Counseling, MS

Student Learning Outcomes

MS Counseling Program Level Outcomes

• Graduate students will be intellectually prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary for the counseling profession. (Pass rates for standardized exams and comprehensive exams)  
• Students will exhibit competent counseling behaviors across diverse cultural and social situations. (Site supervisor evaluations and employer evaluations)  
• Students will exhibit ethical behavior in the field. (Site supervisor and employer evaluations)  
• Students will be able to integrate theory and research with professional skills and techniques.  
  (Site supervisor evaluations, campus supervisor evaluations)  
• Graduates will be self-directed and responsible professionals. (Alumni surveys and employer surveys)  

Art Therapy Concentration Outcomes

• Graduate students will be intellectually prepared with the knowlege and skill necessary for the Art Therapy profession.
• Students demonstrate competency in case conceptualization and clinical practice.
• Students will exhibit competent Art Therapy counseling behaviors across diverse cultural and social situations.
• Students will exhibit ethical behavior in the field and be able to integrate theory and research with professional skills and techniques.
• Students pursue a professional identity as an Art Therapist and be self-directed and responsible professionals.

Clinical Mental Health Concentration Outcomes

• To provide students with an understanding of the various roles and responsibilities of Clinical Mental Health counselors in various settings.  
• To provide students with the knowledge to design, implement and evaluate psychoeducational programs and clinical interventions to effectively facilitate change in the community.  
• To foster enthusiasm and commitment for ongoing professional development and integration of theory, research, and practice.  
• To promote ethical and legal considerations specifically related to the practice of Clinical Mental Health counseling.  
• To encourage the understanding and use of a biopsychosocial perspective when working with families, groups, couples, and individuals.  
• To provide a high-quality program that fosters the professional identity of the Clinical Mental Health counselor.  

School Counseling Concentration Outcomes

• Be competent professional counselors.  
• Be knowledgeable about ethics, theory, clinical skills, and school counselor roles and functions.  
• Promote counselor accountability and professional credibility.   
• Be psychologically healthy people who use high levels of self-awareness in their work.  
• Learn how to become advocates and educational leaders within a pluralistic school and community that will assist in the academic, career and social development of students.  
• Become familiar with ASCA model of School Counseling.  
• Be provided learning experiences in the CACREP Core areas.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions Requirements - Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling Concentrations

• 3.0 undergraduate GPA * (Preferred)    
• Two professional letters of recommendation and rubric    
• Admissions Essay - Goals and Objectives    
• A faculty interview (all candidates) - Two faculty (minimum) will interview each candidate    
• Current Resume/CV    
• Transcript (most recent degree)    

 *Exam requirement if UG GPA is below 3.0 - MAT (preferred) or GRE. No specific cut off score has been set as this data will be considered will all admissions data submitted.  
 

Admissions Requirements - Art Therapy Concentration

• Complete the online application and pay the application fee.
• Provide an official transcript verifying an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Include all transcripts of courses taken outside of the degree that contain prerequisite courses. International applicants should contact graduate admissions for additional guidance (GradAdmissions@pennwest.edu).
• Provide the name, email address, and place of employment for two (2) references (electronic reference requests will be emailed to each).
• Complete and Admissions Essay that is 750-1000 words, written in APA 7th edition format and contains at least two references that addresses:
  • Why do you want to study art therapy at PennWest?
  • In your research, what have you learned about the profession of art therapy?
  • What are the personal and professional experiences that have you led you to choose a career in art therapy?
  • How do you envision your future role as a professional art therapist?
• A link to an online portfolio (ex. Flickr, Dropbox, Snapfish) of 20 images of applicant’s art demonstrating a variety of 2- and 3-D pieces.
• Prerequisites*:
  • Psychology: 12 credits in that must include Abnormal or Psychopathology and a course related to development. 
  • Studio Art: 18 credits in 2- and 3-D studio art areas. Up to six credits can be done as portfolio approval.
• An interview is a requirement of the admission process for the Counseling programs. Once your application is complete, it will be sent to the Program Coordinator for review. If selected for an interview, the Coordinator will be in contact with you. Interviews are scheduled for 30 minutes and are conducted using Zoom.

Curriculum Requirements

Art Therapy Concentration

The Art Therapy concentration teaches therapeutic art-making, creative process, art therapy and counseling theory, and uses human experience in the therapeutic encounter to help clients work toward change.  Students in the art therapy concentration may choose to work in a variety of settings.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares students to work in a variety of mental health settings serving individuals, couples, families, and/or groups. Students are trained as counseling generalists and are eligible to work in inpatient, outpatient, agency, and other mental health related settings.

Counseling, MS, School Counseling Concentration

The School Counseling concentration prepares students to function as dynamic and highly effective school counselors in PK-12 settings. Students learn how to develop and implement comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs and provide counseling services and student support in a school setting.

Related Electives

Required for the following concentrations:  Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling

Related Requirements

Required for the following concentrations:  Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling

• COUN 7160 - Practicum Credit Hours: 3
• COUN 7180 - Clinical Field Credit Hours: 3 TO 6
• COUN 7190 - Internship Credit Hours: 3 TO 6

Total Number of Credits to Complete the Program: 60