To be eligible for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (min. 3.0 GPA). In addition to psychology majors, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, communication, and education majors can apply to the program. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission and should contact an enrollment adviser for more information.
- A minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework in the social sciences. Courses from the following academic disciplines are considered social science for the purposes of applying to the program: psychology, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, communication, education, and political science.
- Exams, such as the GRE, are not required for admission.
How to Apply
We encourage you to schedule an appointment with an enrollment adviser or attend an Information Session before starting your application.
Step 1. Complete the UW-Parkside Graduate Application
- Visit your.uwp.edu/apply to login or create an account.
Step 2. Submit Official Transcripts
Official transcripts must be submitted for all colleges and universities you have attended, whether courses will transfer or not. All transcripts must be official and come directly from the institution.
- If you are a graduate of UW-Parkside, then you do not need to submit your UW-Parkside transcripts. For UW-Parkside graduates who transferred to UW-Parkside, the Admissions Office may also have transcripts from other institutions you attended.
- If you attended graduate school, all graduate transcripts must be submitted, whether or not you completed the program. If you left another graduate program prior to earning a degree, then you will need to submit documentation (e.g., a letter) from the director of the graduate program indicating that you were in good standing when you left the program. Documentation of good standing should be sent from the director of the previous graduate program via e-mail directly to Dr. Robtrice Brawner, Coordinator of CMHC Program, cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu.
Arrange to have your official transcripts sent to the UW-Parkside Admissions Office, admissions@uwp.edu. Transcripts submitted through an electronic service, such as Parchment, or by mail, will also be accepted. If you have questions regarding which transcripts we already have or about submitting transcripts, please contact the Admissions Office.
Step 3. Submit Two Personal Essays
As part of your application, you must submit two personal essays (1-2 pages, APA Style) to the UW-Parkside Admissions Office, admissions@uwp.edu. Answer each essay thoroughly with specific examples where applicable. Program faculty review essays for content, quality of writing, and clarity.
- Essay 1: Counselors engage in professional relationships with individuals, families, and communities. Explain your career goals and how they align with the CMHC program. In addition, describe how your personal characteristics and interpersonal skills will support your ability to manage the emotional impact of counseling work?
- Essay 2: The CMHC program at UW-Parkside and the counseling profession are committed to training counselors to develop competencies in multicultural counseling, advocacy, and social justice. Describe how your lived experiences have informed your understanding of cultural differences. In addition, how have those experiences prepared you to develop a respect for and understanding of cultural differences that may impact effective counseling relationships with potential clients.
Step 4: Request Three Letters of Recommendation
You must request three professional recommendations (at least one academic recommendation and one professional recommendation) from people familiar with your education and/or work experience. Recommendations can be from full-time or part-time work; paid, volunteer or internship work; and from human services or other types of work experience. Recommendations from work experiences must be from individuals with a supervisory relationship to you. Personal recommendations are not acceptable, such as those from family members, co-workers, friends, one’s personal mental health counselor, one’s personal clergy member, etc.
The letters of recommendation and completed recommendation rating form must be submitted directly to Admissions by the person providing the recommendation. Please share this link with the people providing your recommendations: uwex.wisconsin.edu/clinical-mental-health-counseling/recommender-information/
Step 5: Send Your Resume
Send your current, professional resume to the UW-Parkside Admissions Office, admissions@uwp.edu.
- Your resume should be titled “Resume_Last Name”.
- The subject line of your e-mail should be “CMHC – Resume –Last Name”.
UW-Parkside Admissions Office Contact Information
You may also submit application materials to the UW-Parkside Admissions Office by mail.
UW-Parkside Admissions
900 Wood Rd
Kenosha, WI 53144
Telephone: 262-595-2355
Email: admissions@uwp.edu