Admission Procedures

Admissions Procedures

Application materials are available from the M.A. in Counseling Office (724-847-6588 or gradadmissions@xfmlsp.com). Provisional admissions status may be granted to students who meet most but not all criteria for full admission. Students applying to the M.A. in Counseling Program should be aware that, prior to the practicum and internship, they will be required to complete PA State Police and FBI records checks relative to past felony convictions and/or record of child abuse perpetration. Applicants are asked to submit the following:

International Admissions may require additional documentation. International Admissions Requirements

Admissions Process:

Applications are accepted throughout the year. While there is no deadline for admissions, we strongly encourage students to apply well in advance of the start of semester. This allows time to review and process applications and tend to enrollment matters. Applications for the upcoming semester will not be reviewed after 14 calendar days prior to the start of that semester. However, exceptions can be made with the express written consent of the Program Director or Dean. Students can officially begin their studies in the fall and spring semesters at both locations. Admissions decisions are based on multiple criteria. Prospective applicants are rated according to the following

1. Academic background and aptitude for graduate level work
2. Interpersonal skills which include the ability to relate to others in individual and small-groups contexts
3. Professionalism
4. Work-related experiences
5. Compatibility between personal career goals and program goals
6. Technology competence

In the event that the academic essay reveals a significant deficit in writing ability, students may be required to attend a writing seminar. This decision is at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the M.A. in Counseling faculty. Personal or phone admission interviews are conducted by M.A. in Counseling Programs faculty and/or staff members. The review of applications is made by an admission committee comprised of M.A. in Counseling faculty members. The review is a qualitative process that balances multiple criteria against each other. A decision to admit a student is based on the belief of program faculty that the applicant has the potential a) to contribute to the counseling field and b) to succeed in the program, promoting their own growth and not impeding progress of other students (See ACA Code of Ethics, 2014).

Admissions: Statistics Competency:

Basic statistics competency is a prerequisite for CNS 505 (Testing and Appraisal) and CNS 512 (Research Methods and Program Evaluation), both of which are required courses for students in the MA Counseling Program. This competency can be met in one of three ways: (1) by successfully completing CNS 504 (Statistics) as a student in the MA Counseling Program, (2) by providing evidence of having earned a grade of B- or better in an approved undergraduate statistics class in the last 5 years, or (3) by earning a score of 80% or better in the final exam of Geneva′s undergraduate psychological statistics class. Students should note that both general statistics knowledge and applied statistical practices (such as program evaluation, research methods, and psychometrics) constitute 25% of the content of the National Counselors Exam which is required for licensure. Students who are eligible to waive CNS 504 and do so, will take another 3-credit elective course in order to meet the 60-hour requirement.

Clearances:

Students applying to the MA in Counseling Programs should be aware that, prior to their practicum and internship, they will be required to complete PA State Police and FBI records checks to determine whether they have felony convictions or any record of child abuse. These are referred to as Act 33 and 34 and FBI fingerprint clearances, and students may file as follows:

1. Act 34 (Criminal Record) Clearance
2. Act 151 (Child Abuse History) Clearance
3. Act 114 (FBI Fingerprinting Check) Clearance

Students are expected to assume the cost of applying for these clearances.

Criteria for Full Admission:

A decision to fully admit a student to the M.A. in Counseling program is based on the belief of program faculty that the applicant has the potential a) to contribute to the counseling field, b) to succeed in the program, promoting their own growth and not impeding progress of other students, and c) to conduct their professional work in a legal, ethical and moral manner (See ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). Students are expected to have a 3.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) in their undergraduate field of choice. Students who do not have a 3.0 GPA may still be admitted provisionally if, in the judgment of the M.A. in Counseling faculty, the student meets all other criteria stated above.

Provisional Status: Provisional admissions status may be granted to students who meet most but not all criteria for full admission (academic or otherwise; please see above). Students admitted on a provisional basis will be evaluated at the end of each semester to determine his or her continuation in the program until such time as the student is granted full admission. Furthermore, the M.A. in Counseling faculty reserve the right to specify provisions as a condition of admittance (limited to two classes per semester until granted full admission, etc…) The faculty decision to change an admission status can occur as early as the end of the first semester but no later than the completion of 27 credits. It is possible that at the time of review, students fail to meet the criteria for full admission into the program. In which case, the faculty will meet and make a recommendation to the Program Director to either allow the student to continue in the program or to dismiss the student from the program.  Provisional students will not be permitted to enroll for more than 27 credits in provisional status, and are not eligible to register for the required practicum until they have full admission status.

Non-degree Status: Students who wish to schedule graduate classes in counseling but are not interested in completing a master’s degree in counseling may take up to 12 credits in non-degree status. Non-degree students are admitted on a space-available basis and are not eligible to enroll in a supervised practicum or internship. Non-degree students are not permitted to take more than 6 credits per semester.