Counseling, Master of Arts in Education (043)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/csa/
Program Coordinator
Monica G. Burke, monica.burke@wku.edu, (270) 745-4953
The MAE in Counseling has two concentrations and meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and in states with reciprocal licensure agreements. The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling concentrations in the Counseling master's degree program.
Concentration(s)
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
- Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (CMCF)
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
Program Admission
Application Deadline is October 1 for spring admission; and March 1 for fall admission. Review of completed applications begins October 6th and March 6th for spring and fall, respectively. Reviews employ a holistic approach to evaluate applicants' potential to be successful as students and, upon graduation, counseling or student affairs professionals. This approach involves the submission of materials that allows department faculty members to develop a more complete picture of applicants in terms of academic aptitude for graduate-level study, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, respect for cultural differences, and relevance of career goals to their prospective programs of interest. Faculty rate applicants' application materials and rank the applications according to these categories. Highly ranked applicants are invited to interview with faculty and current students in an individual or group setting.
After completion of the interview, admissions decisions are made based on application ratings and interview evaluations collectively. The application process is competitive with a limited number of openings.
STEP ONE: COMPLETE THE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PROCESS
Completed applications include various application materials that must be completed by the application deadlines. Application portfolios should reflect thought, attention to detail, and appropriate effort. You are applying to a competitive graduate program; it is important that your portfolio represents you in a positive yet realistic manner. Please allow yourself at least a few weeks to complete the entire process.
All of the following materials should be submitted directly through the Graduate School application:
- Graduate School Application Form - requirements include a non-refundable application fee and official transcripts
- Statement of Interest
- A background check
- Resume, final page of which is a list of three professional references
In addition to the Graduate School application process, students entering the Student Affairs program may be asked to submit a Case Study Writing Sample. Once the completed application is received, separate instructions will be sent for completing this process.
STEP TWO: SELECTED APPLICANTS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERVIEW
Based on the review of the application portfolio, highly ranked applicants will receive notification of their eligibility for an individual or group interview. Applicants who completed Step 1 with moderate rankings may be placed on a waiting list depending on the number of students admitted each term. Eligible applicants will be scheduled for interviews on campus with faculty, current students, alumni and/or experienced professionals. Participation in the interview process does not guarantee admission but is a prerequisite for admission. Interviewees who are unable to travel to campus interviews may arrange an online interview with the Program Coordinator. Based on the interview assessment, faculty will make offers for admission for the most highly rated candidates.
Applicants with moderate or lower rankings from the interviewers may receive letters indicating they will be placed on a waiting list or are not eligible for admission based upon the review. If you are on a waiting list, the average time to be notified of your eligibility may be up to 6 weeks. Program Coordinators will oversee the application process.
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Program Requirements (60 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CNS 552 | Testing and Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 554 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 555 | Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 556 | Developmental Career Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 557 | Human and Family Development in Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 558 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 559 | Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 560 | Professional Studies in Clinical, Family and School Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 567 | Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 588 | Family Systems Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 591 | Clinical Mental Health/Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Practicum 1 | 3 |
| CNS 592 | Crisis, Trauma and Violence Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 596 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Internship 1,2 | 6 |
| CNS 598 | Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| CNS 637 | Theories of Addiction | 3 |
| Select a Concentration | 12 | |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration (CMHC) | ||
Select 12 hours of electives in consultation with an advisor | ||
| Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration (MCFC) | ||
| Couples Counseling | ||
| Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Practice and Process | ||
Select 6 hours of electives from the following list or others approved by the MCFC Program Coordinator. | ||
| Sex Therapy Techniques in Counseling | ||
| Parenting Issues | ||
| Advanced Play Therapy | ||
| Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | ||
| Sandtray Techniques in Counseling | ||
| Counseling Substance and Process Addictions | ||
| Counseling Children and Adolescents | ||
| Play Therapy | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
To enroll in practicum the student must have completed the appropriate practice preparation sequence and obtain department approval.
- 2
Internship must be taken over a period of two semesters.
All students must pass a final comprehensive examination. Comprehensive examinations are given in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students must meet the criteria established by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in order to be eligible to take the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam policy and application may be found at www.edu/csa/sc/comp_exam.