School Counseling Accelerated Master's Program

The  SC-AMP allows GWU undergraduate students to begin work in the School Counseling degree program while completing their degree in psychology.  Students enrolled in this program can take up to four graduate courses (12 hours) toward the SC degree while completing their final fall and spring semesters of an undergraduate degree in psychology at GWU. If they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each graduate course, twelve hours of graduate courses will count in both the undergraduate and the graduate programs. 

Qualified Gardner-Webb University undergraduate students may apply for admission to the Accelerated Master’s Program in the Department of Counselor Education as follows: 

Admission Requirements 

Students may submit their application to the program once they are registered for at least 90 undergraduate credit hours toward a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree. 

Earned at least 90 undergraduate credits toward a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 or in the last 60 hours no later than the spring before the fall semester start when AMP coursework begins; 

Submit one letter of reference from a professor, faculty advisor, employer, or supervisor who has knowledge of an applicant’s personal characteristics and/or abilities; 

Obtain approval of their course plan from their undergraduate advisor and from the AMP program advisor for School Counseling (Dr. Linda Greene); 

Apply for the SC-AMP through the School of Psychological Science and Counselor Education; 

Interview with SC faculty.

Traditional Undergraduate (TUG) students who meet admissions requirements during the semester of completing 90 hours toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology and successfully interview are accepted into the AMP in School Counseling (SC) program. They will join the SC Program’s 1st-year cohort during the fall of their senior year of completing an undergraduate degree in psychology. If accepted students maintain a B or better in both fall courses and meet dispositional expectations, they will be granted a continuance for the following spring semester and may apply for admission to the School Counseling graduate degree program. 

Courses 

All degree requirements for the 60-credit-hour SC will remain the same. The eligible psychology courses for the SC-AMP are below: 

·      CEDU 610 (Counseling Theories) may serve as credit for a 400-level elective in the psychology major 

·      CEDU 615 (The Helping Relationship) may serve as credit for a 400-level elective in the psychology major 

·      CEDU 640 (Counselor as Professional, Practitioner, & Consultant) may serve as credit for a 400-level elective in the psychology major 

·     CEDU 665 (Multicultural Counseling) may serve as credit for a 400-level elective in the psychology major 


Admission To Master’s Programs Post AMP 

Students admitted to the SC-AMP who achieve a 3.0 GPA or better in their graduate-level courses, maintain at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and meet year-end evaluation criteria will be granted admission to the SC program upon receiving their Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree and completion of the following additional admission requirements.  If they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each graduate course, twelve hours of graduate courses will count in both the undergraduate and the graduate programs. 


Program-specific admission requirements for full acceptance into the SC master’s program are the following: 

1. Documented positive assessment from program faculty to determine readiness.
 
2. Proof of a satisfactory criminal background check for all states of residence within the past 5 years with a residence verification statement
 
3. Psychopathology (PSYC 401) or Abnormal Psychology is a prerequisite for all students before taking the advanced psychopathology course in the graduate counseling program. 

4. A course in classroom management is a prerequisite for the Practicum in School Counseling course. GWU’s College of Education course EDUC 375 will meet this prerequisite, which does not have to be completed prior to admission. 
The requirements for the role of counselor are both personal and intellectual. Thus, program faculty review completed application materials and consider applicants’ readiness for counseling training based on these criteria. Applicants who meet both the personal and academic requirements of the program will be admitted.