Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Master of Arts in College Counseling (CLCL)


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The College Counseling Program is designed for students who are interested in working as professional counselors in institutions of higher education. It is a minimum of a 50 credit hour program leading to professional counseling licensure in Michigan. Candidates selected for this program are expected to make a major commitment to graduate training and to enroll in course work on a regular basis. The program includes a 600-clock-hour supervised counseling internship experience. The College Counseling Program is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body that evaluates and grants accreditation to graduate-level programs in professional counseling. The program meets the academic and internship requirements for limited licensure as a professional counselor (LLPC) in the State of Michigan. Information on the post-master’s requirements for full licensure as a professional counselor is available in the student handbook for Counseling Programs.

Information pertaining to the internship can be found on the department website here.

Admission Requirements


Admission to all programs is selective. The selection process is designed to assess the candidate’s suitability for graduate study and a professional career in counseling. Candidates who are selected for these programs are expected to make major commitments to their graduate training.

Applicants must have:

  • A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Evidence of academic aptitude for graduate-level study, that includes at least one of the following:
    • A 2.75 overall undergraduate GPA, or a 3.0 GPA in the second half of the undergraduate degree program.
    • A graduate GPA of a 3.3 on a previously completed advanced degree.
    • The GRE scores may not be more than five years old. The student must score at the 50 percentile or above to be accepted.
    • Applicants not meeting other criteria, but having an acquired knowledge of the counseling field based on five years of related experience may be eligible. Students applying under this provision must contact the coordinator of advising for specific procedures prior to applying to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
  • English language proficiency International students must meet at least one of the following additional criteria: a. An official score report from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Test System (IELTS) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) must be sent by the testing service directly to the University. Student score reports, faxes or photocopies will not be considered official. Minimum scores for admission is 550 (Paper-based Test), or 79 (Internet-based Test) for the TOEFL; 77 on MELAB; or 6.5 (or higher) on the IELTS. If the TOEFL is taken, the Test of Written English (TWE) is also required. A conditional admission may be available to those students falling just below the minimum score requirements.
  • Personal Statement A one-page statement, focusing on the applicant’s motivation and rationale for seeking admission to the specific program as well as his or her background and goals related to professional studies.
  • Résumé A focused summary of program-relevant educational, career and/or life experiences.
  • Three recommendations Applicants must submit recommendation forms from three professional supervisors and/or supervising professors that address the quality of the applicant’s professional work. The completed forms are due within the online Application for Graduate Admissions. By entering the recommenders email address within the online application, they will be able to upload a letter and the required recommendation form directly to your application. The recommendation form must come directly from your reference.

Each applicant will receive a rating on the following criteria: academic potential based on grade-point average; the quality, extensiveness and relevance of career/life/educational experiences to the field of college counseling; professional goals/objectives; and recommendations. Based on these ratings, applicants may move to the second phase of the process.

Applicants admitted to the second phase of the selection process will be invited to campus to participate in a personal interview. They will also receive information about programs of study, faculty expectations, and related topics such as professional counselor licensure. Applicants may be asked to submit additional materials at this time. Based on the evaluation of all materials and the interviews, admissions decisions will be made.

The admissions appeal procedure provides each applicant with the opportunity to formally appeal the admissions decision. Appeals must be based on an applicant’s perception that his/her due process rights were violated during the admissions process. The procedure is not intended for applicants who do not meet minimum standards for admission as outlined above. An appeal must begin within five working days of the start of the semester following the admissions decision. Applicants wishing to appeal must contact the Coordinator of Advising to obtain written information regarding the appeal procedure.

Program advisors will be assigned after students have been admitted to the School Counseling Program. The advisor will assist the student in developing the program of graduate study that is required for full admission to the school counseling program. All courses and subsequent changes must be approved by the advisor. Transfer credit can be used toward graduation only if it has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor and is within Graduate School guidelines. The master’s degree program must be completed within a six-year period.

Completed applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Department Information


Leadership & Counseling, College of Education

Ron Flowers, Ed.D. | Department Head | 304 Porter | 734.487.0255 | rflowers@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Perry Francis, Ph.D. | Professor | COE Clinical Suite | 135 Porter | 734.487.4410 | pfrancis@emich.edu

Irene Ametrano, Ph.D. | Professor | 304 Porter | 734.487.0255 | iametrano@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 55 hours


The following outline describes the general program requirements for the 55-hour college counseling program.

Supervised Counseling Experiences (required): 8 hours


Elective Courses: 2 hours minimum


Students select electives with their advisors to enhance their professional growth. They may choose from this list or from other COUN courses that meet their objectives.

Additional Program Information


For more information about the program, admissions, etc., contact the department head or visit www.emich.edu/coe/lc

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