Dr. Gary Petersen Director of Counseling Program

The purpose of the Master of Science in Education-Counseling program is to help prepare and train you in the counseling field so that you may help others cope with and understand their life situation. You will learn the basic skill areas of counseling, including assessment, consultation, individual and group counseling, ethics and research, how and when to counsel people, and information on the resources available to church and community. We envision our graduates working in Lutheran and public schools, agencies and communities at large, sharing their faith, their skills, and their trust in God.

When applying to the counseling program, students have the option of choosing from two educational tracks: K-12 school counseling for those who desire to work in parochial and public schools, or professional counseling, serving agencies and the community at large. Upon completion of one of the two tracks, graduates of the program will be eligible for certification as a school counselor though the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and eligible to apply to the State of Wisconsin, Department of Regulation and Licensing as Professional Counselor.

Program Highlights

• Courses are offered on the main Mequon campus, at several off-site locations and by E-Learning.
• Courses are available evenings, Saturdays and during the summer.
• Portfolio assessment is utilized throughout the School Counseling program.
• Curriculum includes a 600-hour practicum. School counseling students are encouraged to complete 200 hours at each of the three levels: elementary, middle and high school. Professional counseling students complete their practicum at a community agency under the guidance of a licensed professional counselor.
• Classes are taught by faculty who are also practitioners in the field of counseling.
• Classes are small and students receive personal attention from faculty.
• The program offers a variety of ways for students to complete a Master of Science in Education - Counseling degree:
• On-Campus: Our Mequon campus offers evening courses during the school year and a variety of summer schedules primarily during the day in June and July.
• Off-Campus: Our off-campus sites around the state offer an accelerated cohort model. Each course meets one night a week for eight weeks.
• Online One-on-One: One-on-one E-Learning is designed for students whose schedules require flexibility. E-Learning students will complete the residency requirements by taking individual counseling and group counseling for two weeks each June.