Program Admission

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

Applicants must:

1. Complete the Graduate School Application
2. Have earned a valid undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution of higher education. Official transcripts must be submitted.
3. 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 50th 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.
4. 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.
5. Students without a valid Michigan teaching certificate may also be required to meet the following additional criteria:
   • Experience: Three to five years of documented work experience, the majority of which involves working with school‐aged (K‐12) children or adolescents. This experience may consist of paid, professional roles or structured volunteer experiences in organized work settings. Activities such as parenting, babysitting, and day care do not qualify.
   • Previous Coursework: Nine semester hours of undergraduate social science coursework, including coursework specific to foundations of education. If this coursework has not been completed prior to admission to the COUN program, students are required to complete it within the first 12 hours of the COUN program
6. Personal Statement A statement focusing on the applicant’s motivation and rationale for seeking admission to the specific counseling program as well as his or her background and goals related to professional studies.
7. Résumé A focused summary of program-relevant educational, career, and/or life experiences. The resume should also document all paid or unpaid work experience with school-aged youth.
8. 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; the quality, and extensiveness and relevance of career/life/educational experiences relevant 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 admission 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 an 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. Students must meet with their advisor to develop a formal program of study before the completion of 12 credits towards their degree. 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 | Raul Leon Ph.D., Interim Department Head | 304 Porter, 734.487.0255, rleon1@emich.edu

Advisor Information

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

Degree Requirements: 50-55 hours

The following outline describes the general program requirements for the 50-55 hour school counseling program.

Additional Information

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