MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELOR EDUCATION
Master of Science in Counselor Education
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Phone: (203) 837-8513 | |
| CACREP Unit Leader | deronckn@wcsu.edu | |
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Phone: (203) 837-8513 | |
| CACREP Unit Leader | deronckn@wcsu.edu | |
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Phone: (203) 837-8510 | |
| richardsont@wcsu.edu | ||
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| Christine Davis, University Assistant (HRSA Grant), WH 322P | Phone: (203) 837-8034 | |
| Website | MS Counselor Education |
| Faculty | N. DeRonck, D. Mariotti, L. Monte, D. Naddeo |
Program Overview
The MS in Counselor Education Program at WCSU is three-year online program offering candidates two concentrations of study, School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program trains students to work in K-12 School Counseling settings or in a variety of Clinical Mental Health settings. Asynchronous and digital synchronous learning is used for all our courses and supervisory activities. Please note that our skills courses do have an in-person synchronous learning component associated with the online course. In these courses (EPY 501, EPY 604, EPY 605, EPY 607, EPY 608, EPY 603), students are required to meet on campus three Saturdays per semester while enrolled in these courses to participate in clinical labs. Dates will be published in advance at the time of enrollment. Students who need an alternative option for clinical labs due to religious or health reasons must notify their instructor at the start of the semester.
The Counselor Education Program has been accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Counselor Education and Related Programs (CACREP) since 1995.
Program Cycle
The Counselor Education Program operates in a cohort model. Candidates meet with their coordinator to develop a Plan of Study prior to enrolling. The Clinical Mental Health option is 60 credits and the School Counseling option is currently 48 credits to complete. Beginning with the 2023 cohort, the school counseling concentration will also require 60 credits for completion. Students previously enrolled will be grandfathered at 48 credits. Classes begin in mid-May (Summer Session 1) and it usually takes about three years to complete the program. School Counseling candidates can choose to pursue a bridge to become a licensed clinical mental health counselor which may extend the program length. All candidates are required to take an exit exam in the spring prior to graduation.
Gate Keeping
In view of the responsibilities of the role of counselor in both school and community settings, candidates whose work is of marginal quality in pertinent courses or who demonstrate personal qualities that are not conducive to the role of counselor will not be recommended either for matriculation or for continuation in the program.
Licensure/Certification
The Western Connecticut State University Clinical Mental Health Program meets the educational requirements for both the Connecticut Department Health for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the New York State Office of the Professions for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
Students seeking licensure in another state should notify the program coordinator of the state in which they wish to be licensed in to confirm educational requirements before starting the program.
The Western Connecticut State University School Counseling concentration meets the educational requirements for certification as a school counselor in Connecticut. Students seeking New York State certification must attend three New York state sponsored workshops on the following topics: Dignity for All Students (DASA), Child Abuse Identification & Reporting, and School Violence Prevention and Intervention. Information on where and how to take these workshops is located on the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) website. Beginning in 2023, all graduates seeking school counseling certification in New York will be required to sit for a certification exam. Information will be made available once it is released by NYSED.
Students pursuing school counseling certification in another state should notify the program coordinator of the state they wish to be certified to confirm the educational requirements before starting the program.
MS in Counselor Education Program Goals and Learning Objectives
| Program Goals | Program Learning Objectives | CACREP Core Standards | Key Assessments | Courses |
| 1. The Counselor Education Program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful professional counselors. | 1. A. Students will demonstrate and understanding of professional identity and be able to apply ethical standards. | 1 | Fitness to Practice, Professional Identity Project, CECE, Practicum & Internship Evaluations |
ED 572
ED 585-587
EPY 600-606
EPY 618
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| 1. B. Students will demonstrate counseling skills necessary to develop, maintain and manage a helping relationship. | 5 | Individual Counseling Project, Fitness to Practice, CECE, Practicum & Internship Evaluation |
EPY 602
EPY 604
EPY 605
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| 1. C. Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and successfully practice as professional counselors. | 1 | Practicum and Internship Evaluations, Alumni Survey, Employer Survey, CECE | EPY 610-615 | |
| 1. D. Students will demonstrate their ability to research evidence based practices and create interventions for counseling issues. | 5, 8 | Group Counseling Project, Fitness to Practice, CECE, Practicum & Internship Evaluations | EPY 603 | |
| 1. E. Students will demonstrate career theory knowledge and contemporary approaches in career assessment and practice. | 4 | CECE, Career Advisement Session & Case Conceptualization | ED 572 | |
| 1. F. Students will demonstrate skills and knowledge in group counseling and group work. | 6 | Group Counseling Project, Practicum and Internship Evaluation, CECE | EPY 603, 606,610-615 | |
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| 2. The Counselor Education Program prepares students to consider each client as unique, multi-dimensional individuals, throughout the counseling relationship. | 2. A. Students will be able to apply multicultural competencies in both the individual and group counseling settings. | 2 | Practicum and Internship Evaluation, Group Counseling Project, Individual Counseling Project, Assessment Project, CECE |
ED 587
EPY 603-605
EPY 610-615
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| 2. B. Students swill demonstrate the ability to select, conduct, and interpret assessments, and to use the data to formulate culturally and developmentally appropriate goals fan interventions. | 3, 7 | Assessment Project, Practicum and Internship Evaluations, Individual Counseling Project, CECE |
EPY 600, 602
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| 3. The Counselor Education Program assures students have developed dispositions aligned with the legal, ethical and humanistic parameters of the American Counseling Association and/or the American School Counseling Association. | 3. A. Students swill demonstrate dispositions in line with the humanistic, legal, and ethical parameters of the counseling professions. | 1 | Fitness to Practice (3x), Practicum and Internship Evaluations, CECE |
ED 585
EPY 618
EPY 604/605
EPY 610/611
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Admission Requirements
Application Deadline: Applications and all supporting documents are due no later than January 10th. Online Graduate Application
a. Achieve a minimum of 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate courses.
b. If a candidate does not meet the 3.0 GPA, the applicant must take the Miller Analogies Test and present a score rated at the 35% percentile or higher as indicated below:
3.0 or higher- MAT not required
2.57 to 2.99-35th percentile
2.47 to 2.56-45th percentile
2.37 to 2.45-50th percentile
Below 2.37-60th percentile
An alternate assessment under advisement from the graduate office, will provide an alternative route for admittance.
c. Complete a Bachelors Degree program (or its international equivalent) that includes a general-education distribution of courses in English, mathematics, science, social and behavioral sciences, foreign language, and fine arts.
d. Submit an essay demonstrating proficiency in English proficiency that sets forth the reasons for wanting to enroll in a counselor education program, and emphasizing relevant experiences, and suitability for online learning. Online Essay Form
e. Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals able to testify to the student’s suitability as a prospective counselor. Recommendation Form
f. Be interviewed by the program’s faculty admissions committee, which will assess the student’s academic background and personal attributes that might affect the student’s performance as a counselor.
g. Submit a current resume or CV.
Transcripts and other supporting documents should be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Western Connecticut State University, 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810 or sent as an attachment to Graduate Admissions
Typhon License Requirement
Students enrolled in the WCSU Counselor Education Program are expected to purchase a license to Typhon, a secure platform that will be used throughout the program to manage and collect performance data and fieldwork documents. Students will upload key assessments, track fieldwork hours, and manage fieldwork contracts using Typhon. Subscriptions must be purchased in the fall of the first year. The cost is approximately $100 for a five-year subscription. Dr. Lorrie-Anne Monte is the contact for questions and technical assistance for Typhon. She can be reached at montel@wcsu.edu.
Concentration in School Counseling (Through AY 2022-23)
The School Counseling concentration leads to CT certification as a school counselor. Candidates seeking certification in NY must take 12 additional elective credits in course work specific to school counseling or related topics. Candidates seeking certification in other states should contact the program coordinator prior to enrolling. The curriculum for the school counseling option includes the following graduate courses:
| Open to all Graduate Students (6 SH) | Course Sequence Rotation | ||
| ED 500 Contemporary Educational Issues | 3 SH | Summer 2019 | |
| ED 572 Career Education and Development | 3SH | Spring 2020 | |
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program or by Permission of Chair (6 SH) | |||
| ED 585 Introduction to Community and School Counseling | 3 SH | Fall 2019 | |
| ED 586 Theories of Counseling | 3 SH | Fall 2019 | |
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program Only (36 SH) | |||
| ED 587 Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 SH | Summer 2020 | |
| EPY 600 Assessment for Counselors | 3 SH | Spring 2020 | |
| EPY 601 Fundamentals of Statistics and Research Design | 3 SH | Summer 2021 | |
| EPY 602 Interviewing and Consultation Across the Life Span Principles and Techniques | 3 SH | Spring 2020 | |
| EPY 603 Group Work Foundation: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | Fall 2020 | |
| EPY 604 Individual Counseling in the Schools: Clinical Skills | 3 SH | Fall 2020 | |
| EPY 606 Advanced Group Work: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | Spring 2021 | |
| EPY 607 Pupil Personnel Services: Philosophy and Organization | 3 SH | Fall 2021 | |
| EPY 610 Practicum in School Counseling | 3 SH | Spring 2021 | |
| EPY 612/613 Internship in School Counseling | 6 SH | Fall 2021/Spring 2022 | |
| Elective * | 3 SH | Student Discretion | |
| *Must take EPY 509 Exceptional Learners if not previously taken as undergraduate as EPY 405 or equivalent. | |||
| Total Semester Hours: 48 SH |
Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
This option leads to counselor licensure and national certification. Curriculum for the clinical mental health counseling option includes the following courses:
| Open to Students Accepted to Program or by Permission of Chair (9 SH) | Course Sequence Rotation | ||
| EPY 618 Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | Fall Year 1 | |
| ED 586 Theories of Counseling | 3 SH | Fall Year 1 | |
| ED 572 Career Education and Development | 3 SH | Spring Year 3 | |
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program Only (51 SH) | |||
| ED 587 Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 SH | Summer Year 1 | |
| EPY 600 Assessment for Counselors | 3 SH | Spring Year 1 | |
| EPY 601 Fundamentals of Statistics and Research Design | 3 SH | Summer Year 3 | |
| EPY 602 Interviewing & Consultation Across the Life-Span: Principles and Techniques | 3 SH | Spring Year 1 | |
| EPY 603 Group Work Foundation: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | Fall Year 2 | |
| EPY 605 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Skills | 3 SH | Fall Year 2 | |
| EPY 606 Advanced Group Work: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | Spring Year 2 | |
| EPY 608 Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Management, Delivery, and Consultation | 3 SH | Fall Year 3 | |
| EPY 611 Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | Summer Year 3 | |
| EPY 614 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | Fall Year 3 | |
| EPY 615 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | Spring Year 3 | |
| EPY 619 Crisis Counseling in the Community and School | 3 SH | Summer Year 2 | |
| EPY 620 Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 SH | Summer Year 1 | |
| EPY 621 Drug and Alcohol Counseling | 3 SH | Summer Year 2 | |
| EPY 630 Introduction to Psychopathology | 3 SH | Spring Year 2 | |
| Two Faculty- Approved Electives | 6 SH | Student Discretion | |
| Total Semester Hours: 60 SH |
Concentration in School Counseling (Beginning in AY 2023-24)
The School Counseling concentration meets the educational components for certification as a school counselor in CT and NY. Candidates seeking certification in other states should contact the program coordinator prior to enrolling. The curriculum for the school counseling option includes the following graduate courses:
| Open to all Graduate Students (6 SH) | Course Sequence Rotation | ||
| ED 572 Career Education and Development | 3SH | ||
| EPY 509 Exceptional Learners | 3 SH | ||
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program or by Permission of Chair (9 SH) | |||
| ED 585 Introduction to Community and School Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| ED 586 Theories of Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 500 Human Growth and Development | 3 SH | ||
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program Only (45 SH) | |||
| ED 587 Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 501 Counseling Skills and Helping Relationship | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 502 Career Readiness Planning | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 503 School Counseling Frameworks | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 504 School Counselors as Change Agents | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 507 Advanced Counseling Skills for School Counselors | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 600 Assessment for Counselors | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 601 Fundamentals of Statistics and Research Design | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 603 Group Work Foundation: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 609 Counseling People with Physical Disabilities | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 610 Practicum in School Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 612/613 Internship in School Counseling | 6 SH | ||
| EPY 619 Crisis Counseling in the Schools and Community | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 625 Family Counseling in the Schools | 3 SH | ||
| Elective * | 3 SH | ||
| *An elective may replace EPY 509 Exceptional Learners if not previously taken as undergraduate as EPY 405 or equivalent. | |||
| Total Semester Hours: 60 SH |
Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Beginning in AY 2023-24)
This option leads to counselor licensure and national certification. Curriculum for the clinical mental health counseling option includes the following courses:
| Open to Students Accepted to Program or by Permission of Chair (9 SH) | Course Sequence Rotation | ||
| ED 586 Theories of Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| ED 572 Career Education and Development | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 500 Human Growth and Development | 3 SH | ||
| * | |||
| Open to Students Accepted to Program Only (51 SH) | |||
| ED 587 Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 501 Counseling Skills and Helping Relationships | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 508 Advanced Counseling Skills for Clinical Mental Health Counselors | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 600 Assessment for Counselors | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 601 Fundamentals of Statistics and Research Design | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 603 Group Work Foundation: Theory and Practice | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 608 Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Management, Delivery, and Consultation | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 611 Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 614 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 615 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 619 Crisis Counseling in the Community and School | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 620 Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 621 Drug and Alcohol Counseling | 3 SH | ||
| EPY 630 Introduction to Psychopathology | 3 SH | ||
| Two Faculty- Approved Electives | 6 SH | ||
| Total Semester Hours: 60 SH |