Program Admission
EMU will admit a maximum of 20 students per year to this post master’s 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:
- Applicants must have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a master’s degree in counseling within the past 15 years. The degree must have included practicum (not field placement).
- Evidence of academic aptitude for continued graduate-level study as evidenced by a GPA of 3.3 on their previously completed advanced degree.
- Personal Statement A one-page statement focusing on the applicant’s motivation and rationale for seeking admission to the program and their background and goals related to professional studies.
- Résumé A focused summary of program-relevant, educational, career, and/or life experiences.
- Experience A minimum of two (2) years of documented work experience, most of which involves working with school-aged children or adolescents (ages 5-18). This experience may consist of paid, professional roles or structured volunteer experiences in organized work settings. It should be focused on improving the children’s mental health, behavior, academic success, or social skills. Activities such as parenting, babysitting, and daycare do not qualify.
- Three recommendations Request recommendation forms from three 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.”
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 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 an evaluation of all materials and the interviews, admissions decisions will be made.
Program advisors will be assigned after students have been admitted to the Post-Master’s Certificate Program for School Counselor Licensure. The advisor will assist the student in developing the program of study required for full admission to the post-master’s certificate program for school counselor licensure. The advisor must approve all courses and subsequent changes. 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.
Completed applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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