Professional Counseling - M.S. Degree

Earn your Master of Science in Professional Counseling at Wisconsin Lutheran College and provide compassionate, ethical care in a wide range of mental health settings.

When people are struggling with their mental health, a caring, professional counselor can be transformational. Through WLC’s Master of Science in Professional Counseling, you’ll learn to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, use evidence-based techniques, design effective interventions, and advocate for healing — motivated by God’s love for all people.

A master’s or doctoral degree is required to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Our 60-credit program on WLC’s Milwaukee campus is designed to prepare you to pursue licensure and can be completed in as few as 21 months, with an extended 33-month progression option for added flexibility.

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Why Become a Professional Counselor?

If you’re thinking about working in the mental health field, you’re not alone — and you’re needed. The demand for compassionate, licensed counselors continues to grow in schools, clinics, hospitals, and community organizations.

As a professional counselor, you’ll walk alongside people in some of their most challenging moments — supporting them through trauma, grief, anxiety, relationship challenges, and life transitions. With the right preparation, you can offer clinically grounded, ethical, and hope-filled care.

You’ll graduate prepared to pursue Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials in Wisconsin — ready to serve others with professional skill, personal integrity, and a servant-leader’s heart.

Why Wisconsin Lutheran College?

The Master of Science in Professional Counseling degree program at WLC is intentionally different.

Mental health counseling through a Christian lens

This isn’t a Christian counseling degree that limits your clinical preparation. It’s a comprehensive clinical, mental health counseling program taught through a Christ-centered lens.

This means:

• You’ll receive robust, evidence-based training that prepares you for licensure and real-world practice.
• You’ll be equipped to serve people of all backgrounds and beliefs with empathy, professionalism, and cultural humility.
• You’ll grow in your ability to care for the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — grounded in a biblical worldview.

An in-person experience with built-in flexibility

Courses are offered in the afternoon to fit your busy life.

You’ll be on campus:

• First two terms: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
• Remaining terms: Tuesday afternoons

You benefit from community and mentoring while still managing work, family, and other responsibilities.

Small, supportive learning community

At WLC, you are known. Our cohort model means you move through the program with a consistent group of peers who encourage and challenge you. Faculty are experienced, practicing counselors who care deeply about your development — not just as a clinician, but as a whole person and servant leader.

Transformational servant-leadership formation

At WLC, you’ll be equipped as a transformational clinical mental health professional through inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation by:

• Engaging in critical thinking, curiosity, and expansive, reflective growth
• Loving others, motivated by God’s grace for all people
• Attending to both the pain and beauty in the lives of yourself and others

It’s not just about earning a degree — it’s about becoming the kind of counselor the world truly needs.

A valuable professional counseling curriculum balances theoretical foundations with practical application. The M.S. in Professional Counseling curriculum at WLC is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions needed for effective and ethical clinical practice.

Sample Courses

• Lifespan Development (COU 601)
  Examine human development from infancy through older adulthood, with attention to biological, cognitive, social, and spiritual dimensions that inform clinical practice.
• Counseling Skills and Strategies (COU 603)
  Develop foundational helping skills, including attending, empathy, reflection, questioning, goal-setting, and intervention planning through practice and feedback.
• Models and Application of Christian Integrative Counseling (COU 613)
  Explore best practices for integrating Christian values with evidence-based psychotherapy in ethically and culturally sensitive ways.

VIEW ALL COURSES AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Additional coursework supports competence in areas such as assessment, psychopathology, group counseling, multicultural counseling, ethics, research, and professional identity development. Together, these courses align with Wisconsin LPC requirements and prepare you for supervised practice and licensure pursuit.

At Wisconsin Lutheran College, we believe the best way to prepare for a career in counseling is through real-world experience, anchored by strong support.

Mentorship from Day One

When you start the program you are paired with a mentor in the counseling field — often an alum or trusted community professional. Your mentor serves as:

• A connection to the broader counseling community
• A sounding board as you discern your areas of interest
• A practical guide who shares wisdom from lived experience

With a mentor, you gain a clearer vision of what your future career can look like and build confidence as you grow into your role as a counselor.

Practicum: Focused Experience

Our program is intentionally front-loaded with coursework so that you can begin your practicum by your first summer in the program. Under supervision, you’ll:

• Work with real clients in approved practicum settings
• Practice the skills and strategies you’ve learned in class
• Receive feedback from licensed professionals and faculty

This early clinical exposure helps you translate theory into practice and build your counseling identity.

Internship: Extending Your Impact

Following practicum, you’ll continue in a more intensive internship experience. We work with you to find an internship that aligns with your vocational goals, which may include:

• Community mental health centers
• School or college counseling centers
• Hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or integrated care teams
• Faith-based or non-profit organizations

Your internship gives you space to refine your methods, work with diverse clients, and gain the hours and experience you need to transition into the workforce.

Supervision and Network-Building

Both practicum and internship experiences are supervised by licensed professionals who provide guidance, challenge, and support. You’ll also remain connected to WLC faculty and your cohort—creating a strong professional network that extends beyond graduation.

This program may be a strong fit if you:

• Feel called to walk alongside people experiencing mental health challenges
• Are currently working in psychology, human social services, ministry, education, health care, or a related field and want to move into licensed clinical practice
• Are a recent college graduate seeking a direct path into counseling
• Desire a Christ-centered graduate community that integrates faith and learning
• Value both rigorous clinical training and personal formation

Whether you’re just starting your journey or changing directions, WLC’s counseling program offers a pathway into meaningful, licensed mental health work.

1. Request Information
   Complete this short form to connect with your graduate admissions advisor to ask questions and receive more detailed program and admission information.
2. Start Your Free Online Application
   Begin your application and take the next step toward becoming a licensed professional counselor.