Counselor Education Program Admission

Before you can be considered for admission into the Counselor Education Department, you must first apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies at WSU. 

In your application, note which Counselor Education program(s) you want to enroll in.

Once you are accepted into Graduate Studies, there are different processes for students who are:

Apply for a Master’s Degree Program 

You will also receive an email with more details once the Counselor Education Department has been notified of your acceptance into Graduate Studies.

After being admitted to WSU’s Graduate School, apply for admission to a master’s degree program in Counselor Education.

You will use your StarID and password to log in.

To complete the application, you must:

  1. Upload a current resume. Include an overview of your education, work history, leadership experience, scholarships, honors and awards, volunteer service activities, and other relevant information.
  2. Provide contact information for 2-5 professional references. Once you provide the contact information for your references, they will receive an email with a rating form related to professional behaviors and competencies needed for the counseling profession.
  3. Upload a personal statement. All program applicants must write a personal statement explaining their interest in counseling and human services programs offered by the Counselor Education Department at WSU. Applicants must also write about any tentative post-degree plans. The personal statement should be no more than 3 pages long, double-spaced in 12-point font.
  4. Complete Statement of Understanding Form. To ensure all program applicants are aware of their rights and responsibilities, applicants must review and sign a Statement of Understanding Form. Applicants can agree to the Statement of Understanding Form in the online application form.

After your application is complete, department faculty will screen your materials to decide if you advance to campus interview stage.

Either way, you’ll know your application status via your WSU email that we’ll provide you. You must activate your email with your StarID.

If you advance to the next stage of the process, we’ll invite you to an in-person, individual/group interview.

During the interview experience, you’ll:

  1. Meet department faculty and staff
  2. Meet other prospective students
  3. Participate in an interview experience with faculty
  4. Participate in a structured group interaction with other program applicants
  5. Receive information about the program and Winona State
  6. Engage in Q&A about the WSU Counselor Education programs

Candidates who applied by December and are invited to the interview experience may choose to attend the interview in January or April. Candidates who applied in the Spring will be invited to the interview in April.

All candidates will be notified via your WSU email address of the date, time, and location of the interview experience.

If students are not in the U.S. at the time of the campus interview, they may be allowed to attend the screening virtually. Please call 507.457.5335 if you need this accommodation.

Successful candidates from both campus interview experiences will start their program in the Fall semester.

Admission Decisions

After reviewing all application files and results from the interviews, Counselor Education Department faculty will select qualified candidates for admission into the department.

Admission decisions will be sent to applicants via their WSU email address within 3 weeks of the interview.

Apply for the Addictions Counseling Certificate 

These are the steps for applying to the addictions counseling certificate program: 

  1. Apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies and indicate on your application that you’re interested in the Addiction Counseling program
  2. Submit an official copy of your college transcripts to the Graduate Studies Office, verifying your bachelor’s degree

Applicants will be notified in writing if they’re admitted or denied admission to the program.

Returning for a Second Focus Area Post-Degree 

You can be admitted to WSU’s Counselor Education Department for a second focus area after completing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Services Professional, or School Counseling.

Complete the Additional Major Form to notify the WSU School of Graduate Studies of your additional major.

If you completed coursework at another institution, please send your transcripts to WSU Admissions at admission@winona.edua or mail them to:

PO Box 5383
Winona, MN 55987-5838

Apply to the Counselor Education Department by emailing ceducation@winona.edu the following information:

  • Applicant’s name
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Prior degree focus area from WSU’s Counselor Education Department
  • Date degree was awarded
  • Overall GPA at the time of graduation
  • A copy of your most recent WSU transcript

If you haven’t graduated from a CACREP-accredited institution, we may also request syllabi from courses you completed to determine the appropriate coursework you still need.

Send a brief letter to ceducation@winona.edu describing:

  • why you’re seeking a second focus area
  • your professional and/or work-related activities since your master’s degree was awarded
  • the proposed additional focus area and start date
  • any additional information you believe would be helpful to support your request

Returning for Licensure 

You can be admitted to WSU’s Counselor Education Department for licensure courses after you’ve completed a counseling master’s degree.

If you’ve never been admitted as a WSU graduate student, complete the Online Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Student application form.

  1. Select the option for “**Not Seeking Degree, NSD,”
  2. Choose “Add Program”
  3. Select the option for “complete courses, but not a degree”

If you’ve previously been accepted as a WSU graduate student, complete the Re-Enrollment Request Form.

Send your transcripts to WSU Admissions at admission@winona.edu or mail them to:

PO Box 5383
Winona, MN 55987-5838

Apply to the Counselor Education Department by emailing ceducation@winona.edu the following information:

  • Applicant’s name
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Prior master’s degree from other institution
  • Date degree was awarded
  • Overall GPA at the time of graduation
  • A copy of your transcript of the master’s degree

Send a brief letter to ceducation@winona.edu describing:

  • why you’re seeking a second focus area
  • your professional and/or work-related activities since your master’s degree was awarded
  • the proposed additional focus area and start date
  • any additional information you believe would be helpful to support your request

If admitted, the department chair will meet with you to recommend a course of study to meet licensure requirements.

If you haven’t graduated from a CACREP-accredited institution, we may also request syllabi from courses you completed to determine the appropriate coursework needed.

CED Endorsement of Individuals Completing Licensure Courses

When you successfully complete all requirements for licensure, the Counselor Education Department will provide you with endorsement letters at your request. 

Endorsement letters may be required for testing for professional licensure and/or other professional credentials. 

Letters of endorsement may also be required for employment. It is your responsibility to determine the requirements for licensure or other professional credentials.

Contact
Samantha Eckerson
School of Graduate Studies

Recruitment & Admissions Assistant Director

WSU Graduate Programs & WSU-Rochester Transfer

Cell: 507.703.1894
Office: 507.535.3980

Email Graduate Admissions
Casey Pronschinske
Counselor Education

Office Manager

Helble Hall 352

507.457.5335

Email Casey Pronschinske