The Counselor Education department is committed to attracting, enrolling, and retaining a diverse student body. Selection for admission to Counselor Education master's degree programs is based on past academic performance, relevant work/volunteer experience, and appropriateness of professional goals. The department looks for well-qualified applicants whose career goals are aligned with what the Counselor Education department can help students achieve, and who have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and our department’s mission.
Acceptance Rates
Each year, the Counselor Education department admits a new cohort of approximately 60 master's degree students, or 15 per specialty area. The department receives over 300 applications each year. The average undergraduate GPA is 3.63. On average, 70% of admitted students have completed at least one prerequisite course prior to or during the admissions cycle.
Applicant Profile
- Academics - Applicants must have completed their bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution prior to enrollment in the fall. All undergraduate degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree. Students may have completed their degree in any area of study (social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, etc.), although demonstration of an understanding of social and behavioral sciences is preferred.
- Experience - Applicants should have past experience, paid or volunteer, in a related human services setting, including schools, inpatient or outpatient mental health settings, child welfare services, etc. Although relevant experience is not required, social service experience is highly valued.
- Commitment to Diversity - Applicants should show a commitment to diversity in this evolving cultural landscape and demonstrate a potential to blend values with knowledge and skills in the counseling field.
Evaluation Process
Counselor Education faculty review each application. Applications are rated across the following criteria:
- Past academic performance
- Relevant work/volunteer experience
- Evaluation of a personal statement
- Evaluation of a two recommendation forms
- Performance at an interview
Qualified applicants are invited to an interview, to be held in early March of each year. A date will be set and communicated in early fall.
Admission decisions are made beginning in late March or early April and applicants are given approximately two weeks to secure their commitment to the program.
Resources for students preparing to apply for a master's degree
*Application materials are subject to change. Check back to ensure that you are using the most up-to-date versions. Sample materials are simply guides intended to help structure your own materials, not a template.
Program Admissions Detail Links