Career Counseling Foundations | 3 |
| Appraisal | ||
| COUN 5110 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| Research and Program Evaluation | ||
| COUN 5300 | Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Counseling Programs | 3 |
| Family, Partnership and Couples Counseling | ||
| COUN 5030 | Models and Methods of Family Counseling | 3 |
| Professional Orientation | ||
| COUN 5010 | Professional Ethics | 3 |
| Supervised Practicum and Portfolio | ||
| COUN 6400 | Portfolio - Introduction | 0 |
| COUN 6410 | Portfolio - Pre-Practicum | 0 |
| COUN 7400 | Elementary School Practicum/Portfolio | 3 |
| COUN 7410 | Middle School Practicum/Portfolio | 3 |
| COUN 7420 | High School Practicum/Portfolio | 3 |
| Lesson Planning/Classroom Management (Required for Non-Teachers in School Counseling) | ||
| Management for Counselors | ||
| Electives | ||
| Psychopharmacology (3 cr) | ||
| Addictions Counseling (3 cr) | ||
| Scripture and the Christian Counselor (3 cr) | ||
| Ethics of the Christian Counselor (3 cr) | ||
| Christian Care Giving (3 cr) | ||
| Christian Reconciliation (3 cr) | ||
| Social/Cultural Theological Foundations (3 cr) | ||
| Theories of Personality (3 cr) | ||
| Current Support Issues for Christian Pastors and Church Workers (3 cr) | ||
| Consultation Strategies within the Church (3 cr) | ||
| Models and Methods of Christian Family Counseling (3 cr) | ||
| Psychopathology (3 cr) | ||
| Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 cr) | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Licensing Requirements for School Counselor (K-12) - License #7054
Portfolio Requirements
The student seeking a Wisconsin DPI counseling license endorsed by Concordia, must complete a Portfolio and demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply the Pupil Service Standards within counseling practice. The Portfolio is comprised of five sections. The Introduction to Portfolio is completed while a student is enrolled in COUN 5000 Counseling Theories and Issues. Pre-Practicum Portfolio is to be completed and submitted as a part of the application process for participation in the Practicum experiences. The last 3 portfolio sections (elementary school, middle school, and high school) will be completed during the Practicum experiences.
Practicum Requirements
The student must submit their entire application, with all three sites and on-site supervisors identified, for the practicum experience to be approved. Each student must obtain a minimum of 200 hours at each of the following levels: Elementary, Middle, and High. If the student is required to obtain more than 600 hours, the student should contact the Program Director to review expectations and options.
Praxis II Exam Requirement
Students must successfully complete the PRAXIS II exam before graduation.
Curriculum for Professional Counseling
A total of 60 credits are required for students seeking the Licensed Professional Counselor-In Training (LPC-IT) endorsement from Concordia.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 48 | |
| Practicum and portfolio | 9 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Counseling Theory | ||
| COUN 5000 | Counseling Theories and Issues | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development | ||
| COUN 5020 | Human Development | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | ||
| COUN 5040 | Social Cultural Foundations in Counseling | 3 |
| Helping Relationships | ||
| COUN 5100 | Consultation Strategies | 3 |
| COUN 5200 | Individual Counseling | 3 |
| Group Dynamics Processing and Counseling | ||
| COUN 5210 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| Lifestyle and Career Development | ||
| COUN 5120 | Career Counseling Foundations | 3 |
| Appraisal | ||
| COUN 5110 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| Research and Program Evaluation | ||
| COUN 5300 | Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Counseling Programs | 3 |
| Professional Orientation | ||
| COUN 5010 | Professional Ethics | 3 |
| Supervised Practicum and Portfolio | ||
| COUN 7200 | Practicum for Professional Counselors | 3 |
| COUN 7210 | Internship I - Professional Counselor | 3 |
| COUN 7220 | Internship II - Professional Counselor | 3 |
| Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling | ||
| COUN 6210 | Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | ||
| COUN 6230 | Advanced Theory and Skills in Professional Counseling | 3 |
| Crisis and Trauma Counseling | ||
| COUN 5130 | Trauma Counseling | 3 |
| Abnormal Behavior and Psychopathology | ||
| COUN 6200 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| Addicions Counseling | ||
| COUN 6220 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| Family, Partnership and Couples Counseling | ||
| COUN 5030 | Models and Methods of Family Counseling | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Psychopharmacology (3 cr) | ||
| Ethics of the Christian Counselor (3 cr) | ||
| Scripture and the Christian Counselor (3 cr) | ||
| Christian Reconciliation (3 cr) | ||
| Social/Cultural Theological Foundations (3 cr) | ||
| Theories of Personality (3 cr) | ||
| Current Support Issues for Christian Pastors and Church Workers (3 cr) | ||
| Consultation Strategies within the Church (3 cr) | ||
| Models and Methods of Christian Family Counseling (3 cr) | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Practicum for Professional Counselor
The student seeking licensure as a Professional Counselor in Wisconsin will be required to complete 700 hours of practicum/internship experiences. Each applicant must be supervised at each practicum site according to Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) criteria and will be assigned a CUW site supervisor. A practicum agreement between the student, Concordia University, and each receiving site/agency/hospital are required for each practicum placement. The practicum allows the student to work as a counselor in a community setting and may include experiences such as assessment and implementation of counseling programs, individual and group counseling, and consultation with other community agencies. Applications for practicum can be made after prerequisite coursework is completed.
After graduation from the CUW Master of Science in Education-Counseling program, students will be eligible to apply for the LPC-IT license through DSPS. DSPS establishes the specific post-graduation requirements to receive the LPC-IT.