Program of Study for the Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; completed Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling questionnaire; interview.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam requirement may be waived for applicants with:

• A written statement addressing prior experiences working with children/adolescents; OR
• One or more years of paid or volunteer experience in a school setting; OR
• Reference letters from faculty or employers describing aptitude for working with children/adolescents; OR
• An undergraduate degree in psychology, education, social work, or helping-related program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Location: On Campus

Additional Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application.  More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling

Elective Courses (12 Hours)

12 hours of approved graduate electives; specific elective courses chosen for this concentration must be approved by the graduate advisor in advance

Other Requirements for the MA in Professional School Counseling

• Thesis: Not required
• Proficiency: Not required
• Candidacy: Required; see the program director for specific timeline and requirements for admission to candidacy
• Comprehensive: Required; students should take the required courses (excluding the Internship) prior to taking the comprehensive exam.
• Product of Learning: Not required

Notes

Completion of the above program leads to eligibility for licensure in North Carolina on the condition that minimum PRAXIS test requirements are met.

Endorsement for professional school counseling licensure from Appalachian requires that applicants complete a master’s degree program in professional school counseling. Applicants with a master’s degree in fields other than professional school counseling must complete a second master’s degree after following the regular admissions process through the Graduate School. Graduates from another HPC Master’s degree program will be considered on an individual basis.

Internship: The internship (HPC 6903 ) is designed to be a full-time experience engaging in all of the activities of a counselor in a public school. These placements are arranged through consultation with the student’s advisor. Part-time students already employed as school counselors may, with permission, complete their internship within the context of their job setting.

Students will need to receive clearance on a criminal background check and have a TB test prior to beginning practicum and internship placements.