The Alverno College Community Psychology Master's program will help you to meet your goals of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. On your way, you will engage with community issues and organizations as you learn the connections between community well being and the well being of the individuals therein.
Here you will engage issues of healing and justice. The courses you take will prepare you with the foundation and skills you need to be a good counselor. You will do more than this however. You will learn ways to deeply engage the important social issues that affect people every day.
Accreditation
We are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, we have designed our curriculum to follow state of Wisconsin requirements for licensure, as well as the CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs) guidelines.
Practicum requirement
Students will be required to complete a 700-hour supervised practicum experience toward the end of the program. We will work with you to find a suitable placement. In some instances, you may be able to complete part of your practicum at your current worksite if appropriate work and supervision can be arranged.
Licensed for Clinical Practice
Graduates will be eligible for Wisconsin’s Licensed Professional Counselor designation. To receive this license, graduates will have to complete post-master's supervised hours and take the National Counselor Examination, as well as the State of Wisconsin Jurisprudence Exam. (Graduates may be able to obtain a Counselor-in-Training License while they are completing post-graduate supervised hours toward full licensure.)
Outcomes
Throughout the program, you will be challenged to demonstrate your understanding of five core outcomes that will guide your coursework, as well as your career in community psychology.
Theoretical reasoning related to the individual and community - Engage in theory related to the individual and to the systems that mutually affect individuals and communities, particularly as these theories encompass an understanding of prevention strategies, counseling and research.
Methodological proficiency and relevance - Apply theory and methods of prevention, counseling, research and evaluation within a variety of social and cultural contexts.
Professional interaction - Communicate effectively with people across a variety of professional contexts, including interactions with clients and other service providers, inter-organizational collaborations, community research, interdisciplinary management, program evaluation and consultation.
Self-monitoring and reflection - Discern the quality of self-performance and self-awareness related to ethical professional practice including multicultural competence.
Ethical insight and action - Respond to the needs of others with sensitivity to various perspectives and make ethical and moral decisions to complex, real-world dilemmas.
MSCP Frequently Asked Questions
What are the admission requirements? An application to our program is free. The required pieces are:
Official transcripts showing a baccalaureate or advanced degree
Portfolio
Criminal Background Check – A criminal background check is required for the program, but not at this time. This will be discussed in class during the first semester.
How much time will it take me to complete this program? This is a 60-credit program. You can take up to 9 credits per semester and up to 9 credits each summer. Some students have completed the program in 2.5 years. Many complete within 3 years.
Do I have to take 9 credits a semester? No. You can take 3, 6, or 9 credits any semester. You can go at your own pace.
When do the classes meet? During the fall and spring semesters, most classes meet every other weekend, on Friday evening, Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon. Some classes meet every other week night. Classes are generally 4 hours long and are very interactive.
Can I get my LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) when I finish this program? Yes! The Alverno College Master of Science in Community Psychology degree is approved by the State of Wisconsin for licensure as an LPC. Once you finish the program you are eligible for the Licensed Professional Counselor-in Training (LPC-IT) credential. You then engage in 3000 hours of post-master’s supervised practice and take the National Counseling Exam to be eligible for the LPC license.
What if I have a degree other than psychology? Can I still be accepted into this program? Yes. Our students have bachelor’s degrees from several different fields including social science, community leadership, nursing, English, philosophy, and women’s and gender studies, to name a few. The Admissions Committee will look at your ability to think critically and to write at a graduate level. You will submit writing samples that will help them assess your ability to engage in successful graduate work.
