Counseling – Admission & Graduation Requirements

Application Procedure

Admission to the Counseling program will be competitive and limited to candidates capable of performing on the graduate level.  Applicants to the program must submit evidence of the following:

Steps To Apply

  1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0-grade point average (GPA) or 2.5 GPA to 2.99 for provisional admission status
  2. Official undergraduate transcripts showing degree conferred and major completed
  3. Official transcripts showing any completed graduate coursework.
  4. Application forms
  5. Personal Statement: should include a description of the experiences that led you to pursue this degree as well as your career goals. The statement should also include your perceived aptitude for forming effective and culturally relevant interpersonal relationships with clients. Culture is defined broadly and includes ability/disability status, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/partnership status, and socioeconomic status. Please comment on your experience with diverse populations in your personal statement. Personal Statements should consider aspects of professionalism and addressability to commit to the rigor of a professional development graduate-level program
  6. Bluefield University graduate reference forms: completed by instructors or professional references addressing the student’s potential for graduate study in education.
  7. Current Resume/CV
  8. Eligibility for readmission (or in good standing) at the last college or university attended
  9. Personal Interview is required. Once the Counseling Program faculty review all applications, selected applicants may be invited to interview.

Additionally, selected applicants must participate in a group interview with the Counseling faculty.

Admissions decisions are made based on an overall evaluation of all stated criteria. Students who minimally meet the criteria for admission may be invited for an interview with program faculty. The purpose of the interview is to obtain additional information in order to make an informed decision. Failure to meet minimum criteria in one area will not necessarily be cause for admissions rejection.

Graduation Requirements

The graduation requirements for the Counseling Program include the completion of 60 credit hours of required graduate coursework. Students may transfer no more than twelve credit hours toward the required total hours for completion.

Graduation Requirements include:

  1. Complete all coursework and requirements within 5 calendar years
  2. Complete clinical practicum of at least 100 hours
  3. Complete clinical Internship of at least 600 hours
  4. Each graduate must complete all required courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  5. Complete final comprehensive examination (CPCE)
  6. Complete and submit the Application for Graduation form and pay all fees.

 

Ready To Apply?

Do I only apply once?

  • No. Students must apply each academic year for the fall semester and submit the necessary documents.

Do I have to take the classes specified in the Associate's Degree tracks as they are listed on the information sheet?

  • No. Students may take any of the courses that are offered in a given term.

Where do I find the textbook listing, and where do I purchase the books?

  • Log in to myBU, and under the "Student" tab, you will find a list of the textbooks required (if any) for each course. Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks.

How long is a semester?

  • Our semesters are divided into two 8-week terms.

Is there an orientation?

  • Yes. Students can attend an orientation session that explains how to access courses, how to register for classes, and answers other questions.

Where can I find a course description?

Does the student need to take the SAT or ACT in order to take Dual Enrollment classes?

  • No. If a student decides to study at BU full time, BU is currently test-optional for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle.

Are the classes live? Do students need to log in and participate at certain times?

  • Classes are offered online, so a student can log-on and study at their convenience and their own pace. Students have assignments due each week; you can complete your assignments at any point in time before the deadline.

Does an Early College student need to come to campus for anything?

  • No. However, we would love to have you visit our campus if you are interested in continuing with traditional on-campus study. Students who complete their associate's degree have the option to walk at our commencement ceremony.

Are Early College students able to receive Financial Aid?

  • No. However, Early College courses are very affordable compared to other options. The cost for an online Dual Enrollment course is $100 per credit hour.

How do transferring credits work?

  • Each College or University completes a transcript review in order to decide which courses transfer. Sticking to general education classes generally makes transferring credits simple. All Early College courses at Bluefield University are general education classes that should transfer to another accredited institution.

Is an Early College student considered, and treated, as a transfer student when they become a full-time college student if they have earned enough credits to be a Junior?

  • No. Since they have not graduated from high school, they are considered a first-time college student regardless of how many credits transfer. However, by transferring credits when they enroll as a full-time student, they will have to take fewer classes to receive their bachelor's degree, which shortens the length of time to earn the degree.

Can I speak to someone if I have more questions?

  • Yes. Please contact the Office of Admissions by email or you can call them at 276.326.4231

 

Meet our core Counseling faculty

Dr. Challen Mabry

Assistant Professor of Counseling

Dr. Kristen Moran

Associate Professor of Counseling

Brandy Smith

Assistant Professor of Education & Counseling,
Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling Program,
Title IX Confidential Counselor

Our team is here for you! How can we help?

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