Admission Requirements

Admission to one of the options above is based upon grade point average, educational background, counseling and/or related experiences and/or rehabilitation related experiences, as well as other factors. Prior to consideration by the M.A. Admissions Committee, applicants are required to complete and return a questionnaire indicating, among other things, the program option desired. Interviews, letters of recommendation, test scores, and other material may be required.

The Department has three different application deadlines for M.A. program admissions during the year: January 15, for ensuing Summer and Fall semesters, May 15, also for the ensuing Fall semester, and September 15 for the following Spring semester. Applicants interested in beginning their graduate master’s degree studies in the Fall semester are encouraged to meet the January 15 application deadline. This allows applicants to receive admission offers well in advance of the fall semester. Also, applicants who plan to seek assistantships or campus employment beginning in the fall semester should apply by January 15 to be competitive for such assistance or positions. Applicants must complete a WMU graduate application through Apply Now, the online application system.

Application materials are available on-line through links on the WMU Office of Admissions and department webpages. Upon admission, each student is assigned an advisor who will assist in preparing a program of study. It is recommended that the program of study be completed during the first semester or session of enrollment.

The department recognizes the importance of increasing the educational opportunities of racial minority students, as well as the importance of ensuring an increased diversity of role models in the fields represented by its training programs. Therefore, the department strives to create an atmosphere conducive to the concerns of racial minorities and diverse populations, to integrate these concerns into programs and course offerings, and to fulfill its commitment to recruit, admit, support, and graduate a diverse population of students prepared for their chosen careers.

Program Requirements

Program options in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling require a minimum of 60 semester hours of course work. Program options in School Counseling and College Counseling require a minimum of 48 semester hours of course work.  The program option in Rehabilitation Counseling requires a minimum of 53 semester hours of course work.  Curriculum guides for the program options are available from the department office or online at wmich.edu/cecp/student-resources.

Students are expected to work with advisors in order to be informed of policies, course offerings, prerequisites, and applications required for designated courses.  A student’s performance and progress will be evaluated throughout the program.  This process includes “check points,” such as the program of study, assignment of a grade below “B” in any course, and final evaluation prior to graduation.  The student is referred to the department’s Policy on Retention.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program incorporates coursework in research methods, group dynamics, tests and measurement, counseling theory, counseling techniques, professional issues and ethics, multicultural counseling, lifespan development, career development, psychopathology, causes of substance abuse, recovery oriented systems of care and foundations of clinical mental health counseling. The program includes a 600-hour internship at a clinical mental health setting which offers opportunities to interact with professionals from multiple disciplines. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in a variety of professional counseling settings. This option leads to licensure as a professional counselor.

Programs in School Counseling (Elementary, Secondary, or School Counselor License) incorporate courses emphasizing counseling theory and practice, ethics, testing/appraisal, career development, and psychoeducational consultation.  In addition, students desiring school counselor certification will elect courses related to the administration of pupil personnel services in elementary and/or secondary schools.  A license as a professional counselor may be earned through this option.

The College Counseling program is designed to prepare counselors to work in post-secondary educational settings (universities, four-year colleges, community colleges and technical institutes/colleges). The College Counseling option accents college student development, individual and group counseling, ethics, and foundations of college counseling. The program includes a 600-hour supervised counseling internship experience in a college setting.  This option leads to licensure as a professional counselor.

The Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling option is offered in collaboration with the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. In addition to the core counseling courses, this 60-hour program emphasizes an understanding of the issues faced by contemporary couples and families and a family systems approach to the conceptualization and treatment of couples and families. The program includes a 600-hour internship at a community setting in which students have adequate exposure to couple and family cases. Graduates of this program are prepared to work with individuals, couples and families in a variety of professional counseling settings. This option leads to licensure as a professional counselor. Working with an advisor, the option can also lead to licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

The Rehabilitation Counseling option is a 53 credit hour program designed to prepare generalist rehabilitation counselors for employment in vocational rehabilitation settings serving persons with disabilities. The rehabilitation counseling program incorporates coursework in small’n’research design and analysis, services for persons with disabilities, computer technology in rehabilitation, job development and placement, psychosocial aspects of disability, medical and functional aspects of disability, and foundations of rehabilitation counseling. The program includes a 600 hour supervised rehabilitation counseling internship in a vocational rehabilitation employment setting. This options leads to licensure as a professional counselor and eligibility for national rehabilitation counselor certification. The rehabilitation counseling program is also offered in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy as a dual Master of Arts degree program in rehabilitation counseling specializing in blindness and low vision. The Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) dual degree program is a 76 credit hour program. Upon completion of the RCTM program, the individual earns a Master of Arts in Counselor Education Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM) and a Master of Arts in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. In the Apply Now application system, please apply for the Masters of Arts in rehabilitation counseling (CERM), by selecting Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling. To apply for the dual Master of Arts degrees in rehabilitation counseling/teaching (RCTM) select Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Teaching.