College of Education

How do I know if I'm ready to start graduate school? 

Admission to the program is by application to the Oregon State University Graduate School. Admission requirements for the Oregon State University Graduate School may be found at the admissions website.

Prepare for Graduate School

Prerequisites:

The minimum prerequisite is a baccalaureate degree. Coursework in psychology is preferred but not required. Academic background, personal and emotional suitability, volunteer or paid experience in the helping professions, experience with and openness to diversity, multiculturalism, and social justice, and the educational and professional goals of each candidate are evaluated before admission is granted. Screening includes, but is not limited to, a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 at the undergraduate level (with 2.5-2.9 also considered), three letters of recommendation, and a statement of objectives. Face-to-face group interviews conducted via a virtual meeting platform are required for those applicants who meet the initial application criteria.  

Application materials required: 

• Official Transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Résumé
• Statement of Objectives – 2-3 pages
• Letters of recommendation from three (3) professional references

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See below for detailed guidelines regarding each required component.

Official transcripts:

Submit official transcripts (including school stamp/seal) from all post-secondary institutions attended, for example, community and undergraduate colleges, and graduate schools, if applicable.

CV/Résumé:

For additional support writing a resume or CV, please visit OSU’s Career Education page on this topic.

Prepare a current curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé detailing your relevant experience, in the following order:

• Educational experience
• Work experience
• Volunteer experience
• Diversity/social justice experience (e.g., cross-cultural immersion, advocacy &/or direct action, language proficiencies)

Personal Mission Statement:

This statement (2-3 pages, typed, 12-pt font, double-spaced) outlines the following:

• Describe your reasons for pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (as opposed to related degrees like a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology or a Master’s degree in Social Work or School Counseling). 
• What prompted you to do so at this point in your life?
• What personal qualities, values and experiences make graduate studies in counseling appropriate for you? 
• What experiences have shaped your beliefs about diversity, multiculturalism, social justice, and peoples’ capacity for change?
• Describe your professional goals and concerns about yourself as a student and as a counselor trainee. 

Although the content of this statement is most important, it is also a writing sample that gives the admissions committee an idea of your attention to style, grammar, and syntax, which speaks to your ability to write at the graduate level. 

Letters of Recommendation:

Letters of recommendation may come from any three (3) professional references who can attest to your personal and professional qualities and your readiness for graduate study.

Ideal references can speak to your:

• Academic ability and/or potential for graduate study
• Experience in the helping professions (volunteer/employment)
• Characteristics and dispositions appropriate to the helping professional
• Encounters with individuals whose background or cultures differed from yours

References may include, but are not limited to, the following:  current or former employers or internship/volunteer supervisors, current or former faculty, mentors, or community members (e.g., religious or community leaders). Individuals who are not considered professional references include:  family members, personal therapists/counselors, current or former supervisees or clients. 

You will need to provide a name and email address for each of your references. When your application is processed, an email is sent from OSU to each reference asking that individual to submit a confidential electronic letter on your behalf. 

Important Note:  Please allow yourself, your references, and your former institutions ample time to submit your materials, to prevent any delays in processing or consideration of your application. 

If your application is missing any required materials (i.e., official transcripts, letters of recommendation), it is not considered complete. Applications still missing items by the submission deadline, for any reason, will NOT be considered.

Criteria for Admission:

Candidates are assessed on the basis of their fitness with the vision and mission of the University, the Graduate School, College of Education, and the Counseling Academic Unit. Consistent with CACREP’s (2016) standards, “admission decision recommendations are made by the academic unit’s selection committee and include consideration of each applicant’s (1) relevance of career goals, (2) aptitude for graduate-level study, (3) potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and (4) respect for cultural differences.”

Criteria include: 

• academic background, as evidenced by undergraduate GPA and references, 
• alignment of professional goals and personal qualities with the counseling profession, as evidenced by personal statement and references, 
• applicability of educational background to the counseling profession, as evidenced by transcripts, 
• relevance of work/volunteer experience to the counseling profession, as evidenced by résumé and references, 
• presence of, and investment in, cross-cultural experiences and social justice, as evidenced by personal statement and references. 

Applicants selected by the admissions committee on the basis of their application materials will be required to attend a face-to-face group interview conducted via a virtual meeting platform, typically held in February or March. Applicants with specific questions regarding application materials or previous coursework may contact the Counseling Head Advisor.

Matriculation Requirements:

All admitted students to the OSU Ecampus Counseling program must (a) verify they accept the offer of admission, (b) sign a Memorandum of Agreement to secure their matriculation to the program. Any student with a GPA of less than 3.0 is admitted on a conditional basis per OSU Graduate School guidelines. These students must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their first 18 credits of study. (c) Newly admitted students must pay a $350 matriculation fee, (d) and attend a new student orientation.

Contact:

Misty De Lei, counseling head advisor at [email protected]