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Counseling Degree

This program offers a unique class format for those seeking a master’s degree in counseling. Students attend intensive weekend courses over a three-year period. The next cohort will begin in Fall 2019. The master’s degree requires 61 credit hours that you obtain via face-to-face classes that meet on Friday evenings and Saturdays at UWCasper. Students also accrue hours at community-based placements during the program. Students participate in three courses per semester for full time enrollment, attending approximately 9 weekends of class each semester. 


MS in Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling program prepares graduates to become professional counselors in a variety of clinical and school settings. Track specialization within the program includes concentrations in mental health counseling and school counseling. Students receive support in creating their own style and approach to counseling in addition to developing the necessary knowledge, attitudes, and skills to competently diagnose, assess, and treat mental health disorders.

Our program offers small class environments, intensive class discussion, and opportunities for self-direction and self-reflection. The faculty focuses on encouraging and supporting students to develop and grow as emerging counselors while learning best practices and researchbased counseling competencies. Our programs encourage an atmosphere supportive of faculty/student interactions, and professional engagement with the counseling community.


Courses

CACREP Core Courses
The program at UW-Casper follows the guidelines of the counseling accreditation body of CACREP. As such, required courses ensure that students graduate with a strong professional counselor identity. These courses include:

  1. Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice
  2. Social & Cultural Diversity
  3. Human Growth & Development
  4. Lifestyle & Career Development
  5. Helping Relationships
  6. Group Work and Counseling

Specialty Courses
Specialty courses offered in our plan of study expand student knowledge of counseling with different populations. These courses include:

  1. Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  2. Play Therapy
  3. Addictions Counseling
  4. Couples & Family Theory
  5. Children & Adolescent Counseling

Accreditation
The University of Wyoming counseling program has been accredited by CACREP since 1982. Both our Casper and Laramie campuses are currently accredited. Our program meets all standards of state licensure for both school counselors and licensed professional counselors.


CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Because supervised clinical training is a critical component to become a component professional counselor, the program utilizes video recording, live supervision, peer observation, and on-going evaluation to support students’ growth as emerging counselors. Our training focuses on developing core clinical counseling skills through a progression of clinically oriented courses. Through these clinical experiences, our students learn to integrate skills, ethics, and counseling theory into their practice. Field-based practicum and internship sites allow for exploration of counseling in a variety of populations and settings. While at field-based sites, students continue to receive support and supervision from faculty at UW-Casper.

Students complete a total of 700 hours of clinical fieldwork over four semesters during the master’s in counseling program. These settings include school and mental health sites depending on program track.


Program Tracks

Mental Health Counseling: The mental health counseling track prepares counselors to provide a full range of services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children. Mental health counselors practice in a variety of settings such as independent practice, community agencies, hospitals, addictions treatment settings, and integrated delivery systems. Mental health counselors are uniquely skilled professionals who provide a full range of mental health services. Upon completion of the program, students have fulfilled the educational and clinical requirements necessary to apply for the Provisional Professional Counselor (PPC), the provisional licensure that leads to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wyoming.

School Counseling: The school counseling track prepares students to become school leaders who consult and collaborate with students, teachers, administrators, parents, and other members of the community to promote culturally relevant P-12 student growth in personal/social, career, and academic domains. Applicants do not need to be certified or experienced teachers. School counselors offer a variety of direct services (e.g., classroom lessons, small groups) as well as systemic interventions (e.g., advocacy, consultation) to enhance student development. Upon graduation, students are eligible to be certified as a P-12 school counselor and also provisionally licensed as a mental health counselor in Wyoming.


To start your application, you’ll need to create an account with the UW Registrar. Watch this video before you get started.

Transferring to UW? Read more in the Wyoming Transfer Catalog and the UW Transfer Equivalency Self-Service (TreQ).

VIEW APPLICATION STEPS

DR. AMANDA DeDIEGO

Assistant Professor, Counseling Program

307-268-2056
Office: UU431
adediego@uwyo.edu


DR. PAUL MADDOX

Assistant Professor, Counseling Program

307-268-2572
Office: UU430
rmaddox1@uwyo.edu


Ready to get started?

To start your application, you’ll need to create an account with the UW Registrar. Watch this video before you get started.

Transferring to UW? Read more in the Wyoming Transfer Catalog and the UW Transfer Equivalency Self-Service (TreQ).

View application steps

Student studying