Click here for the Master’s Degree Application

Application, Semester and Registration Dates

MASTERS PROGRAM IN COUNSELING

Requirements:

1. Complete online application form

2. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Official transcripts from all schools attended and/or agency evaluation of foreign degree.

3. An undergraduate or masters degree in psychology, education, behavioral science, social work, or a related field, and/or demonstrate aptitude to work in counseling through professional, volunteer, research, or personal experience.

4. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, a master’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better or c) a total score of 950 or higher on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within the past five years, or other similar measures.

5. Please briefly explain (500 word minimum) your interest in the field of mental health counseling, substance abuse or applied behavior analysis. Describe how your professional, academic, and personal experiences led you to apply to this program. Include your full name on the essay. The personal statement helps us get to know you beyond the objective data provided in review of your course grades and other objective information. It also demonstrates your ability to communicate your thoughts in a professional, organized and succinct manner.

6. Two academic or professional letters of recommendation.

7. TOEFL score (if applicable)

8. An interview is required for admission to the program.

Please mail all college transcripts and additional admissions material to the address below:

Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services (EPS)
Attn: Center for Psychological Studies
3301 College Avenue
P.O. Box 299000
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33329-9905

Fax unofficial documents to 954-262-3608

Students will be admitted to graduate study and accepted for degree candidacy after successful completion of the core with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Core Standards for Admission and Progress

The standards required for admission keep in mind the safety and well being of clients whom its graduates will eventually serve in clinical situations. Candidates for the degree must possess, with or without reasonable accommodation, multiple abilities and skills including intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities and intrapersonal, communication, behavioral, and personal attributes including empathy, emotional self-awareness, and emotional maturity, which are further defined in the student handbook.

Foreign Coursework

Undergraduate and/or graduate coursework taken at a foreign institution must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency and Grade Point Average (GPA). Two potential evaluation services are listed below.

World Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, New York 10113-0745
(212) 966-6311

Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
International Education Consultants
P.O. Box 248233
Coral Gables, Florida 33124
(305) 273-1616

It is the applicant’s responsibility to have coursework evaluated. The GPA (on a 4.0 scale) must be included. Documents must be submitted by the application deadline.

TOEFL Requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English must take the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum test score of 550 is required for applicants taking the written examination. A minimum test score of 213 is required for applicants taking the computer-based examination. Proficiency in English may also be demonstrated by a minimum score of 500 on the GRE verbal test or a 40th percentile score on the MAT. For application forms, write to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Additional procedures are required for admission of nonresident alien students. Contact the international student advisor at (954) 262-7240.

Matriculation

Students will be admitted to graduate study and accepted for degree candidacy after successful completion of the first four courses (12 credits) with a GPA of 3.0 or better. These courses require demonstration of written, quantitative, and interpersonal skills, as well as overall professional functioning.

During the formal review for matriculation, students' academic performance and professional functioning in the first four courses will be examined. Students need a grade point average of 3.0 or above in these first four courses in order to be matriculated. Students who receive two grades below a B or a grade of F in any of the four designated courses will not be matriculated and will be withdrawn from graduate study. Prior to the formal matriculation review, should a student receive a second grade below B or a grade of F, the student will automatically be withdrawn from graduate study. Students who achieve a grade point average of 2.5 or below in the four designated courses will be discontinued from graduate study in the program.

Students with a grade point average greater than 2.5 but less than 3.0 for the four designated courses will be maintained in a non-matriculated status. No more than four additional courses may be taken without achieving an overall grade point average of 3.0.

Licensure and Certification

Students seeking certification/licensure, as mental health or addiction (substance abuse) counselors in their state must contact their appropriate state agencies or boards to determine the requirements for certification/licensure as a mental health and/or addiction counselor. For students seeking certification as a BCBA or BCABA, the course series in the concentration have been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as meeting the coursework eligibility requirements. In addition to academic coursework, students must complete the specified hours of supervision or mentored experience in ABA. These experiences can be sought independently or as part of the elective practicums in the MS in Counseling.

It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any and all of the information needed from their regulating state agency regarding licensure/certification requirements.

Practicum

Before applying, prospective applicants are advised to consider the following information on the practicum before submitting an application. Students will need to assist in identifying eligible agencies where you can complete practicum requirements. Applicants should insure that they are able to complete the necessary practicum requirements for each concentration. Some students may need to take a leave of absence from their employment, relocate, or reduce their workload during this portion of the program. The schedule for practicum may deviate from that of regular courses due to university and agency requirements. Students should consult their state certification and licensing regulations regarding any minimum hours required for practicum (if applicable). For example, students wishing to fulfill the State of Florida requirements for licensure as required by Chapter 491, Florida Statutes complete 1000 hours to meet this requirement.

Program Objectives

This program will prepare students to become competent providers of mental health, behavior analysis, or substance abuse services in a multicultural and diverse society through:

- understanding their professional identity as a counselor in their area of concentration, including their roles, functions and relationships with other providers

- possessing a strong background in the history, philosophy, ethical standards and policy issues related to their area

- gaining specialized knowledge and skills needed to provide service delivery in mental health, applied behavior analysis, and/or substance abuse

- having a strong background in the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels

- understanding and respecting the influences of varied backgrounds and experiences of individuals in a pluralistic society

- understanding the contextual basis for assessment and intervention and becoming effective consumers of research

- applying knowledge and skills to the treatment of individuals, families and groups

- designing and implementing prevention services

How the Program Works

Online education gives you the opportunity to learn and earn graduate credit without having to travel to a specific classroom location at a specific time.

Online education courses are conducted entirely through the Internet, allowing you to receive and submit course work and interact with participants and your professor via your computer and modem. All online program information is provided electronically.

It is important to note that online education requires the same interactivity, assignments, and requirements of a live classroom. Therefore, it should not be viewed as an independent study. Students are required to be very active in courses and to participate regularly throughout the week. This program has many standards to insure the quality and equivalency of your education to a traditional program.

Minimum Computer Requirements?

- Pentium (or Celeron) 200mhz
- 32MB
- 56K Modem
- CD ROM
- Sound card and Speakers
- Microphone
- Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.5 or higher*
- Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, Me, XP
- Office 97, 2000, XP including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Current Version of Virus Protection Software (Dr. Solomon, McAfee, Norton AntiVirus, etc.)
- NSU e-mail account**
- Internet Service Provider***

Note: *As new versions of the web browser become available, we ask students to upgrade. These upgrades are free and the link to the download sites can be found on our Software Downloads page. **Students will be assigned an NSU email account upon admission. *** Students must have their own Internet service provider. The monthly charge is the student's responsibility.

Degree Requirements and Time Limits

Students must complete their program within five years from the date of first enrollment. This means that students are expected to complete all master's degree requirements with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and graduate within this time period. Students in the mental health counseling concentration must complete a comprehensive examination as part of degree requirements. In the event that a matriculated student who has been in continuous enrollment does not complete all requirements within the five-year time limit, he or she must enroll in the master's program and:

Maintain full-time status (minimum six credits per semester, excluding summer sessions.
Complete remaining degree requirements, which will include any course work that is more than five years old.

Evaluation of Master's Students

Each student is evaluated on an ongoing basis while enrolled in the program. In addition, there are course evaluations, review for matriculation, evaluation of readiness for practicum, and a comprehensive examination. Evaluation provides students with relevant feedback concerning their performance and ensures high standards for the profession of counseling. Student advisement on relevant information, including practicum evaluations, is available through the program office.

Admission Deadline Schedule