Master’s in Counseling

Gain skills to counsel diverse communities

The Master's in Counseling program prepares you to make a difference in the world, and to build a career doing it.

Are you driven to support and inspire others? Do you want to help them overcome challenges and become stronger individuals? When you enroll in the online Master’s in Counseling program from PennWest, you’ll be ready for a lifetime of service to others.

This program not only prepares you to make a difference, but to build a career doing it.

The mission of the Counseling Department at PennWest University is to prepare professional counselors who embody ethical and culturally responsive behavior, advocacy and social justice, and a professional identity as a counselor. Students will use these attributes to enhance the well-being of families, groups, couples, and individuals and advocate on behalf of both the counseling profession and those who are served. The faculty at PennWest are a diverse community of counselor educators and art therapists who facilitate students’ development, model appropriate professional behavior, and engage in dynamic teaching, service, leadership, and scholarship. Our students are expected to develop self-awareness, a strong knowledge base, effective counseling skills, and cultural humility to practice ethically and professionally within a diverse society. Consistent with these expectations is the emphasis placed upon graduate student interpersonal effectiveness. This effectiveness includes growth in the dimensions of warmth, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness with others.

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Download the student handbook

CACREP Vital Stats Report - California

2022-2023 Annual Assessment and Evaluation Report

Nationally Ranked

Rated a Top Program in the Northeast by Best Counseling Degrees and ranked #4 among the 10 Best Deals in Online Master’s in School Counseling.

Learn by Doing

Rigorous hands-on training includes both practicum and internship experience.

Accreditation Matters

Although California University and Edinboro University were CACREP accredited before the integration on July 1, 2022, we must apply for CACREP accreditation as a new university. We reapplied to CACREP in January 2023, hope to have a site visit during the spring semester of 2024, and be approved by July 2024. Our Counseling Program is aligned with CACREP Standards and meets all educational requirements for counseling licensure in Pennsylvania.

Fast Facts

2

Number of concentrations in PennWest’s M.S. in Counseling program. Choose the one that suits your interests.

Credits:

Varies by concentration

Format:

Face-to-face

Location:

California

Contact:

Graduate Admissions
gradadmissions@pennwest.edu
724-938-4187

Concentrations

Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling

Core Faculty

Dr. Adrienne Dixon-McCullum
School Counseling Coordinator and Assistant Professor
127 Butterfield @ Edinboro
amdixon@pennwest.edu
814-732-1932

Dr. Grafton Eliason
Professor
312 Building B @ California
eliason@pennwest.edu
724-938-4464

Dr. Julaine E. Field
Associate Professor
204A Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
jfield@pennwest.edu
814-732-2794

Dr. Elizabeth Gruber
Assistant Chair and Professor
313 Building B @ California
gruber@pennwest.edu
724-938-1567

Dr. Sheila Lorenzo de la Peña
Undergraduate Coordinator for Art Therapy and Assistant Professor
204B Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
slorenzo@pennwest.edu
814-732-1237

Dr. Mark Lepore
Professor
Counseling and Professor 128 Harvey @ Clarion
mlepore@pennwest.edu
814-393-2474

Dr. Gabriella Locke
Program Coordinator for Counseling certificates and Assistant Professor
Rehabilitation and Assistant Professor
Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
glocke@pennwest.edu
814-732-2421

Dr. Penelope P. Orr
Professor
125 Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
porr@pennwest.edu
814-732-1684

Dr. Everett Painter
Assistant Chair, Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Professor
126 Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
epainter@pennwest.edu
814-732-1567

Dr. Carolyn Brown Treadon
Program Coordinator for Art Therapy and Assistant Professor Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
ctreadon@pennwest.edu814-732-1104

Dr. Jacqueline A. Walsh
Professor
311 Building B @ California
walsh@pennwest.edu
724-938-4123

Dr. Katherine Wardi-Zonna
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coordinator and Associate Professor
120 Butterfield Hall @ Edinboro
kwardizonna@pennwest.edu
814-732-1256

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • (2) Recommenders
  • Essay
  • Interview
  • GRE/MAT is GPA us below 3.0

The Power of PennWest

PennWest’s three campuses, California, Clarion and Edinboro universities, have been delivering award-winning online programs for more than 20 years. You’ll graduate with a degree from Pennsylvania Western University, completely supported by the expertise and community of learners on our brick-and-mortar campuses.

Flexible. Affordable.
Designed to Meet Your needs.