Academics Colleges College of Education Counselor Education Department Counselor Education Program Admission

Counselor Education Program Admission

You’ll complete one application to apply to Winona State Graduate Studies and your desired Counselor Education program at the same time.

We may have different application processes for students who are:

Applying as a regular student for a master’s degree
Applying for the Addictions Counseling Certificate Program
Returning to WSU for a second counseling focus area
Seeking coursework to meet counseling licensure requirements

Apply for a Master’s Degree Program

There are 3 master’s degree programs in the Counselor Education Department: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Services Professional, and School Counseling.

In addition to the information you’ll need to provide in your application, you must submit the following materials:

Current resume. Include an overview of your education, work history, leadership experience, scholarships, honors and awards, volunteer service activities, and other relevant information.
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.
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.
Completed 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.

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:

Meet department faculty and staff
Meet other prospective students
Participate in an interview experience with faculty
Participate in a structured group interaction with other program applicants
Receive information about the program and Winona State
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.

How to Apply

Counselor Education master’s degree applicants should complete the general GradCAS application.

Learn more about how to apply to WSU Graduate Studies.

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

You’ll complete one application to apply to Winona State Graduate Studies and the Addictions Counseling graduate certificate program at the same time.

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 official 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 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.

Graduate non-degree seeking students can attend as a guest student for one semester and complete a new registration agreement each term.

If you’ve never been admitted as a Winona State graduate student, register as a guest student. If you’ve previously been accepted as a WSU graduate student, complete the Re-Enrollment Request Form.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits earned as a guest student may be applied toward a degree program, pending approval by the academic department.

Admission as a guest student does not guarantee admission to a graduate degree program. To pursue a degree, you must meet all admissions requirements and formally apply to Winona State Graduate Studies and the relevant graduate program.

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