We are an accredited Master of Science program with a track in school counseling and another in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. We have specializations and continuing education in play therapy, drug and alcohol counseling, and couples counseling.
Students develop ‘Plan of Study’ with their coordinator and usually complete their program in three years. The counselor education program has been nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs since 1996. The School Counseling option prepares candidates to work as school counselors in grades K-12. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling option prepares students to work as counselors in a variety of community, agency and clinical mental health settings. Students are National Certified Counselor eligible after passing the National Counselor Exam, administered at WestConn each fall and spring. In addition, graduates are eligible to become licensed professional counselors upon completing additional requirements set forth by the state of Connecticut. In view of the responsibilities of the role of counselor in both school and community settings, students whose work is of marginal quality in pertinent courses or who demonstrate personal qualities that are not conductive to the role of counselor will not be recommended either for matriculation or continuation in the program.
We are committed to standards of excellence in the counseling profession. The graduate program in counselor education acknowledges a commitment to the students who will pursue professional preparation as community and school counselors, and to the larger public served by these graduates. We believe in the inherent worth, the respect and dignity of each person. Our preparation program incorporates the need to develop throughout the life-span a greater sense of self-realization with a commitment to serve a diverse society. We are committed to the service of others for the prevention and remediation of life’s problems. We seek to meet the larger goals of Western Connecticut State University which serves as an accessible, responsive and creative intellectual resource for the people and the institutions of Connecticut. We strive to meet the needs of a diversified student body through instruction, scholarship and public service.
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