Program Admission

EMU will admit a maximum of 20 students per year to this certificate program. Applicants will be considered on a competitive basis, with the following criteria representing minimum requirements for admission.

All admission materials, both graduate school, and certificate program are submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. To be considered for admission, candidates must provide evidence of each of the following criteria:

1. Application
2. An official transcript showing evidence of a. Past completion of - or current enrollment in - a master’s degree program in school counseling. b. A grade point average of 3.3 for those who already possess a master’s degree program in school counseling or of 3.5 for those who are currently enrolled in a master’s degree program in school counseling.
3. Proof of School Counselor Credential (only for Regular Admission)
4. International students must meet the following additional criteria: a. An official score report from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) must be sent by the testing service directly to the University. Student copies will not be accepted. Contact the testing service for more information. A conditional admission may be available to those students falling just below the minimum score requirements.
5. Personal Statement: A one-page narrative statement focusing on the applicant’s motivation and rationale for seeking admission to the program as well as his or her background and goals related to professional studies.
6. Resume: A focused summary of program relevant educational, career, and/or life experiences.
7. Three Recommendations: These must be completed on recommendation rating forms available from the Leadership and Counseling Department. They should be completed by professionals with knowledge of the applicant’s suitability for graduate work (e.g., supervisors or undergraduate professors) and suitability to the profession of school counseling.

Each applicant will receive a rating on the following criteria: academic potential based on the grade-point average; the quality, extensiveness and relevance of career/life/educational experiences to the field of school 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 may be invited to campus to participate in a personal interview. They will also receive information about programs of study and faculty expectations. Applicants may be asked to submit additional materials at this time. Based on the evaluation of all materials and the interview, admissions decisions will be made. Program advisors will be assigned after students have been admitted to the Certificate Program. The advisor will assist the student in developing the program of study that is required. 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 certificate program must be completed within a three-year period.

Department Information

Leadership & Counseling | 304 Porter, 734.487.0255

Beth Kubitskey, Ph.D., Interim Department Head, 206 Porter, 734.487.1416, mkubitske1@emich.edu

Advisor Information

Patrice Bounds, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, 304M Porter, 734.487.2804, pbounds@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 12 hours

Students in the Postsecondary Planning Specialist Certificate Program for School Counselors take all course work below. Please note that there are prerequisites that must be met prior to enrolling in some of these required courses.

• COUN 590 - Special Topics 1 hr

• * The 1 credit hour “Special Topics” course required for this program is “Financial Aid Foundations for School Counselors.”

• COUN 591 - Special Topics 2 hrs

• ** There is on required 2 credit hour “Special Topics” course as part of this program: “Postsecondary Planning with Families and Special Populations.”

• COUN 670 - Postsecondary Planning for School Counselors 3 hrs
• COUN 672 - College Exploration Resources and College Application Management for School Counselors 2 hrs
• COUN 673 - Career Development and Educational Planning in Schools 2 hrs

Additional Information

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