School of Education | Common Questions

Your Answer:
How long will it take to complete the program?

Students have five years to complete the program. Length of time to degree varies depending upon the number of credits taken per semester. However, students enrolled full time (12 credits per semester) are able to graduate within 2 years. Students enrolled with 9 credits per semester generally take 2 years, including summers.

How many credits are required for the M.S. in Educational Psychology Community and School Counseling concentrations?

Both concentrations require 48 credits. Students are admitted to their concentrations of choice. Advisors are assigned to students on the basis of their concentrations. Advisor approval is required for any changes in concentration.

When are courses offered?

Generally, courses are offered in the evening. Day sections of various courses are available from time to time. We also offer some courses online. The program is designed to maximize student access to courses. Please be aware that practicum placements are 20 hours per week and usually involve daytime hours.

Your Answer:
Is field experience required for completion?

Yes, both concentrations require two semesters of practicum experience. Students seek placements in sites appropriate to their concentrations. See the Counseling Program Student Handbook for more details.

May I complete my fieldwork/practicum requirements at
my place-of-employment?

Yes, however, the Counseling faculty discourage this practice because of potential conflicts-of-interest between students, supervisors, and clients. Students who seek to complete fieldwork/practicum requirements at their places-of-employment need authorization from their advisors.

Will I have to disclose personal information
in course- or program-related activities?

Yes, a number of our courses include experiential components in which students are expected to disclose personal information to some extent. Many courses also require personal exploration in papers and class exercises as part of the educational process. Although rare, students may also be encouraged to seek psychotherapy when their personal problems are judged to be preventing them from performing their training-related activities in a competent manner or posing a threat to the students or others.

Is a background and criminal-history check required for the program?

A background and criminal-history check is not required by the program, but some practicum placement sites may be required by the Wisconsin Caregiver Law to have such checks on file. Background checks will be conducted by the School of Education. If a student's records contain certain types of investigations, convictions, or arrests that involve harm to persons in vulnerable populations, the student's background check records will be sent to the placement site, and it is possible the student will not be able to participate in clinical placements.

Your Answer:
How much does a 3-credit hour course cost? How much is full-time study?

The Bursar's office can answer questions concerning cost at 414-229-4526.

How can I get financial aid?

Financial aid information can be obtained from the UWM Financial Aid Office at 414-229-4541 or http://www4.uwm.edu/financialaid/.

Assistantships:

For doctoral students, assistantships are available from the School of Education, as well as in other units on campus. In 2006-7 assistantship stipends were $10,549 for 50% (20 hours a week) assignments. In addition, all students working 33% or more receive tuition remission (meaning that tuition is waived). Students who receive assistantships may work as research assistants on faculty grants, as teaching assistants, or as project assistants. Click here for more information and to download the application for a Graduate Assistantship.

Fellowships:

We also encourage prospective students to apply for scholarships and fellowships that may be available from other sources. The Graduate School offers several different fellowships options for students. These include: Dissertation fellowships, Graduate School Fellowships, & Advanced Opportunity Program Diversity Fellowships. For more information about important dates and application materials click here.

The Graduate School also maintains links to more than 250 external fellowships that are available to graduate students. In addition, UWM offers The Chancellor's Golda Meir Library Scholar Awards which are designed to provide graduate students with the resources necessary to pursue a year's intensive research in their chosen academic fields. Finally, numerous other internal funding sources exist including: loans, work study, student employment and overseas research funds.

For due dates of applications to our department, click here.
For due dates of Dissertator Fellowship applications, click here.

Scholarships:

The School of Education also offers a variety of scholarship opportunities. Click here to find scholarship descriptions, as well as information on eligibility and important application dates.

Finally, the American Psychological Association offers a variety of fellowships and other funding resources.

Your Answer:
What are the criteria for admission?

The Counseling Area Admissions Committee admits students based upon their academic records, breadth of experience, career goals and references. All applicants must meet minimum Graduate School requirements to qualify for admission.

When should I initiate the application process?

Students apply to the Graduate School; this process should be initiated as early as possible, but no later than Feb. 1 so that all materials are received in the Department by March 1. The application may be completed online at graduateschool.uwm.edu. Please note that the School and Community Counseling programs only accept students once per year, each Fall semester.

Are Graduate School application deadlines the same as the Counseling Area application deadlines?

No, the Graduate School deadlines are campus-wide recommendations. The Counseling Area deadline is March 1, for Fall admission. Students are encouraged to meet Graduate School deadlines to ensure that the Graduate School is able to process the application to meet the March 1 deadline.

Do all my materials have to be sent in together?

No, although this may make filing easier for us. Applicants must submit application forms (online), transcripts, and the Reasons for Graduate Study statement to the Graduate School. The personal data form and career statement are sent directly to the Department of Educational Psychology. The letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the department by the authors in signed, sealed envelopes.

Who can serve as references? Are there special forms?

References should be obtained from individuals who are familiar with your academic and professional record, such as former professors or employers. There are no special forms: the authors may use whatever format they wish, though we suggest they be kept to around a page in length, two maximum.

Are GRE or MAT scores required?

Students seeking admission on probation may be required to take the GRE or MAT to strengthen their academic record. Students seeking regular admission can include GRE/MAT scores if they wish, although it is not required.

Can I apply even if I do not meet the Graduate School minimum GPA requirement?

Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be considered for probationary admission. See the Graduate School admission requirements for more information on probationary admission.

Will I receive confirmation that my application is complete?

No, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that his or her application is complete. E-mail is the best way to contact the department with application inquiries: edpsydpt@uwm.edu.

Your Answer:
Once I apply for admission, how soon will I be notified about the decision concerning my application?

Notification will generally be within 4 weeks following the March 1 deadline. All applications are held until that date. The date of an application's arrival does not influence admission decisions.

Of those who apply, what proportion of students are admitted?

Generally, about one-half of the applicants are admitted.

What happens if I am not admitted?

There are two primary reasons applicants are denied admission. First, our programs have many more applicants than we can accommodate. There is simply not enough space in our programs to admit all qualified applicants. Second, past academic performance is a very important consideration in the admissions process. Applicants who have satisfactory academic credentials and are not admitted can reapply and will be considered again during the next admissions cycle.

Your Answer:
If I have a master's degree in a related area, must I complete the 48 credits?

Not necessarily. Your advisor can work with you to develop a course-of-study that will complete the certification requirements. Depending upon the Master's degree, 24-42 additional credits may be required.

Will classes taken before admission apply towards my degree?

Only graduate credits may be considered. However, there is no guarantee that graduate courses taken before admission will count towards one's degree. It is up to the individual's advisor to determine whether up to 18 credits taken within the past 5 years are acceptable.

How many units may be transferred from another graduate program?

Eighteen graduate credits, or the equivalent, may be transferred if the credits are accepted by the Graduate School and are approved by one's advisor.

Your Answer:
Must I be a teacher to enter the program to
become a school counselor?

No, under the current school counselor certification standards, no teaching experience or internship is required. Please note that there are significant changes in the curriculum fieldwork/practicum requirements as a result of new Department of Public Instruction standards. All graduates of the school counseling track are eligible for certification as an Initial Educator: K-12.

Your Answer:
Is the program accredited?

The curriculum in each program is designed to be consistent with standards set forth by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Though the program is not specifically CACREP accredited, students are prepared to meet licensure/certification standards in Wisconsin.

Your Answer:
As well as receiving a master's degree in Educational Psychology,
what licenses are available to graduates?

Two different licenses and/or certifications are available: 1) All graduates with a master's degree in Counseling meet initial criteria for the Licensed Professional Counselor (Department of Regulation & Licensing: for information visit www.drl.state.wi.us). Depending on the specific program-of-study, students may also be eligible for certification as: 2) Initial Educator: K-12, five-year license (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: for information visit www.dpi.state.wi.us).

Your Answer:
What can I do with my degree, and what are job prospects?

Students are generally employed in schools or community settings. Because of uncertainty regarding the current budget situation in Wisconsin, placement rates have declined from a high of 90%+ five years ago, to approximately 60%. Students should closely follow state budget deliberations.

Anthony Hains

Area Chair

Counseling Psychology

aahains@uwm.edu

Counseling - School and Community M.S.