Master of Science in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Specialization

We now use a third party system to assist in graduate applications.  The entire application packet is available to you online. All required material is completed and submitted via the application portal.

Contact Keely Hope at khope@ewu.edu or 509.359.2439 for questions regarding the counseling program.

The application deadline date is January 15.

The application requirements include official undergraduate transcripts (and graduate transcripts, if applicable), three references, cover letter and resumé,  and a personal statement.

Applicants must demonstrate completion of an undergraduate statistics course.

In your personal statement, please address the following in a one-page, single-spaced document:

• Significant life event or experience that contributed to your desire to be a counselor.
• What do you view as the single most important quality in a counselor, and what will you need to do to work on this quality?
• Evidence demonstrating your commitment to working with diverse communities

We recommend you write your answers to above questions prior to completing the online application.

Take your time and create a well thought out answer to these questions.

In your personal statement, please address the following in a one-page, single-spaced document:

• Significant life event or experience that contributed to your desire to be a counselor.
• What do you view as the single most important quality in a counselor, and what will you need to do to work on this quality?
• Evidence demonstrating your commitment to working with diverse communities.

We recommend you write your answers to the personal statement and the above questions prior to completing the online application. Your personal statement should be one page, single spaced, long.

Take your time and create a well thought out answer to these questions.

You will submit the name and email of the person who is providing you a recommendation in the application portal. The person will receive an email from the university/program and will do the recommendation electronically.

All you need is the person’s name, title, and email address.

Make sure to alert your reference to the change and that they will receive an email from us with the opportunity to upload the traditional letter of recommendation and fill out our form electronically.

Good question. Below you will find our application data.

No. It is no longer true.

All classes will be held on the main campus in Cheney. This includes internship classes and any seminar classes. Practicum and Internship sites could be in Spokane depending on where the student completes the clinical experience.

As with all things, though, there may be changes to this plan, but that will be on a case by case basis and typically due to a scheduling conflict of the instructor.

The program is designed as a full-time program.

The Counseling core faculty are Keely Hope and Camille Frank.

Core faculty members are defined by CACREP as someone who has earned a PhD in Counselor Education and identifies professionally as a counselor as evidenced by membership in professional organizations and holds either a current license or certification in their specialty area.

The MS Counseling program will start in fall 2022. The program is designed as a two-year program, with summer after the first academic year required and summer the second year optional depending on credit completion during the academic year.

This includes the 600-hour internship requirement over the course of one academic year.

The program will offer courses in a hybrid format beginning in fall 2022.

The MS Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be offered using a combination of in-person and online (synchronous and asynchronous) modalities. Students will be expected to be present for courses on the Cheney campus on Mondays, with hybrid delivery of material occurring during the rest of the week.

The MS Counseling program will start in fall 2022. The program is a two-year program, with summer after the first academic year required and summer the second year optional depending on credit completion during the academic year.

It is possible to work a part-time position during the course of the program?

Yes, possible with good time management skills.

In total, the counseling program admits between 24 and 30 per year. Because our programs are nationally certified by CACREP, we maintain a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. We routinely have more academically qualified applicants than we can admit.

94 quarter credits. This is the equivalent of 62 semester credits.

Strong consideration is given to demonstrated academic excellence. We want students who will be competent in a graduate level course of study.  In addition, the faculty focuses on the applicant’s maturity, interpersonal skills, and prior experience in a helping role with others. Each applicant’s file is reviewed by each member of the Counseling faculty using a weighted scoring sheet that considers GPA, the strength of letters of recommendation, prior work experience, and professionalism of the applicant’s written personal statement.

Grammar, style, and content are evaluated as part of the personal statement. Faculty members then decide collectively on which students will be further considered for admission. Each applicant still in consideration is interviewed by the faculty. A final decision on members of the cohort is reached by mid to late February if possible.

No. While many of our students have a degree in psychology or a closely related field, each year, students are admitted with undergraduate degrees in such disciplines as communication, education, business, nursing, or social work. However, most of those would benefit from taking some psychology courses that prepare them for graduate work in the counseling field. If you have any questions about whether or not you need to take a course before admission, please contact Keely Hope at khope@ewu.edu, Program Director of Counseling.

Yes. CSBS 320- Statistics or an equivalent at your learning institution.

We do not require a degree in psychology or any specific degree.

If you have questions regarding this, please contact Keely Hope at khope@ewu.edu, Program Director of Counseling.

Courses can be transferred from other CACREP programs only. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred into our program is 12 quarter credits or 9-semester credits, and this requires the approval of the faculty.

Very high, even in economically difficult times. Because of the strengths and reputation of the program, graduates routinely find full-time positions in their field within a few months of completing the program.