Graduate Information Handbook & Application Materials
Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are professionals who administer psychotherapy services to a number of populations. LPCs assist clients with a wide range of problems from marriage discord, substance abuse, and mood disorders. The key function of an LPC is to be attentive to clients’ problems and help them to develop adaptive strategies for coping.
Special Program for LPC Curriculum
Program Information
Many of the students in our graduate programs are working full-time and have families, so we strive to provide a practical, yet, challenging program that is also student friendly. The strong majority of our courses are available in the evenings or on weekends.
Further, as a program designed toward the educational requirements for Oklahoma licensure, this program serves as a supplement to a completed master's degree in a related field. It is important to note that successful completion of these course sequences qualifies the candidate for licensure application eligibility under the current Oklahoma rules and regulations. State law requires application, including further supervision hours and successful completion of examinations to become licensed.
One must meet with their advisor to develop a plan of study.
The following course sequences are based on the completion of SWOSU Department of Education programs. If your master's degree was completed elsewhere, there might be slight variation in necessary coursework - your advisor will work with you to determine the best course of action. Course requirements subject to change based on current Oklahoma Law.
- Upon completion of Master of Science degree in Community Counseling, additional courses are required. Please see page 44 of the SWOSU Graduate Catalog for a complete listing of required courses.
- Upon completion of the Master of Education degree in School Counseling, additional courses are required. Please see page 45 of the SWOSU Graduate Catalog for a complete listing of required courses.
- Upon completion of the dual School Psychology program (M.Ed. School Psychometry, ED.S. School Psychology), additional courses are required. Please see page 45 of the SWOSU Graduate Catalog for a complete listing of required courses.
Admission to SWOSU
If you have not previously attended SWOSU, the first step is admittance to the University. Click here to apply.
Admission to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Curriculum Program
This is a non-degree conferring program
- Bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association is required.
- A graduate degree in counseling or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association is required.
An undergraduate or graduate statistics course is strongly recommended.
- A graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
OR
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 – 2.99 on a 4.0 scale (overall undergraduate Ret/Grad GPA, (or) GPA on the last 60 semester hours) with a satisfactory minimum score with respect to the following equation of GPA and GRE scores: GPA x 100 + GRE = 530 (The GRE score will be a sum of the scores on the verbal and quantitative tests.)
- A University Application for Admission or Readmission should be completed either online or on paper and sent to the Academic Records's office.
Apply to the Program - Step-by-Step Process
The following steps should be completed and forms sent to the Graduate Office via e-mail to graduatestudies@swosu.edu or 100 Campus Dr., Weatherford, OK 73096:
- Complete and submit the Application for Graduate Admission
- Complete and submit the Transfer of Credits Form (The Nine-Hour Policy Agreement)
- Official transcript(s) of all credit earned (including undergraduate)
- Complete and submit two Master of Science Recommendation Forms.
- These recommendations should be completed by individuals who are in a position to rate academic aptitude, motivational, and character/disposition factors.
- Forms should be sent directly from the reference to the Graduate Office
- Complete and submit the OSBI background check dated within one year of the application. We only need the Name search, not the fingerprints;
therefore, the total cost is $15. Please return the OSBI background check to the chair
of the department, Dr. Barnett. You can fax it to 580.774.7154 or mail it to her attention
at 100 Campus Drive, Weatherford, OK 73096.
- All prospective students in the M.Ed. and M.S. Education Programs must submit an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) record check.
- Students must submit an OSBI record check to the Department of Education by the application deadline. Submit the ORIGINAL OSBI Check – no alterations to the sheet(s) will be accepted. If you mail in the application it will take three to four weeks. If you go in person, the OSBI check takes approximately 15 minutes.
Students can send completed application to
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal History Reporting Unit
6600 N. Harvey, Building# 140
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116
Or can go in person to
OSBI (close to 63rd and Broadway Ext.)
From 63rd turn north on Robinson (One block West of Broadway Ext.)
And go to sign saying Building #6
Enter door on south side of OSBI building
Go to window and fill out application
Deadlines
The deadlines for application for the LPC Curriculum Program are June 1st for the Fall Semester and November 1st for the Spring Semester.
Acceptance
Acceptance will require completing an on-campus face-to-face interview. The interviews are typically scheduled for June for Fall applicants and November for Spring applicants. Applicants will be notified about interview information through the e-mail address provided on the application. Interview information will not be sent out until the application deadline has passed (Notification of interview will be sent after June 1st for the Fall semester and after November 1st for the Spring Semester).
Upon acceptance into this graduate program, the candidate must successfully complete a Plan of Study with his/her advisor.
Note: Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Tuition Waiver
The College of Professional and Graduate Studies offers the opportunity for a tuition waiver. To apply for the waiver, you must have been admitted to the graduate program, have completed coursework at SWOSU, be currently enrolled in a minimum of six graduate hours, have a minimum of a 3.50 GPA and must be an Oklahoma Resident. We encourage you to apply for the tuition waiver for every semester after your first if you qualify. Click here for the application form.
Advisor
Dr. Amy Barnett serves as the graduate advisor for all Community Counseling students. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact her at 580.774.3154 or amy.barnett@swosu.edu.
As outlined in the Transfer of Credit form, you are permitted to take up to nine hours of coursework prior to full admission. If you wish to do so, you must contact Amy Barnett at amy.barnett@swosu.edu to create a plan of study.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Amy Barnett, Director
amy.barnett@swosu.edu
580.774.3154