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Application Materials

Application materials are available online from the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education or by calling 610-436-2943. All required transcripts, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores should be sent directly to the Graduate Studies Office as directed in the application; sending materials to the Department of Counselor Education will delay the processing of your application. It is recommended that you self-manage the completion of your application by monitoring the completion of your application, especially those items that need to be completed by others (e.g. transcripts, recommendations, etc.). West Chester University transcripts are available at the Graduate Studies Office and need not be sent.

The following materials must be submitted to complete the application process:

• Completed Graduate Application with essay
• Academic transcripts for all completed undergraduate and graduate coursework (official copies are required)
• Two references that are completed electronically through the online application process

You can check on the status of your application by calling the Graduate Studies Office at 610-436-2943.

Admission Requirements

When admitting an applicant to counselor education programs, the department makes a commitment to the student's development and future success. Each candidate is given careful consideration through the review of multiple criteria. Admission requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university; The normally accepted standard for students applying to counselor education programs is a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

Diversity Recruitment Policy

The Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology embraces, enacts and embodies West Chester University's "Building on Excellence" and its mission to improve diversity, access, and equity. The department, as evidenced by the composition of our student body and faculty, has benefited from our participation in this Building on Excellence and the strategies employed campus-wide to insure the recruitment and retention of a diverse population at all levels of University life.

Application Deadlines

Admissions to the degree programs are made twice a year. Applicants are officially accepted into the program for fall semester or spring semester; fall applicants may begin their academic program in the summer term. Applicants applying for Summer/Fall term admission should complete their applications by March 1. In order for the department to review a candidate's credentials, ALL materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies by March 1. If any materials are not received by this date, the application is incomplete and cannot be reviewed. Applicants wishing to start in the Spring semester (January semester start) must have their applications complete and in the department's possession by October 1st. Priority will be given to applications received by these deadline dates; applications received after these dates will receive consideration based on available space.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized scores such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE's) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT's) are NOT required; however if they are submitted, they will be considered by the Department's Admissions Committee. For higher education/student affairs students only, if an applicant's GPA is below 2.8, students may submit GRE or MAT scores for consideration.

Advising

Each student in the Counselor Education program is assigned an advisor who is a member of the Counselor Education Program Faculty. The name of your advisor and contact information will be noted in your acceptance letter from the Department of Counselor Education. You should contact your advisor before registering for classes. You are encouraged to call your advisor to arrange your first course registration soon after being notified of your acceptance into a degree program. In the summer months, if your advisor is not available, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Matthew Snyder or the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Eric Owens.

If you have questions regarding any of our programs please feel free to contact our Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Eric Owens.