Transform Society Advocating for Students
Learn alongside a community committed to students’ academic, social, and emotional growth through UW–Stout’s 100% online Master of Science (M.S.) in School Counseling program. Grounded in relationships and care, the program supports you in developing counseling and leadership skills to work in partnership with students, families, and educators, and to contribute to community-based counseling programs that address barriers and expand opportunities.
100% of Graduates Are Employed Within 6 Months
Career-Defining Curriculum
Support students in building strong academic foundations and thriving futures. Our comprehensive curriculum centers culturally sustaining practices, preparing you to partner meaningfully with students, their families, educators, psychologists, and community organizations to foster lasting well-being.
Program Overview
Program Highlights
Discover a curriculum approved by the Wisconsin DPI, applied experiences that immerse you in real-world situations, flexible learning paths designed to fit your life, expert faculty mentors and a pathway to high employability.
- Wisconsin DPI Approval: Our program is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) ensuring quality and alignment with educational standards. Upon completion, graduates are provisionally certified as school counselors in Wisconsin and eligible for Minnesota certification.
- Applied Learning & Research: Immerse yourself in hands-on experiences that turn theory into practice.
- Flexible Learning Options: Our 100% online program is built for flexibility around your life.
- Expert Faculty: Our experienced faculty use their real-world experience to guide you through earning your degree and license. Their commitment to your growth is unmatched, making UW-Stout the ideal place to launch your career in school counseling.
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Master of Science (M.S.) in School Counseling.
Request Information
100% Online: Complete Your Degree at Your Own Pace and Schedule
Professionally Informed Faculty Instruction
At UW-Stout, building close relationships with our faculty will play a significant role in your applied learning and career. With professional experience in K-12 school counseling environments and graduate education, you'll benefit from their expertise in mental health support, positive psychology, culturally sustaining interventions, crisis care, harm reduction, relational accountability, systems-level leadership, and family and community collaboration. Learn more about your future instructors!
Practicum & Internship Experiences
School counseling expertise isn't achieved through theory alone—it comes from hands-on, applied practice and real-world experience. Our practicum and internship experiences will inspire, empower, and launch your career.
- 200-Hour Practicum: Immerse yourself in a school setting where you'll turn concepts into real-world solutions. Biweekly supervision meetings with our faculty ensure you receive guidance and mentorship from experienced professionals.
- 400-Hour Internship: The ultimate preparation for your career is your internship. This intensive experience equips you with the knowledge and skills to excel in the field.
Graduate Ready to Counsel Students to Success
Each year, UW–Stout school counseling graduates join schools and organizations across the country prepared to step into practice with confidence. Rooted in real-world contexts, our program reflects the work you’ll do alongside students, families, and colleagues. When others list credentials, you’ll bring experience shaped by learning in community.
Select Recent Employers
- Alexandria City Public Schools
- Eau Claire Area School District
- Fall Creek School District
- Fall River School District
- Frederic School District
- Glenwood City School District
- Green Bay Area Public School District
- Madison Metropolitan School District
- Marathon School District
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- School District of Arcadia
- School District of Greenwood
- School District of Hartford
- Seven Peaks School
- South Washington County Schools
- Sparta Area School District
- St. Paul Public Schools
- Wautoma Area School District
General UW-Stout Graduate Studies Application
All prospective graduate students at UW-Stout must follow a standard application process through Graduate Studies. Beyond that, each graduate program has specific requirements that must be met to be successfully admitted to the program:
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
Application Deadline:
- Fall Term: January 5 (Priority)
Applicants are strongly advised to complete the admissions process prior to January 5. Applications received after this deadline will be considered as space is available.
Eligibility
To be admitted with full status to the M.S. in School Counseling program, you must:
- Hold an appropriate bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
- Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Program-Specific Application Requirements
To successfully apply for the program, first complete the UW System Application and receive your Application ID. Then, use this ID to fill out the UW-Stout Graduate Studies Collection Form, where you will provide the following:
- Background Check (completed through an external vendor)
- Candidate Information Form
- Personal Statement - approximately 500 words (not to exceed 3 typewritten, double-spaced pages)
- Describe your strengths and weaknesses as a potential graduate student, as well as your motivation for entering the program.
- Clearly indicate your understanding of the roles and functions of professionals in the program.
- Reference activities/employment in which you have been involved that make you a particularly good candidate for admission into the program.
- Three Letters of Recommendation
*The Collection Form Site requires an Application ID provided upon completion of the UW-System Application
Application Review Process
A review of all applications will be conducted by the program director or a program admissions committee.
Applicants who are recommended by a faculty committee are invited to a personal interview. After the interview, you will be notified within one week about your acceptance or denial to the program.
After completing this program, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the psychosocial foundations of human development, learning, and behavior
- Model various theoretical and practical approaches to counseling and develop a personal theory of counseling
- Apply basic counseling and facilitative communication skills in individual and small group settings.
- Apply topic-focused and developmentally appropriate classroom and group guidance skills to enhance PK-12 students’ academic, personal/social, and career development.
- Apply psycho-educational theory and concepts in relation to individual assessment of aptitude, interest, and achievement
- Apply knowledge of career development theory and practice to facilitate the development of PK-16 student career and transition skills.
- Conduct basic educational research and evaluation. Utilize student and institutional data to improve programs and recommend change.
- Develop, organize, administer, and evaluate a comprehensive PK-12 school counseling program that supports academic, personal/social, and career development. Differentiate and implement the unique aspects of the elementary and secondary school counseling programming.
- Understand, respond to, and advocate for the guidance needs of diverse students populations.
- Communicate and collaborate with school-age students, their families, school staff, and community agency representatives to promote a safe, healthy, and effective learning environment
- Model legal and ethical standards of school counseling practice in accordance with state and federal law and the standards of the American School Counselor Association and the American Counseling Association.
Alumni of our Master's degree program in School Counseling from UW-Stout have gone on to practice in schools and communities across the nation. Many of our graduates work in the Wisconsin-Minnesota region.
Please note that the UW-Stout program is designed to meet requirements specific to licensure in the State of Wisconsin. Students who desire to work in states other than Wisconsin following degree completion will need to contact that state's board or licensing agency regarding school counseling credentialing requirements. Students are also encouraged to connect with their program director to better understand licensing requirements for their state of choice. See the following authorizations and licensure page for additional information.
UW-Stout's School Counseling program has a strong state and national reputation. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook employment rates are high. Graduates' ability to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge to develop their own counseling style, have confidence in the use of counseling, assessing, evaluating, and consulting skills, and understand the ethical and professional responsibilities of being a counselor lead to successful job placement.
Geographical location of job openings will vary. Graduates of the School Counseling program work throughout the United States.
Examples of recent position announcements include:
- School to Career Coordinator at an urban high school
- Middle School Counselor at a suburban school
- Counselor for career education and career counseling and crisis counseling
- Elementary School Counselor in a rural school district
- Career Counselor at a Technical College Career Development Center
Advisory Committee Members
| First Name | Last Name | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riley | Drake | Assistant Professor | UW-Stout |
| Kaitlyn | Eyerly | School Counselor | Cadott High School |
| Andy | Felton | Associate Professor | UW-Stout |
| Sam | Hochstetler | School Counselor | Eau Claire Area School District |
| Sherry | Jasper | Adjunct Instructor | UW-Stout |
| Joan | Jepsenburger | School Counselor | UW-Stout |
| Kristi | Kjelstad | School Counselor | Chippewa Falls School District |
| Aria | Krieser | School Counselor | Hudson School District |
| Ingrid | Lyberg | School Counselor | Menomonie Area School District |
| Scott | Moore | Education Certification Officer | UW-Stout |
| Jason | Mountain | Dean of Students; School Counselor | Menomonie Area School District |
| Katrina | Raskie | School Counselor | Eau Claire Area School District |
| Molly | Welch Deal | Assistant Professor; Program Director | UW-Stout |
