Degree Requirements: 60 Credit Hours

Program Intent

The Counselor Education program prepares counselors to work in school and clinical settings. There are two degree program concentrations basedon educational background and career goals, and both concentrations are accredited by CACREP:

Concentration One

School Counseling - This concentration is designed for people who wish towork as school counselors. The concentration is designed for graduates tomeet the requirements for school counseling certification in Georgia.

Concentration Two

Clinical Mental Health Counseling - This concentration is designed for people who wish to work as clinical mental health counselors in community agency settings (public, private, or non-profit).

Admission Requirements

Note: Admission to the graduate program is required. Non-degree status to achieve initial certification is not permitted.

Regular Admission

1. Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher onall undergraduate and graduate work combined.
3. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 1000 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional goals and aspirations.
4. Submit a current resume.
5. Submit two letters of recommendation.
6. Submit a completed “Disclosure and Affirmation Form” that addresses misconduct disclosure, criminal background check, the Code of Ethicsfor Educators, and tort liability insurance.
7. Participate in an on-campus interview.

Provisional Admission

Consideration for provisional admission available for Concentration Two, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, only. Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of B or higher in their first nine (9) credits of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

Acquiring School Counseling Certification for People who Already Hold a Master’s Degree

1. People who hold a master’s degree in an area other than School Counseling may qualify for the School Counselor Level Five Certificate by completing the 60 credit M.Ed. in Counselor Education, School Counseling Concentration One. Up to three courses from a previousmaster’s program may be applied toward degree requirements.