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Counseling

Master of Science (M.S.)

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Become A Counselor

The world desperately needs more creative, compassionate counselors to help individuals, children and families navigate the challenges of contemporary life.

The UW Master of Science degree in Counseling program offers concentrations in school counseling and mental health counseling that will prepare you to help people across the lifespan. Ours is a broad-based program that prepares you to become certified as a school counselor or provides you with the training needed to become a provisionally licensed mental health counselor.

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Program Details

Tuition and Fees

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Program Requirements

Curriculum & Courses

Department

College of Education
Counseling Program

About Our Counseling Program

Counselor with client

In UW’s highly regarded counseling program, you will acquire the theoretical foundation and practical experience necessary to work with a wide range of clients, from P-12 students to adults, families and couples. The UW counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

As a counseling graduate student, you will become part of a cohort community with whom you’ll study, learn and grow. You will also work with an award-winning team of faculty, who will guide you toward developing your counseling identity as you progress through your practicum and supervised internship. By the time you graduate, you will be well-prepared to step into a counseling position in any organization.

Mental Health Concentration
Through small classes and clinical experiences, UW’s mental health program prepares you to serve in settings that include community agencies, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, addictions treatment centers and private practice.

School Counseling Program Concentration
The school counseling program equips you with the knowledge and skills to become a school leader who works with students, teachers, administrators, parents and other community members to promote culturally relevant P-12 student growth. The school counseling program allows you to earn this degree with no previous P-12 experience.

Two Convenient Campus Locations

In-Person

In-person courses are offered on campus in Laramie. Students in this program will enjoy the use of the UW Wellspring Counseling Clinic and high contact with Counseling faculty and doctoral students. 

Online/In-Person Hybrid

At UW Casper, we offer an online and in-person hybrid for working professionals. This model allows you to work full time and take the majority of courses online while benefiting from intensive in-person weekends each semester at the UW Casper campus.

Questions? 
Speak with an advisor!

Laramie Campus Admission Requirements

  • Application Deadline: December 1
  • 2-year program
  • Admits every summer

UW Casper Admission Requirements

  • Application Deadline: February 20
  • Admits every 3 years

How to Apply
Please visit our program admission webpage for more details. 

Counselor watching client
Professor teaching class

 

 

What Can You Do with a Counseling Master’s Degree?

Your M.S. in Counseling degree program will prepare you for the work of your life as a helping professional in P-12 schools, substance abuse treatment centers, hospitals and other counseling settings.

Your counseling degree can also lead to further graduate study in Ph.D. programs.

Counseling Careers

School counseling graduates from UW’s counseling program go on to take jobs in public school districts as school counselors, working to prevent and treat mental health issues experienced by children and adolescents. Mental health counseling graduates pursue private practice, work in other community mental health settings or doctoral degrees.

These are some job titles UW counseling graduates have held:

  • School counselor
  • Private counselor
  • Christian counselor
  • Mental health therapist
  • Vocational rehabilitation counselor
  • Career Counseling

 

Counselor working with client

Graduates of the counseling master’s program have also gone onto doctoral programs at:

  • University of Wyoming
  • Purdue University
  • Indiana State University
  • Texas Tech
  • Northern Colorado University
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Counseling Master’s Degree Program Highlights

The counseling program at UW will immerse you in a caring learning community where you will be exposed to a variety of counseling theories and encouraged to find your voice as a school or community-based counselor in the classroom and through supervised clinical practice.

UW’s counseling program is distinguished by:

Two Locations

Choose from studying full- or part-time in Laramie or maintain a Monday through Friday workweek by studying in an online/in-person hybrid program at UW Casper.

Play Therapy

Obtain a post-masters certificate in play therapy. UW is the home of the Rocky Mountain Center of Play Therapy Studies, which is one of only a few approved centers for play therapy education. As a counseling student, you will also have the chance to take part in the Biennial Play Therapy Conference, which attracts renowned experts in the field.

WellSpring Counseling Clinic

Get involved in the work of the College of Education’s WellSpring Counseling Clinic. UW’s clinic boasts the latest in digital technology, offers individual, group and couples counseling, play therapy and substance abuse evaluations. As a master’s student, you will have the opportunity to work here as part of your practicum.

If you are a Casper student, you will complete your clinical experience in community schools and agencies in your community.

 

 

Scholarships

Pursue College of Education graduate scholarships designated specifically for counseling students including:

Evelyn Milam Scholarship
Patricia B. Ferris-Hawley Scholarship
Relaxation Foundation Donald R. Austin Student Scholarship Fund

 

 

Internships

Spend time working in schools or other private mental health settings to gain practical counseling experience in the field.

Travel Grants

Take advantage of travel funds for graduate students available from the dean’s office to offset travel expenses associated with attending or presenting at professional conferences.

Psychological First-Aid Day

Practice trauma work as part of this simulation program involving UW and the Red Cross.Faculty-practitioners. Study with faculty who have helped Wyoming establish its counseling standards, are conducting research in development and spirituality, play therapy, counselor development and underserved populations, counselor supervision, ethnic identity and other critical areas.

Assistantships

Consider a graduate assistantship. Assistantships provide stipends and health benefits for working in departments across campus as well as offer faculty research and college-level teaching opportunities.

 

During our school counseling courses, we interviewed counselors, observed classroom management strategies and conducted classroom counseling lessons as well as collected and analyzed data. I felt well prepared for my internship and was very happy to be hired in my dream school counseling job.

- Lucas Grant, '19
Elementary School Counselor

Related Programs

Interested in other UW counseling programs? See below:

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