Master of Arts in Counselor Education 

The Traverse City Campus of Western Michigan University offers the Master of Arts in Counselor Education and Counselor Psychology in the following area:

  * Community Counseling
  * School Counseling

The master’s program is designed to prepare individuals for positions as community counselors and school counseling practitioners. The program requires a minimum of 51 semester hours of coursework.

Graduates of the master’s program are employed in a variety of settings, including colleges, universities, mental health agencies, hospitals, public and private school systems, and private practice. Through coursework and practica, the department emphasizes education and a developmental/preventive philosophy while honoring the traditions of the scientist/practitioner model of training.

The department requires 21 credit hours of core courses, 8 credit hours of practicum, 1-7 credit hours of advisor approved electives and counseling specialty courses for a total minimum of 51 semester hours. The curriculum is built on six core courses (18 hours) which emphasize the acquisition of knowledge and skills common to all master’s programs in the department. Admission to the program is based upon grade point average, educational background, and counseling or student affairs related experiences.

Students must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to gain regular admission to the program. On occasion, students may be admitted on probationary status. Additional materials may be required such as letter of recommendation, test scores, and personal interviews. Applications are also required to complete a departmental questionnaire. The application deadline is May 15 for the fall semester.

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and can serve as preparation for a license as a professional counselor (LPC). Master's degree graduates qualify as limited license professional counselors. "Full" licensing requires that candidates pass the National Counselor Examination and have 3000 clock hours of work experience under the supervision of a Licensed Professional Counselor.