University of Wisconsin - Stout

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Prospective Students

You are here: Programs » M.S. School Counseling » Prospective Students » Introduction

Introduction

The M.S. in School Counseling can lead to a satisfying career choice for anyone interested in becoming a counselor in a school setting. Counseling is a process whereby youth are aided in discovering, appreciating, and actualizing their unique selves in their relationship with others.

School Counseling is founded on the assumption of worth, dignity and the developmental potential of all individuals. A primary goal of the program training is to help future counselors to learn to work and communicate with America’s many diverse groups and individuals with respect for their abilities, race, sex, age, religion, and cultural heritage.

School counselors can expect to work with children, families, teachers, school psychologists and other service providers in a team process. School counselors need strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Program Description

A master’s degree is required to become a school counselor. School counseling students are trained and fully prepared to serve as PK-12 school counselors, as required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Certification allows graduates to work in elementary and/or secondary settings.

Individuals who already hold a master’s degree in counseling may opt to apply to the ‘certification only’ program to complete only those additional courses needed for school counselor certification. A transcript review is necessary to determine the specific courses needed by an applicant.

Students who enroll in 12 to 15 credits per semester are normally able to complete the M.S. degree requirements in two years. Part-time students or students with graduate assistantships normally take longer due to the reduced credit load requirement. Individuals who do not hold an education or human service undergraduate degree take longer to complete the degree. The graduate school policies require that all credits counted toward a degree must be completed within a seven year time period. An individual program plan is developed after the program director reviews an admitted student’s transcripts.

Assistantships

Students who are admitted to a graduate degree program and have completed the “Application for Graduate Assistantship” form may apply for a graduate assistantship. Each position has a different job description. Examples of work responsibilities include conducting research, helping in the counseling labs, overseeing use of the career assessment resources, and monitoring the test library. Assistantships are normally filled on an academic year basis and applications are valid for one academic year.

Graduate assistants will be limited as to how many credits they can be enrolled in during that employment period. Graduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. A more detailed description of assistantships and other financial aid is found online in the UW-Stout Graduate Bulletin.

Facilities

Students are provided with a variety of facilities and equipment to further enhance their learning while in the School Counseling program.

• Clinical Services Center Counseling Rooms offer a unique opportunity for students to work with clients in an environment with the ability to tape and/or observe. This allows the student to receive feedback from classmates and instructors.

• The Play Therapy Lab is a well equipped room in which students can conduct play therapy with children. Sessions can be taped and/or observed live.

• The Career and Testing Library has up-to-date career assessment tools and information systems. These tools will enhance classroom presentations as well as enable students to develop a greater understanding of the assessments and information they will use as school counselors.

The Curriculum

Professional Core Students complete basic counseling, pyschometric and research courses.

Certification Requirements These courses provide a strong background in guidance curriculum, psycho-educational disabilities, family systems, legal issues associated with school counseling, and sociological foundations.

Minimum Competency Areas Students must meet minimum competencies through prior coursework or within the School Counseling program in psychology of learning, foundations of education, inclusion of students with special needs and multiculturalism.

A sequence of experiential courses is required in the School Counseling program. Students enroll in Counseling Process Lab, Guidance Lab and Practicum. As part of the requirement for certification in the school counseling program, students must complete 600 hours of on-site internship. Internship is offered only during the fall and spring semesters. Students working will do 300 hours at the elementary/middle school level and 300 hours at the high school level.

Positions Upon Graduation

UW-Stout’s School Counseling program has a strong state and national reputation. High employment rates are due to school counseling graduates’ ability to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge to develop their own counseling style, have confidence in the usage of counseling, assessing, evaluating, and consulting skills, and understand the ethical and professional responsibilities of being a counselor.

Geographical location of job openings vary. Graduates of the School Counseling program can be found throughout the United States.

Examples of recent position announcements include:

• School to Career Coordinator at an urban high school.

• High School Counselor at an international school in the Mideast.

• School Counselor for career education and career counseling and crisis counseling at a mid-size middle and secondary school.

• School Counselor at a small rural community elementary school.

• Career Counselor at a Technical College Career Development Center.

• Substance Abuse/Wellness Consultant for a Cooperative Education Services Agency.

Application

All application materials must be received by October 1 for students planning to enroll the following spring and by February 1 for students planning to begin in the summer or fall of that same year. Applicants who are recommended by a faculty committee are invited to a personal interview. Following the interview, notification of acceptance or denial will be made by December 15 and April 15. A complete description of the application process is found online in the UW-Stout Graduate Bulletin.