Program highlights

• Six concentration options
• Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• High job placement rate and licensure pass rate
• Online and in-person courses
• Admission deadline:
  • March 1 - Fall applications due for all concentrations
  • September 1 - Winter applications due (CMHC)(SC)

What will you learn in the M.A. in counseling program?

In our program, you’ll get a strong grounding in the theoretical, philosophical, and evidence-based research assumptions of counseling processes and techniques. You’ll take courses on everything from developmental psychology to couples therapy to addiction treatment. You’ll explore the legal, ethical, and professional issues that have an impact on clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling.

Our cutting-edge training approach combines hybrid and in-person courses to support you in simultaneously building foundational knowledge and clinical skills.

Masters in counseling program curriculum and course requirements

The M.A. in counseling requires a minimum of 60 credit hours. Coursework combines practical learning with in-depth study of the theories and practices of counseling.

The specific courses you take depend on which of our six concentrations you choose, but all students complete a supervised practicum and a counseling internship. These semester-long practical experiences give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned to build relationships and treat clients in a real-world setting.

Review the M.A. in counseling degree requirements
Counseling syllabi

Concentration options to fit your career goals

From art therapy to school counseling, you can choose a concentration to match your interests.

• Art Therapy
  • Leverage the creative process of artmaking to help people work through emotional conflicts and promote personal growth.
• Clinical Mental Health
  • Prepare to apply for licensure as a professional counselor and work as a generalist in settings ranging from public and private mental health settings to youth service bureaus, hospice organizations, correctional institutions, and more.
• Clinical Rehabilitation
  • With additional training on the medical and psychosocial aspects of disabilities, you can apply for licensure as a professional counselor and for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential.
• School Counseling
  • Through a developmental approach to delivering school counseling services in culturally diverse settings, you prepare to work as a school counselor and be recommended for the School Counselor License.
• Combined Clinical Rehabilitation and School Counseling (CRC+SC)
  • This combined concentration prepares you for licensure as both a professional counselor and a school counselor. It also leads to certification as a rehabilitation counselor, giving you an abundance of career opportunities.
• Combined School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (SC+CMHC)
  • This concentration prepares you for licensure as both a professional and school counselor, giving you access to a variety of employment settings.

An accredited counseling program

Our programs have been accredited and recognized by several national accrediting agencies. These recognitions demonstrate to potential employers that our program meets the standards set by the profession and help you stand out from other job applicants.

• Our master’s in counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP).
• The art therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
• The Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE) has qualified Wayne State University as a:
  • Registered Credential Training Provider, RCTP1002-ACS, to provide training courses qualified for credit for eligibility for the Approved Clinical Supervisor Credential with the course: CED 9120: Seminar & Internship Supervising Counselors.
  • Registered Credential Training Provider, RCTP1001-GCDF, to provide training courses qualified for credit for eligibility for the Global Career Development Facilitator Credential with the course: CED 6065: Career Development and Employment Strategies.

Prepare for state licensure

Our program prepares you for a variety of licensures and other credentials. Depending on which concentration you choose, you could be qualified for the following:

• School Counselor Licensure
• Professional Counselor Licensure (LPC)
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential

85% to 95% of our graduates pass their licensure exams, attesting to the high quality of our programs.

Program mission statement

To prepare professional counselors who are knowledgeable in counseling theories and techniques, who can translate counseling theories and current research strategies into effective practice, who are committed to respecting diversity among all people and who ascribe to the highest ethical standards and practices. 

Program objectives

1. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical, philosophical and evidence-based research assumptions of counseling processes and techniques in clinical mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling and school counseling programs.
2. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to challenge personal beliefs and biases and promote advocacy and social justice for diverse populations.
3. Students will understand the legal, ethical, and professional issues that impact the fields of clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and rehabilitation counseling.
4. Students will be able to translate theories and evidenced-based strategies into effective practices in a culturally diverse society.

Program outcome report 2023

The College of Education Counseling Program areas submit an annual vital statistics report and bi-annual evaluation report to the Council for the Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The following data are made available to stakeholders for each CACREP-accredited counseling program as per CACREP Standard 4.E:

Faculty

As a master's in counseling student, you work closely with faculty who are accomplished scholars and experienced practitioners. But above all, they’re dedicated to your success. As advisors, teachers, and mentors, they cheer you on at every step of your journey.

Core faculty

• Loubna Alkhayat, Assistant Professor
• Shadin Atiyeh, Assistant Professor
• Sameerah Davenport, Assistant Professor of Teaching
• Thomas Michalos, Assistant Professor of Teaching
• Julie Moreno, Assistant Professor of Teaching

Careers with a master’s degree in counseling

As mental health continues to be a growing concern across communities, job opportunities for master’s-prepared counselors are projected to expand significantly. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors to grow 22 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

An M.A. in counseling equips you to provide mental health support to individuals and families in a variety of settings, including the following:

• K-12 public or private schools
• Rehabilitation settings, such as the VA
• Employment agencies
• Youth service bureaus
• Human resource development agencies
• Employee assistance programs
• Hospice organizations
• Postsecondary educational settings
• Correctional institutions
• Welfare departments
• Local community service agencies
• Religious institutions

Tuition and financial aid

Save money through Wayne State University's affordable Counseling program. Our tuition and fees are lower than comparable degrees from other major research universities in Michigan. You can also take advantage of our robust financial aid opportunities, including private scholarships. Try our net price calculator to estimate your costs and savings at WSU.

Admission requirements

Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School and requires an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above.

Program admission requirements include the following:

• A personal interview with an admission committee
• An autobiographical statement reflecting your personal and professional history with a statement of rationale for seeking admittance to the program

To apply to the Art Therapy concentration, you will also need to submit a portfolio of original artwork that demonstrates competence with art materials.

Application Deadlines

• March 1: Fall applications due for all concentrations
• September 1: Winter applications due for Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling concentrations

Apply to Wayne State’s Master of Arts in counseling program!

Ready to make a real difference in the mental health of individuals and families? Take the next step toward an incredibly rewarding career and apply today.

• Want to find out more about counseling at Wayne State? Request more information
• Eager to get started? Apply now

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP)

The WSU College of Education Counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

The Wayne State University Art Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of  the  Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education.

Center For Credentialing & Education

Wayne State University has been qualified by the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE) as a Registered Credential Training Provider, RCTP1002-ACS, to provide training courses qualified for credit for eligibility for the Approved Clinical Supervisor Credential with the course: CED 9120: Seminar & Internship Supervising Counselors. 

Wayne State University has been qualified by the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE) as a Registered Credential Training Provider, RCTP1001-GCDF, to provide training courses qualified for credit for eligibility for the Global Career Development Facilitator Credential with the course: CED 6065: Career Development and Employment Strategies.