Master of Science in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health

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.

Please note that the department application is included in the online submission provided by the graduate school. Instructions for the personal statement are now with the application and will be submitted online during that process. You will also answer four (4) questions. These questions can be found below.

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

The application priority deadline date is February 1. Fully completed applications have first priority for review. Applications will still be considered until March 1.

The application requirements include official undergraduate transcripts (and graduate transcripts, if applicable), three references, General GRE scores, cover letter and resumé, a personal statement and answers to the following questions:

• How has your life experiences influenced your decision to pursue a career in counseling?
• Once you complete this degree, where do you see yourself working and with what population (types of clients)?
• During your graduate education, you will be exposed to people whose experiences and opinions are different from your own. How are you prepared to deal effectively with these people?
• As a CACREP accredited program, we strive to provide the community with leaders. How do you see yourself providing leadership within your community upon completion of this program?

We recommend you write your answers to above questions prior to completing the online application. You will need to answer each question in 300 words or less.

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

No. Professionally these two fields are very different. While there are many classes that the students share, the specialties are unique. To understand the difference, we recommend you spend a bit of time researching what settings each of the degrees would ultimately afford you. That will help guide you in your decision to apply for one of the specialty areas.

Your personal statement should focus on your experiences to date and fit for the program.

In addition, you will answer four (4) questions:

• How has your life experiences influenced your decision to pursue a career in counseling?
• Once you complete this degree, where do you see yourself working and with what population (types of clients)?
• During your graduate education, you will be exposed to people whose experiences and opinions are different from your own. How are you prepared to deal effectively with these people?
• As a CACREP accredited program, we strive to provide the community with leaders. How do you see yourself providing leadership within your community upon completion of this program?

We recommend you write your answers to the personal statement and the above questions prior to completing the online application. Your personal statement can be as long as you like and should be uploaded in a document. Answers to the questions will be done in the application portal and you will need to do this in 300 words or less per question.

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

Although the GRE is now commonly taken online at a testing site and the student learns his or her unofficial scores almost immediately, the scores do not get sent to the university quite as fast.

Official GRE scores are not sent to the chosen university until approximately 10 to 15 days after the original test date. In addition, these scores are mailed to the graduate studies office.

In order to assure that your scores are in the hands of the committee by February 1st (deadline), you should plan to take the GRE by December 31st of the year before the application deadline. For example, if you were applying for the February 1st deadline, ideally you would have taken the GRE prior to December 31.

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

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

Make sure to alert your reference to the change and that s/he 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 Karrie Swan. Cynthia Messier also teaches courses considered as core counseling curriculum.

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.

Three full academic years. This includes the 600-hour internship requirement.

School Counseling candidates complete two classes (7 total credits) in summer between year one and year two.

Clinical Mental Health candidates have one summer quarter of internship credits (6 credits and 15-20 hours a week at the internship site) done between year two and three.

There is an option for an accelerated program. This option would give students the option to graduate in 21-months by taking upwards of 14 graduate credits per quarter.

There are currently no online courses associated with this program.

It is possible to work a part-time position during the course of the three-year program.

If a student seeks an accelerated path, it is much more difficult to work and maintain the standards for graduate school.

Currently, twelve to fifteen students are admitted per emphasis each year. In total, the counseling program admits between 24 and 30 per year. Because our programs are nationally certified by CACREP, we maintain a 10:1 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, GRE scores, 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 March, 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.

We do not require a degree in psychology or any specific degree. However, as counseling is heavily grounded in psychology and counseling theory, the admissions committee prefer candidates who can show completion of the following courses (or the equivalent from another department or university):

• PSYC 314-Tests, Measurements, and Evaluation (a survey course about psychological testing)
• PSYC 344-Introduction to the Helping Profession (includes the development of basic dyadic communication skills)
• PSYC 483-Group Dynamics (an overview of group communication, stages of group development, conflict resolution, and teamwork principles).

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

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.

School counselors are uniquely trained individuals who primarily work in K-12 schools. They may also work in a district supervisory role or college counselor education programs. Their expertise allows them to design, implement, evaluate, and enhance effective interventions to guide students in academic, career, and personal/social goals. Through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, professional school counselors create equitable opportunities for all students to access a rigorous education.

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.

Counseling Graduate Program Student Handbook

• COE Student Handbook

Counseling Graduate Program Evaluation Annual Reports

• COE Annual Report Academic Year 2016-2017

Clinical Graduate Program Student Handbook

• Please contact the Department Secretary for a copy of the Clinical Psychology Handbook.

EdS Psychology Graduate Program

• EdS Handbook