Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
See program website at URL listed above.
Admissions Information for 2020-2021 Catalog Year
The Counseling Department offers an M.A. in School Counseling that is Council for
Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited and
approved by the Florida Department of Education. The M.A. program is designed to prepare
graduates to implement comprehensive, research-based school counseling programs that
reflect national standards; specifically those of the American School Counselor Association.
The program is designed for the continued professional development of persons presently
serving or who have an interest in serving children and adolescents in a school setting
as professional School Counselors.
Students in the School Counseling program take coursework in the areas of human development,
legal and ethical issues of the profession, career development, appraisal methods,
counseling theories, group work, practicum, and research, and program evaluation.
Additional specialized courses focusing on school counseling are offered in areas
such as internship, special populations, consultation, supervision, and professional
development.
Students are engaged in field-based activities during almost every enrollment. Students
without prior training as teachers who wish to become certified school counseling
professionals must complete additional courses in classroom management, curriculum
and instruction, and reading. Students make progress through the program as a cohort
and may complete this program on a full- or part-time basis.
Entering students are expected to establish competency as educators by providing copies
of Florida certifications or transcripts that document educator preparation as part
of their application packets. Students who do not establish competency at the outset
of the program are required to complete all FTCE subsections and additional courses
in Reading and ESOL. The program begins in the Fall term, students who need to take
additional courses are encouraged to do so in the summer prior to entry or during
the first year of enrollment. All graduates meet all requirements for certification
as PK-12 school counselors and are ready for employment upon graduation.
Program Admission Requirements
- A four year undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester
hours attempted accruing to the undergraduate degree;
- Any one of the following:
- A combined score of 1000 or higher on the quantitative and verbal sections of the
GRE exam if taken prior to August 1, 2011, or 151-153 Verbal and 143-144 quantitative
if taken on or after August 1, 2011; or
- 400 or higher on the MAT.
Note: All applicants must submit GPA and graduate admission (GRE or MAT) test scores
regardless of which of the above criteria are met for admissions. Students may be
required to take specific undergraduate course(s) if they do not have the necessary
prerequisites for the graduate level course or program.
- Applicants with Florida Teacher or Educator certification are required to submit evidence
of their certificate.
- Submission of three recommendations from professionals in the field using the department's
recommendation form. Note that letters of recommendation submitted in addition to
the form are optional.
- Performance in courses taken post baccalaureate will be taken into consideration for
admission to the School Counseling Program.
- Submission of a written statement of career goals will be reviewed for admission to
the program.
- Participation in a personal interview is required by the admissions committee. Responses
to the interview will be evaluated for admission.
- Counseling Criminal Record Policy Statement: All applicants are advised that in order to complete the program they must complete
internships. Most internship facilities do background checks and will not permit the
placement of counselor interns with criminal records. The department reserves the
right to deny program admission to any applicant if it appears that applicant is unlikely
to be able to complete the internship requirement due to a criminal record, thus inhibiting
their ability to complete the program.
Students not holding Teacher or Educator Certification
- Must adhere to state regulations for admittance. Those students seeking admittance
must have passed all of the sections of the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teachers Certification Exam (FTCE) unless they present passing scores
for all subsets of the CLAST taken prior to July 1, 2002. Applicants may substitute
a score of 1000 or higher on the GRE for the admission score requirement on the GRE
taken before August 1, 2011.
- All students must show evidence of passing all subsections of the FTCE, including
General Knowledge, Professional Educator Examination and the Guidance and Counseling
Subject Area Exam prior to graduation.
NOTE: Students who meet all admissions requirements except the General Knowledge Test
section of the FTCE may be admitted conditionally with up to one year after enrollment
to take and pass the FTCE General Knowledge Test subsection.
Deadline: Priority application review begins on February 1 of each year. Qualified applications
submitted thereafter will be reviewed and may be admitted on a space available basis.
Admissions Related materials:
Dual Majors: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling
The Counseling Department offers an opportunity to earn a single M.A. degree with
both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling major and the School Counseling major.
Students must meet initial admissions requirements of both programs to qualify for
this option. Students may elect the dual major option at any time prior to the M.A.
degree being awarded. Students initially admitted into the School Counseling major,
will take an additional 21 credits as part of elective and/or credits beyond the minimum
required 60. Students initially admitted into the Clinical Mental Health Counseling
major, will take an additional 16 credits as part of elective and/or credits beyond
the minimum 63. Students must complete all degree requirements for both majors including
passing all subsections of the FTCE, General Knowledge, Professional Educator Examination
and the Guidance and Counseling Subject Area Exam prior to graduation. Contact the
Department of Counseling for additional information.
Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes
The Department limits the transfer of coursework into its graduate programs to a maximum
of 12 credits or three courses. To be considered, courses must have been completed
with a minimum grade of B and no more than seven years prior to the date of entry
into the graduate program and no more than ten years prior to graduation from the
graduate program.
Request for Dual Major in Counseling
View/Print Request for Dual Major Form
Current Plan of Study (Beginning Fall 2018)
View/Print Dual Majors Plan of Study
Archived: View/Print Dual Majors Plan of Study
As of 2018-19 there are revisions to the curriculum that require 50-56 credits to graduate.
Required Core Courses 50 credits:
- MHS 6010 Intro to School Counseling (3)
- MHS 6200 Appraisal Procedures (3)
- MHS 6338 College and Career Readiness: K-12 (1) (taken in conjunction with MHS 6340
Career Development)
- MHS 6340 Career Development (3)
- MHS 6400 Counseling Theory for School Counselors (3)
- MHS 6414 Fostering Resiliency and Student Success (3)
- MHS 6418 Leadership, Accountability and Supervision in School Counseling (3)
- MHS 6420 Counseling Spec Population Groups (3)
- MHS 6481 Human Dev for School Counselor (3)
- MHS 6530 Group Work for School Professionals (3)
- MHS 6601 Consultation & Collaborative Problem Solving (3)
- MHS 6700 Legal & Ethical Issues. in Counseling (3)
- MHS 6710 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
- MHS 6800 Practicum in Counseling (3)
- MHS 6805 Advanced Practicum in Counseling (3)
- MHS 6831 School Counseling-Internship Ia (1)
- MHS 6831 School Counseling Internship Ib (1)
- MHS 6832 School Counseling -Intern-Supervision (2)
- SDS 6830 School Counseling -Final Internship (3)
Other Requirements (6 credits)
For non-certified or certificate eligible teachers (6 credits): In addition to the
above required courses, students who have not otherwise established competencies in
Reading and ESOL as specified by the Florida Department of Education must complete
the following 6 credits (usually taken in the fall semester and/or spring but under
advisement may be taken in the summer prior to matriculation):
- EDG 6356 Inst Models and Strategies (3)
- RED 5147L Developmental Reading (3)*
Note: *Requires 15 hours of field observation in a school setting during the day.
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS REQUIRED: 50-56 HRS
Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must satisfactorily complete the number of credit hours specified by the
graduate degree program.
- A grade of B or higher must be earned in all Department graduate courses used as prerequisites
and each core courses.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
- Students must complete and pass a culminating demonstration of learning and competence
at the end of the program. These may include comprehensive examinations, portfolios,
special practicum projects, or research projects. (Students must fully demonstrate
Educator Accomplished Practices.)
- Students seeking certification must show evidence of passing all FTCE exam components
as required by the state of Florida. These include the Professional Education examination
(taken by all applicants applying for an initial teaching certificate, the Florida
Guidance and Counseling Subject Area Examination and the General Knowledge Test (if
they do not already have Florida certification or if they have not already passed
all subsections of the CLAST prior to July 1, 2002.) (See Counseling advisor or Program
Director for more information.)
