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Western Illinois University's Department of Counselor Education aims to cultivate socially conscious, diverse students, faculty, and staff who can take leadership roles in our interconnected world. The program focuses on developing both practical and theoretical abilities, celebrates differences in perspectives and backgrounds, and upholds high educational standards with strong ethical principles. Instructors foster an engaging yet nurturing atmosphere that supports individual progress. The department actively seeks students who reflect our multicultural society. At the WIU-QC campus, the department provides a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Counseling, featuring a distinctive curriculum that equips future counselors with essential professional competencies. Program completion demands both scholastic achievement and practical proficiency. Participants can choose between two specializations: Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling. The Clinical Mental Health track trains students for clinical roles in diverse environments such as mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, private practices, university counseling services, and workplace assistance programs. The School Counseling specialization prepares graduates for counseling positions in K-12 educational institutions, both public and private. Notably, this school counseling program stands as Western Illinois University's sole pathway to obtaining school counselor certification.