Requirements For Admission to the School Counseling Program

Application to this program is made through the Office of Graduate Studies by submitting the following:

1. Form A (Application for Admission to Graduate Studies). If your undergraduate degree was not obtained at Western Kentucky University an official copy of your transcript(s) must be sent to the Graduate Studies. Students must meet the minimum requirements for Graduate Studies.
    
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores, with a GAP score of 2200 and an Analytical Writing score of at least 3.5.
    
3. Full Admission to the school counseling program requires the approval of the Counseling Programs Admissions Committee. This approval will be based upon:
    
   1. Completion of the initial 6 hours of course work. This should include CNS 550 (Introduction to Counseling) and one additional course.
       
   2. Student submission of a departmental admission packet to the Master's program. This packet includes a picture, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a signed affidavit. The admission packet must be submitted before Form D is signed by your advisor
       
   3. Possession of a valid teaching certificate.
       
   4. One year's satisfactory teaching experience in public or private school. This requirement can be waived with the understanding that the teaching experience is completed prior to or completed concurrently with program completion. In some limited instances it can be waived by the faculty in Counselor Education. The Counseling Faculty has the responsibility of assessing the level of maturity of the candidates and can require additional occupational or academic experiences of the applicant prior to recommendation for certification. Recommendation for provisional certification will not be made until teaching and work experience requirements are met.
       
   5. Demonstration of potential for developing effective relationships with students, teachers, administrators and parents and a knowledge of self. This potential will be determined through a program of self-evaluation by the candidate and an evaluation of the student by the Counseling Faculty. Some counseling courses my require learning which focuses on self-understanding and self-disclosure. Specific activities and experiences provided in the introductory course (CNS 550) will play a key role in this determination process. In addition, the faculty reserve the right to secure information from other sources, such as employers, supervisors, graduate instructors, and others as needed. Admission to the school counseling program does not guarantee successful graduation from the program.

RELATED LINKS:

• General information on Admission (download admission forms)