Master of Science in Community Counseling General Admissions Requirements
Admission in the Community Counseling program is based on the candidate's potential for graduate study, previous preparation and experience, and the possession of personal qualities that contribute to success as a counselor. Although no specific undergraduate major is required for admission to the program, students with backgrounds in related fields such as psychology, education, sociology, criminal justice, Spanish, biology, and nursing are best prepared to enter the discipline.
The following documents must be received prior to the application deadline:
- North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and application fee.
- Official transcripts from all regionally-accredited institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). International transcripts must include certification that the applicant has received at least a baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative GPA.
- Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE). Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
The following document must be received prior to the first day of the term:
- North Georgia Immunization Certification form in accordance with Board of Regents policy.
Students who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will have a hold placed on their accounts and will not be allowed to register for subsequent terms until all documentation has been received.
Regular Admission
To qualify for regular admission, individuals must:
- Hold at least an earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia's Graduate Admission procedures.
- Have achieved a score of no less than 800 on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) (verbal and quantitative combined).
- Submit a resume.
- Submit three completed recommendation forms from persons who are able to address academic potential, professional experiences in the helping professions, and non-academic experiences that add breadth in understanding the human condition.
- Participate in a group interview with counseling faculty.
- Submit a personal statement of 3-5 pages, double-spaced, that is autobiographical in nature that addresses the following:
- Brief personal history.
- Why you want to become a counselor.
- Attributes you possess which would contribute to your effectiveness as a counselor.
- Personal characteristics which may inhibit your relationships with clients and what you are doing to resolve those issues.
All documents must be received prior to the application deadline. The meeting of all admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Final admission is a competitive process that takes all aspects of a student's record into account.
Provisional Admission
A student may be granted provisional admission in cases where regular admission is not granted and the following conditions apply:
- Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
- Have achieved a score of no less than 700 on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) (verbal and quantitative combined).
- Meet all other regular program admission requirements.
Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a total of 6-9 hours of graduate credit. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following completion of six hours. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate Community Counseling course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the Community Counseling program. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the Community Counseling program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.
Non-Degree Admission
Individuals interested in taking graduate community counseling courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the Community Counseling program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of six hours of graduate credit.
The following documents must be received prior to the application deadline:
- North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and application fee.
- Earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
- Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of at least 700 (verbal and quantitative combined). Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
- Resume.
- Three completed recommendation forms from persons who are able to address academic potential, professional experiences in the helping professions, and non-academic experiences that add breadth in understanding the human condition.
- Personal statement of 3-5 pages, double-spaced, that is autobiographical in nature that addresses the following:
- Brief personal history.
- Why you want to become a counselor.
- Attributes you possess which would contribute to your effectiveness as a counselor.
- Personal characteristics which may inhibit your relationships with clients and what you are doing to resolve those issues.
- Approval of coordinator.
The following document must be received prior to the first day of the term:
- North Georgia Immunization Certification form in accordance with Board of Regents policy.
No more than six hours of graduate credit earned while holding a non-degree status may subsequently be applied toward meeting the requirements of the Master of Science in Community Counseling program. All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the program coordinator. Non-degree students wishing to apply for regular admission to the community counseling degree program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application, and meet all program admission requirements. Non-degree admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate community counseling course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue to enroll in community counseling coursework. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the Community Counseling program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Non-degree admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.
Transient Student Admission
An individual currently enrolled at a regionally-accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to North Georgia as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the community counseling program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space available basis.
The following documents must be received prior to application deadline:
- North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and application fee.
- Letter of good standing or Transient Permission Form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at his or her home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at North Georgia.. The North Georgia Community Counseling program coordinator may require the applicant to submit a transcript of his or her previous college work in order to verify adequate prerequisite knowledge/skills.
The following document must be received prior to the first day of the term:
- North Georgia Immunization Certification form in accordance with Board of Regents policy.
Transient admission is for one semester term only. Individuals who wish to return to North Georgia as a transient student for a subsequent term must re-apply to North Georgia.
Appeal of Graduate Admission
A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the Community Counseling Program, Department of Psychology and Sociology, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, Georgia 30597-1001. Appeals conform to the following procedures:
- Letter of appeal must be submitted to the Coordinator of the Community Counseling program addressing the unmet criteria.
- Applicants must submit the full application by the deadline including the letter of appeal in order to be considered for the upcoming term. Materials submitted after that time will be considered for the subsequent term.
- Students will be asked to attend the group interview or may have an individual meeting with the coordinator/admissions committee based on availability of faculty members.
- The admissions committee will make recommendations to the Dean of the School of Arts & Letters.
For denial of admittance other than GPA or GRE, a letter of appeal may be submitted to the Dean of the School of Arts & Letters.