MEd in Counseling
With a strong background in human growth and development, as well as communication skills, counselors assist clients in developing cognitive, emotional and behavioral strengths.
Wichita State University's Master of Education in counseling is designed to prepare students to meet the requirements of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for Licensed School Counselors and the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) for Licensed Professional Counselors. Upon completion of an MEd in counseling, students are able to provide counseling services in a wide range of settings, including PreK–12 schools, private practice settings, colleges/universities and community mental health agencies.
Visit the counseling program's website1.
Contact us for more information: isle@wichita.edu.
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Admission
To be considered for admission to the MEd in counseling, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have a 3.000 GPA overall,
- Submit a statement of professional goals,
- Submit a resume, and
- Provide contact information for two people to serve as professional references.
Upon receipt of this information, the departmental screening committee will make recommendations concerning acceptance/rejection for the master's program in counseling.
Application Deadlines
- For summer and fall semesters: May 1
- For spring semester: November 1
All applications must be complete. Candidates who apply are considered in the order in which their applications are completed until all openings are filled.
Visit the counseling program's website1.
Contact us for more information: isle@wichita.edu.
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Program Requirements
The MEd in counseling offers four different tracks depending upon the student's career goals. These tracks include school counseling (60 credit hours), clinical mental health counseling (60 credit hours), addiction counseling (60 credit hours) and sports counseling (60 credit hours).
Background Check
Upon admission and prior to their first semester, all applicants admitted to this program must clear a criminal background check. There are two reasons for this requirement. First, it is part of the university’s due diligence before placing students in field settings. Second, the check may alert applicants or students to issues that may subsequently affect their ability to work in their chosen field. In instances when a person’s criminal history raises reasonable concerns that should be cleared to engage in the field experiences and/or subsequently obtain licensure/endorsement, WSU may take a range of actions, including rescission of admission or dismissal from the program, depending on the nature of the concern.
For information regarding this requirement, visit the Advanced Programs webpage1.
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School Counseling Track (60 credit hours)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CESP 803 | Counseling Theory | 3 |
| CESP 804 | Foundations of School Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 824 | Techniques of Counseling 2 | 3 |
| CESP 821 | Multicultural Issues 3 | 3 |
| CESP 856 | School Counseling Practicum 2 | 3 |
| CLES 802 | Theories of Human Development for Counseling Professionals | 3 |
| CESP 835 | Psychopathology and the DSM | 3 |
| CESP 822 | Assessment and Testing in Counseling 3 | 3 |
| CESP 815 | Career Development 3 | 3 |
| CESP 857 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| or CLES 805 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | |
| CESP 825 | Group Counseling and Group Work 2 | 3 |
| CLES 810 | Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors 3 | 3 |
| CLES 827 | Counseling Consultation, Leadership and Advocacy for School Counselors | 3 |
| CESP 845 | Professional School Counseling | 3 |
| Select one of the following choices for a total of 6 credit hours 2 | 6 | |
| School Counseling Internship I and School Counseling Internship II | ||
| School Counseling Internship | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 credit hours of elective courses | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
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The program requires a minimum grade of B in CESP 824, CESP 825 and CESP 856, and a satisfactory grade in CESP 949A, CESP 949B and CESP 949C.
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A grade of B- or higher in these courses is required by CACREP accreditation assessment.
PK–12 School Counseling
Individuals who already have a teaching license in Kansas can complete the school counseling degree track to become a licensed school counselor. Individuals without a teaching license are also eligible for licensure as a school counselor via the parallel pathway by completing the school counseling degree track and taking additional coursework (field experience hours included in two semesters of CESP 949 and one year of postdegree internship CESP 947).
Students interested in a thesis option would add 8 credit hours of coursework plus an oral examination of the thesis. The nonthesis option requires a written comprehensive exam.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track (60 credit hours)
Graduates of the MEd in counseling - clinical mental health counseling track may pursue careers in mental health counseling settings. The MEd in counseling - clinical mental health counseling track meets the basic core requirements for future licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Kansas.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CESP 803 | Counseling Theory | 3 |
| CLES 806 | Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 824 | Techniques of Counseling 4 | 3 |
| CESP 821 | Multicultural Issues 5 | 3 |
| CLES 860 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum 4 | 3 |
| CLES 802 | Theories of Human Development for Counseling Professionals | 3 |
| CESP 835 | Psychopathology and the DSM | 3 |
| CESP 822 | Assessment and Testing in Counseling 5 | 3 |
| CESP 815 | Career Development 5 | 3 |
| CLES 805 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| or CESP 857 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling | |
| CESP 825 | Group Counseling and Group Work 4 | 3 |
| CLES 810 | Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors 5 | 3 |
| CESP 838 | Families and Family Systems | 3 |
| CESP 848 | Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 847 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| Select one of the following choices for a total of 6 credit hours 4 | 6 | |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship I and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship II | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of elective courses | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
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The program requires a minimum grade of B in CESP 824, CESP 825 and CLES 860, and a satisfactory grade in CLES 952A, CLES 952B and CLES 952C.
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A grade of B- or higher in these courses is required by CACREP accreditation assessment.
Addiction Counseling Track (60 credit hours)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CESP 803 | Counseling Theory | 3 |
| CLES 806 | Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 824 | Techniques of Counseling 4 | 3 |
| CESP 821 | Multicultural Issues 5 | 3 |
| CLES 802 | Theories of Human Development for Counseling Professionals | 3 |
| CLES 862 | Practicum in Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 835 | Psychopathology and the DSM | 3 |
| CESP 822 | Assessment and Testing in Counseling 5 | 3 |
| CESP 815 | Career Development 5 | 3 |
| CLES 805 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| or CESP 857 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling | |
| CESP 825 | Group Counseling and Group Work 4 | 3 |
| CLES 810 | Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors 5 | 3 |
| CESP 838 | Families and Family Systems | 3 |
| CESP 848 | Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 847 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| Select one of the following choices for a total of 6 credit hours 4 | 6 | |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship I and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship II | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship | ||
| Electives 6 | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of elective courses | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
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For students in the addiction counseling track, the applied learning or research experience requirement can be met with any one or combination of the following: CLES 862, CLES 855, CLES 826 and CLES 750W.
Sports Counseling Track (60 credit hours)
Graduates of the counseling athletes program track may find employment in higher education or other settings working with student athletes in a variety of advisement, mentoring or counseling positions in schools, student affairs or departments of athletics. The counseling track is designed to prepare students to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Kansas. For more information, visit the counseling athletes program webpage7.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CESP 803 | Counseling Theory | 3 |
| CLES 802 | Theories of Human Development for Counseling Professionals | 3 |
| CLES 805 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CLES 806 | Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CLES 810 | Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors | 3 |
| CLES 812 | Counseling Student Athletes | 3 |
| CLES 813 | Student Athlete Identity Development | 3 |
| CESP 815 | Career Development | 3 |
| CESP 821 | Multicultural Issues | 3 |
| CESP 822 | Assessment and Testing in Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 824 | Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| CESP 825 | Group Counseling and Group Work | 3 |
| CESP 835 | Psychopathology and the DSM | 3 |
| CESP 847 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CLES 860 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| Select one of the following for a total of 6 credit hours | 6 | |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship I and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship II | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship | ||
| Complete 9 credit hours of elective courses related to sports counseling in HPS, SMGT, SCWK, CLES or CESP with advisor approval | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
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Applied Learning — All Tracks
Students in all tracks of the MEd in counseling program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from these programs.
- For students in the school counseling track, the requirement can be met with CESP 856 or CLES 860, and an additional 6 credit hours of internship experience by taking both CESP 949A and CESP 949B, or just CESP 949C.
- For students in the clinical mental health counseling track, the requirement can be met with CLES 860 and an additional 6 credit hours of internship experience by taking both CLES 952A and CLES 952B, or just CLES 952C .
- For students in the addiction counseling track, the requirement can be met with any one or combination of the following: CLES 862, CLES 855, CLES 826 and CLES 750W.
- For students in the sports counseling track, the requirement can be met with CLES 860.
Visit the counseling program's website7.
Contact us for more information: isle@wichita.edu.
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