SWOSU Community Counseling and LPC
Welcome Message
On behalf of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Community Counseling Graduate Program thank you for your interest in our program!
Many of our students in the community counseling program are working full-time and have families, so we strive to provide a practical, yet challenging program that is also student friendly. All our courses are available in the evenings or on weekends. Our program is dedicated to preparing compassionate, competent, and culturally responsive counselors who are equipped to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and communities. Whether you are pursuing a career in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, or other related fields, our program offers a comprehensive curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and supportive resources to guide you toward your professional goals.
Our faculty and staff are committed to providing you with guidance, mentorship, and encouragement throughout your journey in the program. We recognize that each of you brings a unique set of experiences, perspectives, and aspirations to our community. We embrace diversity in all its forms and strive to create an inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued, respected, and supported. Counselors assist diverse populations in a professional and effective manner - assisting children, families, and adults to attain physical, mental, and psychological well-being. A career in counseling is extremely flexible, allowing graduates to select employment that best suits their personality, skills, and interests.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Community Counseling and LPC Program, we extend our best wishes for a fulfilling and enriching educational experience. We are excited to accompany you on this remarkable journey of growth, discovery, and transformation.
Program Overview
As a graduate student in our program, you will embark on a journey of academic rigor, experiential learning, and personal growth that will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the field of counseling.
Our program aligns with licensure requirements and includes coursework and guidance
to help students navigate the path toward becoming Licensed Professional Counselors
(LPCs). To graduate with the Master of Science (M.S.) degree you must complete 11
courses (33 hours). Upon completion of the master’s degree, students wishing to earn
their LPC will complete an additional 15 hours of core LPC coursework and 12 hours
of electives
totaling 60 credit hours.
You will engage in a curriculum carefully crafted to provide you with a solid foundation in counseling theory, techniques, and ethical practice. For a detailed listing of required courses, please refer to pages 31-32 of the SWOSU Graduate Degree Catalog.
Student Testimonials
"My master's program in community counseling at Southwestern Oklahoma State University
has been a transformative experience. The program's blend of academic rigor and practical application
has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful difference in my community. The small class sizes
and dedicated faculty have fostered a supportive and collaborative learning environment, where I felt valued
and encouraged. The online format provided the flexibility I needed to balance my education with my professional
and personal commitments, making my return to school a seamless transition. I had initially hesitated
to pursue my master's degree, fearing it would be overwhelming. However, SWOSU's supportive community and
exceptional resources made the journey not only manageable but truly rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity
to have earned my degree from such a remarkable institution."
~Nicole Morgan
"Counseling is a field that taught me how to think beyondwhat lies in front of me,
as knowing HOW to think is empowering well beyond those who only know WHAT to think. That in itself is absolutely
incredible. The Community Counseling program here at SWOSU not only teaches you how to think, but also how to
effectively communicate that to empower others!"
~ Shannon Marcar
Program Information
Our Mission and Vision
The SWOSU Community Counseling and LPC Program will prepare competent professionals equipped to practice effectively and promote equity with diverse clients (e.g., marginalized populations) within a variety of community, agency, and institutional settings, private practice, and government.
The SWOSU Community Counseling and LPC Program aspires to create a student-centered
program that models healthy relationships and pursues a collective purpose based on
the values of diversity, transparency, integrity, and
community engagement. Our program will continue to build on its strengths to cultivate
servant leaders who make a lasting community impact by positively influencing clients,
students, and the counseling profession. We are committed to training counselors who
are responsive to structural inequities, environmental challenges, and neurological
factors that impact resilience.
Our Core Values and Objectives
The SWOSU Community Counseling and LPC Program will prepare competent professionals:
- Who meet the academic and practice standards necessary to achieve credentialing.
- Who hold membership with appropriate professional organizations.
- Who upheld by the core values and principles of the counseling profession, with special emphasis on self-reflection, growth, and wellness.
Our objectives are highly representative of our philosophy of developing counselors who are well-equipped to serve in the community with a balance of foundational knowledge and clinical skill.
- Prepare and promote professionals who uphold the highest standards of ethical practice as according to the American Counseling Association’s most recent code of ethics.
- Prepare and promote professionals who demonstrate knowledge of established and emerging counseling and educational theories and methods and evidence-based techniques.
- Prepare and promote professionals who will demonstrate, differentiate, and integrate an understanding of mental health, mental illness and disorder, and the counselor’s role in the systemic and individual healing process.
- Prepare and promote professionals who serve as advocates for their clients, for the counseling profession, and for themselves as professionals continuously engaged in life-long learning.
- Prepare and promote professionals who demonstrate cultural humility and engagement as culturally competent professionals. Students will demonstrate an awareness and knowledge of their own cultural values and biases.
The successful evaluation of these objectives is evidenced by meeting the set standards
for academic performance, passing the CAPSTONE exam, and receiving positive feedback
from supervisors during the Practicum experience.
Useful Links
SWOSU Graduate
Degree Catalog LPC Curriculum
Program
Community
Counseling Q&A Admission To
SWOSU
Program
Handbook Application For
Graduate Admission
Admission to The Program
If you have not previously attended SWOSU, the first step is admittance to the University. Apply here.
Admission to the Community Counseling Program
- Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association is required
- An undergraduate or graduate statistics course and two additional courses in Psychology.
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
OR
A cumulative 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).
- 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)
- Submit official transcript(s) of all credit earned
- 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.
Access the background check form here. 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.
Application Deadlines
The deadlines for application for the Master of Science Degree in Community Counseling are as follows:
- June 1 for the Fall Semester.
- November 1 for the Spring Semester.
- April 1 for Summer 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).gg
Upon acceptance into any of these graduate programs, the candidate must successfully complete a Plan of Study with his/her advisor.
Placement into the practicum and internship courses requires approval from the Departmental Internship/Practicum Approval Committee (IPAC).
Note: Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Contact and Additional Information
Mrs. Amy Martin, LPC serves as the graduate advisor for all Community Counseling and LPC students. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact her at (580) 774-3169 or amy.martin@swosu.edu.
Application Materials
- Application Checklist
- Degree Program Catalog Listing (pages 31 - 32)
- Application for Graduate Admission
- Transfer of Credits
- OSBI Background Check
- Community Counseling Q & A