“Probably the most beneficial portion of WCU's graduate program is the field experience. My practicum experience has allowed me to enter the school system and gain real-world knowledge. I feel more confident with counseling, classroom guidance, and collaborating with teachers and administrators.”
Kristen, school counseling student
- Application Deadline
- Admission Requirements
- Applicant Statement of Goals and Experiences
- Resume of Education and Employment History
- Admission Interview
- Financial Aid
- 60-Hour Add-On School Counseling Program
- For Further Information
Applications to the School Counseling and Community Counseling programs may be submitted at any time during the year. Admission decisions, however, are made one time per year. The application deadline is February 1 annually. All application materials must be post-marked no later than January 31. Applications that are incomplete after February 1 will be considered the following year. Minority applications are encouraged.
To be eligible for consideration for admission to the M.A.Ed. in School Counseling or the M.S. in Community Counseling programs, applicants must meet the following requirements: (a) a bachelor's degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on the last sixty hours of coursework, (b) Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, within the last ten years and prior to October 1, 2002, 900 or higher using the analytical + verbal or analytical + quantitative, or GRE scores after October 1, 2002, of 4 or higher on the writing section of the GRE and at least one score on the verbal or quantitative section that is 450 or higher. Applicants must also submit (c) an application form (d) three recommendations for graduate study (we prefer that recommendations be academic or employment-related), and (e) a personal goals and experiences statement with (f) accompanying education/work history resume.
Applicant Statement of Goals and Experiences
Applicants should follow these guidelines in formatting the goal statement: 3 pages maximum, 1-inch margins, 12-point type with Times or New Times Roman font, and double space.
Respond to the following four items in your statement:
- State the program to which you are making application (school or community) and state your professional goals and aspirations.
- Describe your motivation for applying to the counseling program at Western Carolina University.
- Briefly describe formal and informal experiences that indicate your potential as an effective counselor with individuals and with groups.
- Preparation as a counselor requires an openness to self-examination for the purpose of growing professionally and personally. Describe personal characteristics that reflect your willingness to engage in such a self-examination process.
Resume of Education and Employment History
Applicants should follow these guidelines in formatting the resume: 2 pages maximum, 1-inch margins, 12-point type with Times or New Times Roman font. Include your educational and employment history as well as other pertinent professional information.
Submit both your statement of goals and experiences and resume online or to:
Graduate School
109 Cordelia Camp Building
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
These items will be reviewed as part of your application for admission to the master's program in counseling at Western Carolina University. Your application will be incomplete without this information. All application materials must be submitted or post-marked no later than January 31.
Qualified applicants will be invited for an admission interview. Interviews are offered to those whose credentials of grade point average, Graduate Record Examination scores, recommendations, and personal goal statements qualify the person for full or provisional admission to the program. Those who qualify for the interview will be contacted by the School or Community Counseling Program Leader. The interviews will be conducted through group interviews led by the counseling faculty and hosted by current students. Because of the interactive, interpersonal nature of the counseling process, the interview aspect of the person's application is considered to be extremely important when considering applicants for the counseling program. Invitation to the interview does not assure acceptance into the program. The group interview for 2009 has been scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2009, on the WCU campus in Cullowhee from 8:30am-1:00pm with a possible snow date of Friday, February 27, 2009. More details regarding the interview will be included with the invitation to the interview. Admission decisions are made in early March through mid-April.
Financial aid is available in the form of graduate assistantships, Chancellor's Fellowships, Graduate School Study Grants, and student loans. General information and some details concerning these types of financial aid can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Only full-time students are eligible for graduate assistantships. Applicants interested in assistantships need to contact the director of Graduate Counseling Programs. The Mary Wayte Scholarship is available for international students and preference is given to those applicants from the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Dan Saddler Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who has completed at least 18 hours in the program and has been actively involved in the program and in community activities. Preference is given to part-time students.
60-Hour Add-On School Counseling Program
Effective Summer 2006, the M.A.Ed in School Counseling at Western Carolina University is a 60 semester hour degree program. Persons who hold a school counseling degree from WCU prior to Summer, 2006, or from a 48-hour CACREP accredited school counseling program may seek the 60 hour add-on to qualify for advanced degree salary level increase through the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Note this add-on program qualifies persons for advanced degree salary level increase through NC DPI only but is NOT an advanced degree.
To qualify for the 60-Hour Add-On School Counseling Program, candidates must have a Masters degree in School Counseling from Western Carolina University or a CACREP-accredited program and a state license in School Counseling.
Note that there is limited space in this program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Apply through Western Carolina University’s Graduate School. Submit Graduate School application (indicate non-degree 60-Hour Add-On in School Counseling) and required fee, graduate transcript(s), and a work history resume. Interviews will be arranged through the School Counseling program leader.
Required courses may include:
COUN 617: Substance Abuse
COUN 620: Counseling Children and Adolescents
COUN 633: Crisis Counseling
COUN or related elective
And/or any other current requirements not already completed.
Each program is individualized by the School Counseling faculty.
For Further Information:
Director of Graduate Counseling Programs: Dr. Lisen Roberts
School Counseling Program Leader: Dr. Lisen Roberts
Community Counseling Program Leader: Dr. Dale Brotherton
WCU Counseling Office: 828-227-7310