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College of Applied Human Sciences: School of Counseling and Well-being

Counseling, MA

The Master of Arts in Counseling program prepares counseling practitioners in two tracks of study, clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. This is a full time on-campus program.

Professional counseling is the application of mental heath, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies that address wellness, personal growth or career development, as well as pathology. The mission of the program is to focus on the preparation of competent and ethical entry-level clinical mental health and school counselors to work in a variety of settings within the state, region and country.

Your Degree Plan The WVU Difference Learn by Doing Careers and Outcomes Meet Your Community Admission Requirements Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Aerial view of Martin and Woodburn Halls

The Master of Arts in Counseling program focuses on the preparation of competent and ethical entry-level clinical mental health and school counselors to work in a variety of settings within the state, region and country.

Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in one of these areas:

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling

    Graduates of the master's degree in counseling at WVU are well prepared to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in West Virginia and many other states. Courses train students to work in a wide variety of settings. Graduates are proficient in individual and group counseling, are charged with honoring the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of all clients, and across a wide variety of courses, are well-versed in trauma informed practices.

    Settings in which counselors work:

    • Community mental-health centers
    • Adolescent treatment centers
    • Correctional facilities
    • Outpatient mental-health centers
    • Private practice
    • Elementary, middle and high schools (as school counselors and expanded school based mental health counselors)

    Populations with whom counselors work:

    • Children and adolescents
    • Adults
    • Individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction
    • Patients in psychiatric hospitals
    • Couples and families
    • Clients experiencing grief and loss
    • Clients in crisis or experiencing suicidal ideation

    Watch Video: WVU Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • School Counseling

    WVU’s school counseling program trains professional school counselors to work with students in pre-K-Adult settings. Professional school counselors provide comprehensive school counseling programs to all students. School counseling programs prevention and intervention services across a multi-tiered system of support framework. WVU school counseling alumni address the diverse and complex needs of children and adolescents as they progress across the developmental lifespan to prepare them for post-secondary opportunities. School counselors work with a wide variety of stakeholders including teachers, parents/caregivers, administrators, local business leaders and community leaders to ensure preparation of lifelong learners and productive members of the community.

    The WVU program trains students in counseling interventions, theories and techniques as well as how to plan, design, and implement a data-driven, comprehensive school counseling program. Students learn to structure comprehensive school counseling programs based on both the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model as well as the West Virginia Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling Program Model.

    Watch Video: WVU honors National School Counseling Week

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first- and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.

    Explore Honors

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart from its competitors?

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Mental Health Counselors

Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $48,520

Possible job titles include: Clinician, Counselor, Mental Health Counselor, Therapist.

Explore Career

Meet Your Community

The Counseling family will inspire and support you.

  • Rawn Boulden

    Professional highlights:

    • Scholarship focuses on school counseling and counseling youth and adolescents
    • Former middle school counselor in Virginia

  • Ed Jacobs

    Professional highlights:

    • Areas of expertise: Group Counseling, Impact Therapy
    • Research interests: Effective Teaching, Creative Counseling

  • Monica Leppma

    Professional highlights:

    • Growth Mindset Specialist, Mylan STEM-CARE project
    • Research interests include protective factors, mindfulness, self-compassion and issues affecting academic achievement
    • Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida

  • Heidi O'Toole

    Professional highlights:

    • Co-founder, WV Therapy and Wellness Center in Morgantown, WV
    • Areas of specialty: trauma, addiction, attachment theory, neuroscience and somatic interventions
    • Developed three comprehensive group curriculums currently being implemented in West Virginia, Florida and Pennsylvania, as well as at Pressley Ridge Adolescent Residential Facilities
  • Portrait of Lisa Platt.

    Lisa Platt

    Professional highlights:

    • SPECTRUM LGBTQ+ Award, Association for Women in Psychology, 2017
    • Outstanding Researcher Award, WVU College of Education and Human Services

  • Christine Schimmel

    Professional highlights:

    • Coordinator of MA in Counseling program
    • Has published more than 10 articles, books, book chapters and monographs
    • 20 years’ experience providing workshops relevant to school counselors, clinical mental health counselors and teachers

  • Melissa Sherfinski

    Professional highlights:

    • NAed/Spencer Fellowship Semi-finalist, 2015
    • Country Roads Scholar, 2013
    • Wisconsin-Spencer Fellowship, 2008
    • Wisconsin-Spencer Doctoral Program, 2007-2009
    • Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

  • Admission Requirements:

    • A baccalaureate degree with coursework in appropriate areas
    • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8
    • Complete graduate application
    • Résumé
    • Three (3) letters of recommendation
    • Personal Statement - In addition to the graduate application, we require a personal statement. Upload the complete personal statement to your graduate application. Please include answers to the following questions in your personal statement: How has your interest in counseling developed? What is your present concept of counseling? What experiences (not necessarily work related) have lead you to believe that you could work with people in a helping capacity? Briefly describe your academic and professional goals as a counselor (include your employment objectives).

    Consideration for part-time schedules is provided; however, applicants must be able to attend classes during the day and complete a day-time internship. The Master of Arts in Counseling program does not offer courses online.

    Application Deadline:

    • February 15
    • Admit once a year
    • Applicants will go through a paper screening and then individual interviews.

    Additional application considerations:

  • Application Deadlines

    Each graduate program sets their own terms for admission and application deadlines. Applicants can only apply for admission for the terms displayed below. Any questions regarding the application deadline should be directed to the graduate program representative.

    • Fall: February 15

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