Counseling - Graduate
The admissions selection process is designed to
identify students who have potential for completing the counseling
program and achieving licensure as a professional counselor. Due to the
sensitive nature of work in the area of professional counseling,
students are admitted on the basis of many different expressions of
their qualities and abilities: academic preparation, work experience,
and factors relating to character and personality.
Students in this program must reside (or plan to seek initial licensure or certification) in States or Territories whose licensure or certification requirements are satisfied by this curriculum; all students are encouraged to consult the Professional Licensure Disclosure page on the University's website for details.
Academic Preparation
Admission requirements include an undergraduate
degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The program prerequisite courses are
abnormal psychology, developmental psychology/human development,
theories of personality, or equivalents. It is strongly recommended that
the applicant has taken an undergraduate statistics course in addition
to the courses named above; if not, those admitted to the program will
be required to complete the prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited university of their choice or a graduate clinical foundations course. A
minimum GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) in field-related coursework is
expected. Similar proficiency is expected in upper-level work (final 60
hours of bachelor degree work) in the humanities and related science
courses. Performance in coursework in areas such as computer technology,
media design, engineering, and others not as directly relevant to
preparation in behavioral health is given less weight in evaluating
academic preparation. Applicants must provide official transcripts for all
undergraduate and post-graduate work.
Work Experience
Students who have volunteer and/or related work
experience in counseling environments bring an added level
of preparation. This type of experience may be considered when academic
coursework has not been in the psychology/health services/social
sciences area. A current resume, outlining all work and
volunteer experiences, and noting reasons for leaving positions, is
required of all applicants.
Non-Academic Preparation
Personal preparation for graduate-level study in
counseling assumes that the individual demonstrates
sustained personal, emotional, relationship, and lifestyle stability. It is strongly encouraged that applicants have engaged in their own therapy.
Reference Forms
Applicants must submit three completed reference
forms from former professors, professionals within the mental health
field, or work supervisors qualified to comment on the applicant’s
potential for successful graduate study in counseling.
These questionnaires require comments on the applicant’s intellectual,
academic, personal, social, and emotional qualities that may pertain to
graduate study and to success in the field of counseling psychology.
Reference forms are sent to identified references using an online survey platform. Forms may be requested for others.
Personal Statement on Career Development
Applicants must submit a two-page essay. The
topic of the essay should center on professional career development. The
applicant should address how past experiences have influenced their
current decision to pursue higher education. Ultimately, the essay
should illustrate to the reader why the applicant wishes to be in the
counseling profession. The essay should demonstrate the ability to
organize thoughts in writing and present them in a clear manner.
Interview
An interview may be requested of some applicants.