Admission Requirements

The requirements for the role of counselor are both personal and intellectual. Thus, program faculty review completed application materials, and they consider applicants’ readiness for counseling training based on these criteria. Qualified applicants are invited for an interview with the faculty, during which the faculty further assess the personal qualities, goals, and academic background of applicants. Applicants may be admitted who meet both the personal and academic requirements of the program. To be eligible for admission to graduate programs in the Department of Counselor Education, the following requirements apply: 

1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate work, or a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate work. 

2. Submission of an acceptable score on the GRE (290/3.5) or the MAT (389) is optional.

3. Three positive references from professors, faculty advisors, employers, and/or supervisors who have knowledge of an applicant’s personal characteristics and/or academic abilities. 

4. A satisfactory criminal background check for all states of residence for the past five years, along with a residence verification statement. The purpose of the criminal background check is to meet requirements of some field placement sites in which students learn and practice counseling methods. Criminal background histories obtained for employment purposes are not acceptable for admission to the counseling programs. Information received pertaining to criminal background histories will become part of the student’s confidential permanent academic file. Any conviction or pending criminal charges cited in the criminal history will be reviewed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, and the Department of Counselor Education Faculty.  Any allegations or charges of misdemeanor(s) or felony(s) that occur after the criminal background check has been submitted must be reported immediately to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and to the Chair of Counselor Education. Failure to report allegations of such charges may result in immediate dismissal from the program. 

5. A successful interview with faculty in the program. 

In addition to the requirements listed above, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program requires applicants to have completed a minimum of 12 hours of psychology or related areas, to include psychopathology or abnormal psychology. There are no prerequisite courses required for admission to the School Counseling Program. However, two courses in the program have prerequisites that may be taken concurrently with graduate courses. An undergraduate course in abnormal psychology or psychopathology must be completed before taking the corresponding advanced-level course. Although teacher licensure is not required for admission to the School Counseling Program, applicants without teacher licensure will be required to complete an undergraduate prerequisite course in classroom management prior to the practicum.