Graduate Catalog 2026-2027

Counseling, Master of Arts in Education (043)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/csa/


Program Coordinator

Jill Duba Sauerheber, jillduba.sauerheber@wku.edu, (270) 745-4953

The MAE in Counseling has two concentrations and meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in most states across the country. The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling concentrations in the Counseling master's degree program.

Concentration(s)

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
  • Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (CMCF)

Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)

This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.

Program Admission

Information related to admissions processes, application requirements and associated deadlines are found on Department's website. 

Graduate Studies Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.

Program Requirements (60 hours)

Required Courses
CNS 552Testing and Assessment in Counseling3
CNS 554Group Counseling 13
CNS 555Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling 13
CNS 556Developmental Career Counseling3
CNS 557Human and Family Development in Counseling3
CNS 558Theories of Counseling 13
CNS 559Techniques of Counseling 13
CNS 560Professional Studies in Clinical, Family and School Counseling 13
CNS 567Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling3
CNS 588Family Systems Counseling3
CNS 591Clinical Mental Health/Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Practicum 23
CNS 592Crisis, Trauma and Violence Counseling3
CNS 596Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Internship 36
CNS 598Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling3
CNS 637Theories of Addiction3
Select a Concentration12
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration (CMHC)
Select 12 hours in consultation with program advisor
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration (MCFC)
Couples Counseling
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Practice and Process
Select 6 hours in consultation with program advisor
Advanced Play Therapy
Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Sandtray Techniques in Counseling
Counseling Substance and Process Addictions
Counseling Children and Adolescents
Play Therapy
Total Hours60
1

A grade of B or better must be earned in CNS 554, CNS 555, CNS 558, CNS 559 and CNS 560 to be eligible for enrollment in Practicum (CNS 591).  

2

A grade of B or better is required in CNS 591 in order to be eligible for Internship (CNS 596).

3

A grade of B or better is required in both sections of CNS 596 to meet graduation requirements. 

4

Students must attend a Professional Practice Orientation, as well as meet various requirements in order to be eligible for enrollment in Practicum (CNS 591). 

5

All counseling students are expected to meet the Professional Performance Criteria (outlined in the Counseling Student Handbook) throughout their matriculation in the program.  

All students must pass a final comprehensive examination. Comprehensive examinations are given in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students must meet the criteria established by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in order to be eligible to take the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam policy and application may be found at www.edu/csa/sc/comp_exam.