Program Admission
EMU will admit a maximum of 20 students per year to this advanced 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 with the graduate application. To be considered for admission, candidates must provide evidence of each of the following criteria.
Graduate School Application
After reviewing the admission requirements below, please select the appropriate application. The University is transitioning application platforms; pay close attention when selecting the application below.
The program you are applying to may not accept applicants every semester.
For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.
Admission Requirements
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. See International Admissions for international applicant requirements.
Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:
- Evidence of academic aptitude for continued graduate-level study as evidenced by a minimum graduate grade-point average of 3.3 on their current or previously completed advanced degree.
- Personal Statement A one-page narrative statement focusing on the applicant’s motivation and rationale for seeking admission to the program and their relevant background, preparation, and goals related to working with diverse populations.
- Experience Documented work experience in the form of a resume of the applicant’s experience as a helping professional, most of which involves working with diverse populations. This experience may consist of paid, professional roles or structured volunteer experiences in organized work settings.
- Two Recommendations Request recommendation forms from two professional supervisors and/or supervising professors that address the applicant’s professional work quality. Applicants may request recommendation letters in addition to completing the recommendation form. Applicants are encouraged to ask recommenders to submit a recommendation letter if this could enhance their application materials. Recommendation forms and letters must come directly from your reference.
Completed applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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 and professional goals/objectives. 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. 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.
A program advisor will be assigned after students have been admitted to the Certificate program. If the student is already completing a graduate program in counseling at Eastern Michigan University, the same faculty advisor will serve. If the student is not doing so, the Graduate Coordinator of the Certificate Program will serve as the advisor. The advisor will assist the student in developing the individualized program of study required for full admission to the advanced certificate program. The advisor must approve all courses and subsequent changes. Transfer credit can be used 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.
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