School Counseling
Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling
Student Development in Higher Education

 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE      DEGREE IN SCHOOL COUNSELING, PROFESSIONAL & REHABILITATION COUNSELING, AND STUDENT        DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to the School Counseling, Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling, and Student Development in Higher Education programs are made on a competitive basis only one time per year for fall admission. The department will begin reviewing applications on March 1 and will schedule personal interviews in April and May. The deadline for receiving all admissions materials, as stipulated below, is May 1. Applications that are missing materials after May 1 will be returned to the Admissions Department as incomplete. Admissions decisions will be made on the basis of the following factors:

A) Grade point average for all undergraduate courses. Minimum requirement is a 2.70 grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.00 point scale where A is 4.00. Official transcripts must be mailed to CCSU by the college or university the applicant attended and must be received by May 1.

B) Three recommendations from individuals able to testify to the student’s suitability as a prospective counselor.  Copies of the recommendation forms can be obtained by clicking on the following link: Recommendation Forms.

C) A 2-3 page typewritten (double spaced) essay describing the following:

(1). Reasons for entering the counseling profession.

(2). Personal and professional experiences that influenced you to pursue the   counseling profession.

(3). Personal characteristics you believe will contribute to your success as a counselor.

D) A personal interview by the program’s faculty admissions committee. The committee will assess the student’s personal attributes, maturity, and life experiences that might contribute to the student’s potential for success as a professional counselor.

Additional Admissions Requirements for School Counseling

1. Documentation that the applicant has successfully passed all three parts of the Praxis I PPST Test or qualifies for a waiver.

More information about the PRAXIS I PPST tests may be obtained by calling (609) 771-7395 or by accessing the PRAXIS web site: http://www.teachingandlearning.org. Applications for the PRAXIS I PPST tests and information about the waiver are usually available outside of the Office of the Dean, School of Education and Professional Studies in Henry Barnard Hall.

2. At least one of the following prerequisite courses completed with a grade of B or better.

____ A course in the psychology of human development that covers the whole life span. At CCSU PSY 236 or PSY 512 meets this requirement. However, students interested in pursuing licensing as a professional counselor (LPC) should take the course at the graduate level, i.e., PSY 512.

____ A course in education of exceptional learners (either at the undergraduate or graduate level) including material relating to the special educational needs of students with physical and mental disabilities, the learning disabled, and the gifted and talented (At CCSU SPED 315 or SPED 501 meets this requirement):

____ A course in contemporary education issues at the undergraduate or graduate level (At CCSU EDF 415, EDF 500, 510, 516, 524, 525 530, 538, or EDF 583 meets this requirement).

Students who believe that they may have taken equivalent courses may submit copies of the course descriptions from the college catalog that was in print at the time they took the course.

NOTE: While only one prerequisite course is needed to qualify for admission, all three prerequisite courses must be completed for the school counseling master’s degree.

The PRAXIS I or Pre-Professional Skills test (PPST)  A copy of the Praxis I or PPST scores or a “Waiver” letter must be submitted prior to May 1.  Waiver qualifications include meeting one of the following criteria:
Prior to April 1, 1995 – a student has a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score totaling 1000 with a score of no less than 400 on either the verbal or math subtests.
On or after April 1, 1995 – a student has a SAT score totaling 1100 with a score of no less than 450 in either the verbal or math subtest.

More information about the PRAXIS I CBT or Pre-Professional Skills tests may be obtained by calling (609) 771-7395 or by accessing the PRAXIS web site: http://www.teachingandlearning.org.  Applications for the PRAXIS I or PPST tests and information about the waiver is usually available outside of the Office of the Dean, School of Education and Professional Studies in Henry Barnard Hall.

Certified teachers may submit a copy of their professional educator certificate as evidence that they already completed the PRAXIS I CBT or PPST requirement.  More information about the PRAXIS I CBT test or the PPST may be obtained by calling (609) 771-7395 or by accessing the PRAXIS web site: http://www.teachingandlearning.org.  Applications for the PRAXIS I or PPST test and information about the waiver are usually available outside of the Office of the Dean, School of Education and Professional Studies in Henry Barnard Hall.