Master of Education in Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling — January 31, 2025
School Counseling — Rolling Admission (to be considered for the Fall 2025 semester, please submit by January 31, 2025)

Counselor Education is a competitive program with limited enrollment. Provisional and probationary applications are not considered.

• Admission to the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School.
• Admission requirements are a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a score of 297 on the GRE (verbal plus quantitative). Applicants with lower scores may be considered, but the verbal score should be 153 or higher, and the total quantitative scale score must each be 144 or higher. Submitted scores must be official and taken within the past ten years.
• The completion of an undergraduate degree at a four-year accredited institution.

Application
Application to the Counselor Education program begins with an application to the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School. You may apply online or contact the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School at 225-578-2311 for more information. The Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School will forward your completed application to the program for admission consideration.

Letters of Recommendation 
Three letters of recommendation are required from applicants. Letters of recommendation may be submitted online at the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School. Your references should address these issues in their letters:

• Academic potential
• Potential for professional development
• Openness to personal growth and development

Professional Goal Statement
A professional goal statement is required and may be submitted online at the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School.

Interview
Applicants who meet the program's minimum requirements will be invited for an individual interview with program faculty. Admission decisions are made following the interview.

Program Invitations and Acceptance
Top applicants will be offered admission into the program following final admission decisions. Other competitive applicants may be placed on a wait list. Applicants will receive their admission notice by mailed letters of acceptance with instructions to accept the offer. Applicants who decline the offer will be removed from the list and those on the wait list will be considered.

Degree requirements include successful completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). This is a 160-question multiple choice exam that assesses the student’s knowledge of core areas of counseling. Students take the exam in their last semester of the program with permission of their faculty advisor. To be eligible to take the comprehensive examination, students must have at least a 3.0 overall grade point average. Please see https://www.cce-global.org/assessmentsandexams/cpce for more information about the exam.

Students will be assigned a major advisor and two committee members upon admission to the program. Students will meet with their advisors for guidance throughout the program. If students have a question about program requirements or concerns, they should contact their faculty advisor first. Although students may meet with their faculty advisor any time there is a concern, there are several required program milestones during which students will meet with their advisors:

• Initial advisory session to complete program of study
• At the completion of the first year, during the summer semester a Student Academic, Professional, and Personal Review form will be completed with each student’s advisor.
• In October of the second year, a Review Form will be completed with each student’s advisor as part of the pre-practicum review process.
• At the completion of the second year, during the summer semester a Review form will be completed with each student’s advisor.
• In October of the 3^rd year, students will meet with their advisor as part of preparation for the comprehensive exam, final internship placement, and graduation requirements.
• In April of the 3^rd year, students will meet with their advisor to complete the final Review Form

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for full-time students, which require 10 hours of work per week. If you wish to be considered for an assistantship, you may complete and return the application that may be obtained in the Counselor Education Office.

In addition to meeting academic requirements, students are expected to develop a professional orientation, generally defined as internalized attitudes, perspectives, and personal commitment to the standards, ideals, and identity of a profession. Evidence of professionalism includes: active participation and leadership in professional organizations; attendance at local, state, regional, and/or national meetings; acquisition of appropriate counselor credentials; professional growth; and the continued pursuit of knowledge. Students are also are encouraged to present papers at professional conferences and meetings and to participate in workshops and in-service training.