Admission Requirements
Regular Admission: February 1
An applicant’s file is to be completed, with all application materials, including reference letters, transcripts, standardized test scores, a personal statement, and resume, by February 1 to receive priority consideration for the fall term.
Secondary Admission: July 1
Applications completed after February 1 and by July 1 will be reviewed on a periodic basis. Admission will be granted subject to the availability of space in a program.
The department reviews admissions files on the following dates:
- November 15th
- January 15th
- March 1st
- April 15th
- June 1st
- July 15th
- August 20th (if necessary)
Academic and Non-Academic Standards Required for Admission
Admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program will be granted, as space allows, to those applicants who satisfy the basic qualifications and show high promise of success as a professional counselor. Applicants are required to submit the following to the University Graduate Admissions Office:
- MA Application for Admission with $25 fee (waived if completed online)
- Official transcripts of all college or university work
- Three (3) recommendations from academic or professional individuals able to comment on the applicant’s level of personal maturity, academic abilities, and potential success as a professional counselor. One recommendation must be from a current or former professor.
- Up-to-date resume
- Personal statement (as outlined in the application for admission)
- GRE or MAT scores (if required)
- TOEFL results and the WES evaluation (international students only)
In general, an admission decision will be based on the following criteria:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 based on a 4-point scale. Those with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 are required to take either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and achieve a verbal score of 149 and a quantitative score of 144, or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and achieve a minimum score of 395. The GRE or MAT is waived for applicants with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
- The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program accepts applicants who have a variety of undergraduate degrees. Course work in psychology, human services, and human development, is recommended, though not required. However, the admissions committee reserves the right to ask applicants to complete coursework as a pre-requisite for admission.
- Evaluation of a set of personal statements in which the applicant explains his or her suitable traits and dispositions for the profession, interest in the profession, and career goals.
- Favorable recommendations from three recommenders who can assess the applicant’s academic potential and dispositions. One must be a recommendation from a current or former professor.
- A résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Completed Graduate Admission Application.
- Determination by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the candidate's potential to be an effective and responsible professional counselor.
- Prior to admission, a phone or personal interview may be required.
Admission Requirements through the Bridge-Tracks BA/MA Track
Second-semester juniors who are majoring in psychology (clinical track) and have at least a 3.3 GPA are eligible to apply for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program through its Bridge Track. This joint offering of psychology and the Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program makes it possible to complete one’s BA in psychology and an MA in Counseling in five years instead of six.
In addition to having a minimum 3.3 GPA, the Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling application and three letters of recommendation are required for consideration of acceptance into the CMHC Program through its Bridge Track. Any psychology major interested in applying for acceptance into the CMHC Program though this track is strongly advised to discuss this with his/her advisor as early as possible to assure selecting a workable sequence of courses, as it may be necessary to take additional credits some semesters or enroll in summer coursework.
The following is the course sequence for the Fall semester of a student’s fourth year:
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Human Growth and Personality Development
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Theories and Techniques of Mental Health Counseling
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Issues in Psychological and Spiritual Integration
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Group Dynamics and Mental Health Counseling
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Senior Thesis or Coordinating Seminar
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CSL 502, CSL 504: for elective
CSL 607: for Catholic Psychology elective
CSL 621: for PSY 320 Group Dynamics
Students will earn their undergraduate degree in Psychology, with a clinical concentration, in December of their fourth year. Any student who fails to complete their undergraduate requirements by this time will not be permitted to matriculate into further graduate-level coursework until all undergraduate credits are completed. Students who successfully matriculate with an undergraduate degree in Psychology in December of their fourth year will be fully accepted into the CHMC Program and will enroll in the typical CMHC sequence of courses for second-semester, first year
Transfer Credit
Students requesting transfer of graduate credit(s) (up to 9 semester hours) may do so, either before or after enrolling in Franciscan University, through a formal written letter to the director of the program that includes the course number, title, and grade for the course already taken along with the name and number of the relevant program course. Only courses in which the student has earned a "B" or better will be transferable. Enclosures should include a photocopy of the course description from the graduate catalog of the school where the course was taken or will be taken, the course syllabus, listing text(s) used for the course, and at the discretion of the program director, topics covered and graded assignments may also be required. An official transcript showing successful completion of the course must be provided to the University Registrar in order for the grade to transfer.
It should be noted that if a student wished to transfer a course taken at a different school worth quarter hour credits for a program course rather than semester credits, the course will be accepted for transfer, providing it meets the conditions described above, but only for two thirds (2/3) the credit as a semester hour course.