MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) IN COUNSELING
In our Master’s of Science program in Counseling, students achieve a high level of evidence-based, ethical, and culturally responsive skill set to better serve diverse client populations. We emphasize knowledge and hands-on skills practice in courses such as motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy, substance use counseling, counseling diverse populations, and trauma, crisis, and disaster. Our students gain real-world experience through internships in a variety of settings, including K-12 schools, college counseling and support services, community agencies and other outpatient settings, hospitals and integrated care facilities, inpatient treatment centers, private practice, and more. They provide clinical and supportive services for a range of clients, including children, couples and families, immigrants and refugees, trauma survivors, sexual minorities, individuals with addictions, individuals with chronic illnesses, and underserved populations.
To be a strong, impactful counselor – regardless of setting – clinical competence is necessary. At UNC Greensboro, students gain the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for clinical competence through intentional instruction from the beginning of their educational experience. Through supportive, in-depth clinical supervision, they build their clinical skills as well as their confidence and efficacy. At graduation, they are prepared to serve, advocate, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of their clients.
CACREP has conferred accreditation to the following academic program areas within the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at UNC Greensboro:
School Counseling
Gain knowledge, skills and experience to attend to the academic, career, and personal/social development of needs in order to meet the needs of all students in K-12 settings.
Clinical Mental Health
Acquire the skills and experience needed to assess, diagnose, and counsel persons with diverse backgrounds through individual, group, and family counseling in mental health and behavioral health settings.
Couple and Family Counseling
Gain knowledge, skills and experience to assess, diagnose, and counsel diverse couples and families through a systems perspective.
The entry-level program is a full-time, two-year program, that consists of a minimum of 60 credit hours, leading to the Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree in counseling. We offer concentrations in clinical mental health, couple and family, and school counseling. At graduation, students are eligible to pursue state licensure and national certification.
Our program provides continuous experiential learning through clinical practicum and internships, as well as practica for many courses that allow for immediate hands-on application of content learned in the classroom. Many hands-on experiences occur through supervised clinical practice inside our Nicholas A Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic.
Graduate from CED with a strong professional identity, a network of renowned alumni, and the skills you need to make an impact in the field of counseling.
Ready to Apply?
If the Department of Counseling and Educational Development (CED) sounds like the kind of counseling program you are looking for, we are ready to guide you through the application process and help you make an informed decision about your graduate education.
Seeking additional information? Join us for our virtual open house question and answer session. Find more information about the date and time of our next session here.
For more information, see the detailed information below about our admissions process, financial assistance, and other frequently asked questions. Contact our CED Admissions Office to schedule a visit, tour the Vacc Clinic, and meet current students and faculty.
Admissions Office
The Admissions Office in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development handles the various duties associated with admissions to the Department’s programs. It is staffed by current doctoral and master’s-level students in the program whose sole purpose is to facilitate the admissions process of prospective students. The Admissions Office staff conducts informal question and answer sessions, gives tours of the program facilities, introduces applicants to professors, and handles all requests related to program admissions.
To speak with an Admissions staff member or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Admissions Office directly:
Phone: 336.334.3434
Email: ced@uncg.edu
Mail:
CED Admissions Office
Department of Counseling and Educational Development
School of Education
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
PO Box 26170
228 Curry Building
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
Admissions Process
ALL APPLICANTS: DOCTORAL AND MASTER’S-LEVEL
APPLICATION DEADLINES AND START DATE
Applications that are not complete by the respective deadlines are not reviewed. Please contact the Graduate School to confirm all required information has been received there. Admission is for the fall semester only.
The deadline to apply for the Doctoral program is November 15th.
The deadline to apply for the Master’s program is November 15th. The GRE is no longer required for admission to the Master’s program.
COHORT SIZE
Each year, 6-8 doctoral students and 32-36 master’s students are recommended for admission into the full-time/day-time counseling program by an Admissions Committee made up of program faculty.
CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR MASTER’S APPLICANTS
Criteria for application for master’s program includes:
- Complete online graduate school application
- Two professional letters of recommendation for master’s students (at least one of which should be an academic reference).
- Resume or curriculum vitae detailing work experience, volunteer experience, and research background.
- Three written statements are required for master’s applicants. These include: (1) Personal statement, (2) approach to learning, and (3) self in social and cultural context. See below for description of each of these statements. All statements should be in 12 point font and double spaced.
- Undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts (required for all doctoral applicants).
- If your undergraduate GPA was a 2.75 or below, please complete a statement that contextualizes your earlier academic performance and how you are now prepared to be successful in a graduate program.
Personal Statement (2 pages)
Please describe your interest in pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and your aspirations post-graduation. Discuss what you believe positions you to function successfully as a professional counselor, and how you have come to the decision to pursue graduate training in a helping profession, along with anything else that helps to describe you.
Approach to Learning (2 pages)
In a graduate program, you will encounter students who have different learning styles, life experiences, and value systems than your own. Discuss how you show up in a learning environment with people who hold perspectives and opinions that are challenging for you.
Self in Social and Cultural Context (2 pages)
Counselors provide services to clients who represent a range of values, cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. Please discuss the following: My life and experiences have positioned me to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in the following ways.
Transcripts
Applicants may either (1) upload official transcripts that have been issued by their institution’s Registrar’s Office onto their online application or (2) order official transcripts that should be mailed to the Graduate School at the following address:
The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
1202 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412
Online Application
We use a completely electronic application process.
All applicants should include the following as attachments to their online application:
Supplemental Documents-
- Personal Statement
2. Approach to Learning
3. Self in Social and Cultural Context
4. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
INTERVIEWS
The admissions committee will begin reviewing applications after the application deadline. Selected applicants will be invited to campus for an interview early in the spring semester. Participation in the interview process is mandatory for selected students; however, international students may interview via Skype if travel is cost-prohibitive.
Applicants are notified of their admission status usually within two-four weeks after all interviews are completed; typically, students receive notification no later than April 15th.
Financial Assistance
A variety of financial aid is available to students including graduate assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and tuition waivers. All admitted students may apply for graduate assistantships. Students needing other financial aid should complete the forms obtained through the Financial Aid Office. You may contact the Financial Aid Office at 336.334.5702 or email: finaid@uncg.edu.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
Once admitted, new master’s students are sent a Graduate Assistantship Application Form. Those who return completed applications are considered for assistantships within the Department and throughout the University. Graduate assistantships require full-time enrollment. After arriving on campus, students who are diligent in their search for an assistantship are usually successful. Students are free to investigate assistantships in any department or office at UNCG; openings are listed in the Career and Professional Development Office. Stipends for graduate assistantships (20 hours per week) in CED range upward from $7,500 for the academic year. Master’s level assistants may be funded for up to two years, on a semester or yearly basis. Reappointments to assistantships are contingent on a student’s satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory performance of assistantship responsibilities. Master’s students appointed to Departmental assistantships provide valuable supportive functions for the program.
TUITION WAIVERS
Tuition waivers are sometimes available for master’s-level Graduate Assistants. When available, tuition waivers are awarded for a particular semester or academic year.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Fellowships and scholarships are awarded by the Graduate School to exceptionally qualified students who meet the particular requirements of the award. As a prospective student, no action needs to be taken on your part related to these, as they require nominations by the Department.
The Department assists all out-of-state students in applying for in-state residency by the second year in the program; however, no guarantees can be made that out-of-state students will be reclassified as in-state.
RESIDENCE HALL STAFF POSITIONS
A limited number of residence hall staff positions are offered to qualified graduate students. Address inquiries to Director of Residence Life, UNCG, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6170, Phone (336) 334-5636, hrl.uncg.edu.
Additional information is available at the UNCG Financial Aid Website
FAQs
Is your program accredited?
Yes, the counseling program was initially accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 1981, making UNCG the first accredited counseling program in the state of North Carolina. The program has maintained continuous accreditation of all programs since 1981.
Is your program available online?
No degree programs are available online.
Can I enroll in the Counseling Program at UNC Greensboro part-time?
No, we offer a full-time/day program at UNCG. Students are not admitted on a part-time basis and courses are generally offered between 9am and 5pm, though in rare cases, CED courses may be taught in the evening to accommodate the schedule of a faculty member. The program adheres to the cohort model where students begin in the fall semester and progress in a developmental sequence of courses, practica, and internship requirements as a unit. The model is extremely effective for creating group cohesion and fostering a supportive learning environment.
How successful are program graduates in the job market and on the licensure exam?
The program has a strong history of producing solid counselors and our graduates do well in the job market. Over the past decade, we have had a 100% pass rate on the National Counselor Exam, the exam used for licensure in North Carolina and most states in the U.S. Detailed information about graduate performance is available via annual reports at the CACREP Student Outcomes Data webpage.
Are there opportunities for students to engage in research?
Students can engage in research. Master’s students have the option to participate in a research experience for credit, if they wish, though this is optional. Additionally, in any given year there are typically multiple research teams that students might join.
What does an average week in the Master’s Program look like?
Along with coursework, students in the master’s program also are involved in practicum experiences, supervision, and clinical work. Students generally are on campus four to five days each week to fulfill their various program responsibilities. Each class is three hours long and meets one time per week. Most classes also have a practicum which generally involves an out-of-class, clinical application assignment. Finally, students meet with practicum supervisors at various times to process their experience in the practicum courses. For students who have a Graduate Assistantship, work hours are planned around class time.
Do I have to take the GRE to apply?
For master’s applicants, the GRE is not a requirement for students to apply for the Master’s program in counseling.
For doctoral applicants, the GRE is required. GRE scores from a test taken within the last five years is required for doctoral students. Visit the GRE website to find a testing center near you.
What do my GRE scores and GPA need to be to get into the program?
The admissions committee looks at applications holistically, considering GRE scores, GPA, statement of purpose, resume, and letters of reference. Admission is competitive within each track, so there are no minimum GRE scores or GPA for consideration for admissions.
What kind of transcripts are required and where do I send them?
Applicants may either (1) upload transcripts that have been issued by their previous educational institution’s Registrar’s Office onto their online application or (2) order official transcripts that should be mailed to the Graduate School at the following address:
The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
1202 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412
If you are currently a student and admitted, the Graduate School will require official transcripts showing conferral of the degree as a condition of your acceptance.
Are the deadlines for admission flexible?
No, due to the large volume of applications received each year, the deadlines are final. (November 15th for master’s applicants.)
Can I start the Master’s Program in the Spring?
No, our program is sequential and developmental. Each semester’s coursework assumes successful completion of the coursework in the previous semester(s). Thus, we admit one time each year for the master’s program. The program begins in the fall semester and we do not admit students in the spring.
Are there any classes I need to take before I can be accepted into the Master’s Program?
No, there are no course prerequisites for admission. Additionally, there are no specific undergraduate majors necessary for an applicant to be eligible to apply.
Can I take courses before I am admitted into the program?
Students can take counseling courses as a non-master’s student through the UNC Greensboro Visions program. This program is available for non-degree students who currently hold an undergraduate degree and are seeking graduate-level information in a particular area of study.
It is important to know that Visions courses are not an alternative path to admission. CED Courses available through the Visions program include CED 574 Courses and Helping Skills for non-majors (CED 610). If later admitted into the master’s program, Visions students potentially can transfer one of these courses as an elective, but this is not guaranteed as it is at the discretion of the advisor. The CED 610 for non-majors course cannot substitute for CED 610 for majors (due to the different requirements) and cannot count as an elective or toward any other program requirement.
The Visions program is designed to give potential applicants an inside look into the counseling field rather than a head-start in their graduate program. If you would like more information about the Visions program, including application information, please call the Graduate School at 336.334.5596.
Where is the CED Admissions Office located on campus and where should I park?
You may find it most convenient to park in the Oakland Parking Deck. We are located on the 2nd floor of the Curry Building, in room 228. The Spring Garden Street entrance to Curry will take you directly to the CED department.
Directions to campus and an interactive campus map, including parking areas, are available here.