Program Overview

The counseling program in the Department of Educational Psychology offers two distinct concentration areas:

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• School Counseling

Given UWM’s location in the largest urban area in Wisconsin, the counseling faculty is committed to training multiculturally competent community counselors and school counselors to serve clients in urban environments. Both concentrations share a core preparation in the areas of counseling and educational psychology. As students make progress in their program of studies, their focus will take on a more specialized training with content specific courses and field placements where they will refine their counseling skills in practical settings.

The concentrations train counselors to work with a diverse group of clients in urban settings and to deliver services in an ethical manner, as outlined by professional codes of conduct. They share in common courses comprising an Educational Psychology core of studies, a general Counseling core of studies, and a Concentration core. The Educational Psychology core provides knowledge for understanding research and professional scholarship, techniques of educational and psychological measurement, and typical human growth and development across the life-span. The Counseling core courses provide training in basic helping processes and relationships, career development, social and diversity issues in counseling, group work, appraisal of client issues, counseling theory, and the role of family systems. The Concentration core provides training in advanced strategies for helping clients change, and opportunities for increasing competency with specific populations through field placement. Pre-Practicum, Practicum I and Practicum II provide 700 hours of supervised clinical training which involves the refinement of more advanced and sophisticated counseling skills in placements in actual counseling settings.

Students are required to spend 20 hours each week during the semester at their placement site (an exception to this hour requirement is described below for students interested in seeking experience in dual concentrations).

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares students for work in a variety of community settings such as mental health clinics, community agencies, counseling centers, colleges and universities, and business and industry. Students arrange their program of studies in consultation with their advisors so that the 60 credits earned toward a master’s degree will meet selected state certification requirements.