The mission of the Counseling and Development Program at Winthrop University is to provide an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment for the professional development of school and clinical mental health counselors who are committed to the skill sets and best practice in their roles as clinicians, advocates, and consultants.
The program strives to prepare culturally competent, culturally sensitive, and ethical counselors to work effectively in a technological and pluralistic society. The faculty designs and delivers academic and clinical experiences for all our students in ways that recognize, respect, and value the diversity of students' backgrounds, characteristics, beliefs, and abilities.
To learn more about the online program, visit our Online Master of Education in Counseling and Development webpage.
Graduate Program Co-Directors:
Dr. Beth Costner
costnerb@winthrop.edu
803/323-2151
Dr. Patricia Arter
arterp@winthrop.edu
803/323-4858
On-Site Clinics
Students have opportunities to practice skills and interventions through on-site counseling clinics.
State Certification
In all 50 states, graduates are compatible with state certification in school counseling, national counselor certification, and state licensure for professional counselors.
Accreditation
Nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Clinical mental health counselors work in diverse settings such as: mental health, substance abuse, employee assistance programs, college counseling and career planning, and private practice settings.
There are no prerequisites to enter the program.
Time to completion: 2 years
Total Credits: 60
Format: Campus-based
Curriculum (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration)
School counselors provide effective psychological and behavioral interventions to support academic, career, and personal/social. The school counseling concentration program prepares graduates to work as counselors in public and private P-12 school settings.
There are no prerequisites to enter the program.
Time to completion: 2 years
Total Credits: 60
Format: Campus-based
M.Ed. in Counseling and Development Application Deadline: December 15 for summer admission only
Note: All admission materials must be received by the Graduate Studies office before an application will be reviewed.
Application requirements for the M.Ed. in Counseling and Development program include:
The online Graduate Studies application and non-refundable application fee.
Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Note: Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate Studies office from the issuing institution(s).
Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Three professional recommendations - you will be required to provide the names and e-mail addresses of your three individuals in the online admissions application. These three individuals will then receive an e-mail asking them to complete the online recommendation form.
Official Test scores*
Graduate Record Examination score of 146 on the Verbal Reasoning section and 140 on the Quantitative Reasoning section are preferred, OR
Miller Analogies Test (scale score of 392 preferred).
*The GRE/MAT testing requirement is waived if the undergraduate GPA is at least 3.0, or a previous graduate degree has been earned.
Resume.
A brief statement of purpose articulating your reasons for pursuing a master's in counseling and why you are a good fit for the field of counseling (1-2 pages).
Background check - Submit a complete background check through the following vendor: S2VERIFY Background Check.
"The Counseling and Development program at Winthrop has been everything I’ve wanted and more from a graduate program. After teaching for three years, I thought I wanted to transition to counseling and after my first class at Winthrop, I knew I had made the right choice in schools. The professors are always available to provide honest, useful feedback, and I have gained a lot from their wisdom."
This program provides a background in and leadership to prepare you for a variety of counseling roles. Our graduates are equipped for positions that include:
College Counseling
Career Planning
Substance Abuse Counselor
Mental Health Advocate
Clinical Social Worker
Marriage and Family Therapist
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Requirements for professional licensure in counseling vary from state to state. Winthrop’s
School Counseling program is designed to meet SC and NC licensure requirements for
school counseling and may not meet requirements from other states. We are unable to
make a determination about whether or not our program will lead to licensure in other
states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, we strongly
recommend you contact the state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering
will meet that state's licensing requirements.