Ayla Ranta says UW-Superior’s online M.S.E in counseling program gave her the flexibility she needs

Balancing the demands of school, work and personal obligations can be daunting, but University of Wisconsin-Superior graduate student Ayla Ranta is successfully navigating these areas of responsibility while reaching her personal and professional goals.

Ranta earned her Associate of Arts degree in 2020 and received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in behavioral neuroscience from UW-Superior in 2023.

During her undergraduate time, she was nominated to be a member of the Psi Chi International Psychology Honor Society in March 2022 in recognition of her overall GPA and high class ranking and continues to be a member today. In 2023, Ranta began volunteering for LiveWell! Northern WI, a program based out of UW-Superior that works to help combat the current mental health crisis in Douglas County, Wisconsin.

“Due to my recognized leadership skills, I was invited to become a more formal member of the LiveWell! Team in August of 2023 and have been working with them ever since,” said Ranta. “Currently, I organize #BetterTogether activities which help foster connection and prevent social isolation for members of our community.”

Now enrolled in the Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at UW-Superior as an online student, Ranta is nearing the completion of an educational journey that will allow her to provide a much-needed resource to the community.

“I chose to attend UWS because I always wanted to become a therapist,” she said. “I have worked as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) since graduating from the practical nursing program at Lake Superior College in 2018. Since then, I have always wanted to go back to school for what I really wanted to do.”

The Master of Science in Education – Counseling program at UW-Superior, which is the largest program of its kind in the state, is designed for students who want to become professionals in counseling and related fields.

“I was most interested in looking for an affordable and accredited program in my area that allowed me to graduate within two years and gave me the opportunity to test for my Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license after graduating,” said Ranta, who grew up in South Range, Wisconsin. “UWS was a practical choice as I live in Superior, and it is an affordable program in comparison to other local universities. Additionally, I had some wonderful professors like Dr. Eleni Pinnow in my undergraduate program here at UWS and I thought, if the graduate program was anything like the education I experienced for my undergrad degree, I needed to stick with UWS.”

In-person or online, students in the M.S.E. – Counseling program engage in two years of intensive professional development, building skills and gaining knowledge through traditional classroom instruction, practicums and an internship experience. Experienced faculty are dedicated to student success.  

“The online aspect of the program has given me the ability to complete my work flexibly, which has allowed me to balance my other responsibilities,” said Ranta.

UW-Superior’s M.S.E. – Counseling program has three areas of concentration – both on campus and online – for students to choose from. Areas include Marriage and Family, Licensed School Counselor and Clinical Mental Health Counselor, which is the area Ranta chose.

“This program has allowed me to deepen my understanding of certain counseling theories and tools that I can use in my future profession,” she said. “Several of these therapies and techniques include behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reduction, person-centered therapy, existential therapy and motivational interviewing. The tools and techniques found in these styles of therapy will be what my personal model of counseling is built on in my future profession as a therapist.”

After graduation, Ranta hopes to work in an integrative clinic that has a mind, body, and spirit approach to mental health and wellbeing. Believing nutrition, physical activity, and therapy are all extremely important aspects of holistic health, she wants to be a part of a team that helps clients heal from the inside out.

“Therapy is important for working through aspects of a client’s life including attachment styles and exploring stored trauma in the body,” she said. “Although a therapist can assist in clients increasing their awareness and cognitions around life’s challenges, it is also important to work as a team that explores other aspects of a client’s life like their diet and exercise regimen which are central in holistic health.”

Set to graduate in the fall of 2025, Ranta is close to realizing another goal accomplished.

“Earning my master’s degree will be a huge accomplishment that will represent all of my hard work and dedication to helping others,” said Ranta. “Personally, earning this degree is important to me after experiencing my own struggles with mental health. I want to be able to help others who are experiencing similar issues that I once faced walk through their healing journey. Professionally, I am eager to use my education and professional experience to help people learn tools and techniques to navigate life’s obstacles more productively.”

The Master of Science in Education – Counseling program at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is designed for students who want to become professionals in counseling and related fields. You’ll engage in two years of intensive professional development, building your skills and gaining new knowledge through traditional classroom instruction, practicums and an internship experience. You will learn from experienced top faculty who are dedicated to your success.  The program meets Wisconsin state licensure requirements and satisfies many other states’ and countries’ requirements, as well.