Karen Fischer, M.S. Ed., LPC, assistant professor, is the program director of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s new professional counseling program.

Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) is adding a Master of Science in Professional Counseling degree program, following full approval from the college’s accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission.

The program, designed to equip students with the core educational requirements for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Wisconsin, will launch its first cohort in the fall of 2025.

“The Professional Counseling program at WLC will provide a transformational experience for our students and our communities,” said Karen Fischer, M.S. Ed., LPC, assistant professor and program director. “Our students will be educated to the highest level of professionalism for the career, in a highly relational learning environment, leading them to become excellent clinicians.”

The demand for counseling services is high and increasing quickly. Stress, anxiety, and grief related to the pandemic have resulted in a counselor deficiency in the United States. One-third of the U.S. is currently designated as an area lacking mental health professionals.

This new program offers an accelerated pathway to completion, allowing students to finalize their studies on WLC’s Milwaukee campus in just twenty-one months. Graduates of the program will be uniquely positioned to serve diverse clinical populations, drawing on a vast array of clinical experience opportunities available in the greater Milwaukee area.

Fischer emphasized the holistic approach of the program, which integrates clinical training with spiritual growth. “Alongside all of this, WLC’s professional counselors will be competent in the Christian culture, able to provide compassionate and ethical care that is informed and motivated by God’s love for all people, no matter their future work endeavors,” she noted. “WLC is privileged to offer this program and this transformational learning environment with the help of many friends and partners.”