Master of Science with a Major in Community Counseling
The Master of Science degree in Community Counseling is a 48-hour program of study designed to prepare individuals to function as counselors in mental health centers, community agencies, governmental agencies, employee assistance programs, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs, college and university counseling centers, religious settings, and private practice. The Master of Science program in Community Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation (COPA).
Designed to allow individuals to progress through the program at their own rate, the program offers courses in the late afternoon and evening. The mission of this degree program is to
- Provide students with the most comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge and skills in the field of counseling;
- Prepare students by exposing them to practical experiences in counseling settings;
- Serve the region by preparing trained counselors for the North Georgia communities;
- Provide training in diversity and in awareness of the impact of diversity on client populations and communities;
- Develop an awareness of ethical, legal, and bio-psycho-social factors in counseling;
- Maintain excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service for the faculty and students in the department; and
- Provide services for the broader North Georgia communities through practicum placements, internships, and the professional endeavors of those in the North Georgia Community Counseling Program.
Students are admitted year-round and application deadlines are as follows: June 1st for fall, December 1st for spring, and April 1st for summer term.
For additional program information, call the Community Counseling Program, Department of Psychology and Sociology, 706-864-1444, or write to Community Counseling Program, Department of Psychology and Sociology, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, Georgia 30597-1001.
Graduate Admissions Procedures
Application materials may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions or from the North Georgia website, www.northgeorgia.edu/Graduate. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials required to make an admission decision have been received by the Office of Graduate Admission, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Upon review, a letter from the Community Counseling program will be sent to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.
Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within one year of acceptance must reapply through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at North Georgia become the property of the university and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files; three years for completed and accepted, but not enrolled.