Department: Counselor Education   

Admission Requirements

• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate study. (If the candidate already holds a master’s degree, a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 is required.)*
• A minimum composite score of 290 on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test if taken on or after August 1, 2011, or a minimum composite score of 900 on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test if taken prior to August 1, 2011.*
• Three letters of recommendation from professionals or educators outside of the BSU Department of Counselor Education
• A completed Counselor Education admission application, including a 500-word personal statement related to the intended counseling program option
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work completed outside of Bridgewater State University
• Candidates for education programs leading to initial licensure (School Counseling and Mental Health-Dual License) must also provide passing qualifying scores on the Communication and Literacy Skills portions of the Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure^® (MTEL). Candidates who already hold a master’s degree are not required to take the GRE, but may be asked to do so by the Department of Counselor Education if their graduate GPA does not meet the minimum requirement.

Applicant Screening Process

Students who meet all admission requirements as outlined above will be invited to an admission interview.

*Candidates who meet the following criteria will receive a conditional invitation to an admission interview:

• A composite GRE score of 700-899 (or a comparable composite score on the new grading scale) and a 2.5-2.79 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
• A composite GRE score that exceeds 900 (or a comparable composite score on the new grading scale) and a 2.5-2.79 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
• If a candidate already holds a master’s degree, a composite GRE score that exceeds 1,000 and a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0-3.4.

Admission Interviews

All applicants with a completed application package and who meet the admission requirements as outlined above will be required to participate in the on-campus Admissions Day interview process. The Admissions Day is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicant’s potential for employment as a professional counselor. Admissions Day is held on the third Friday of March and the third Friday of November each year.

School Counselor Licensure

Course requirements leading to initial licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a school counselor at the pre-kindergarten through 8th grade level (PreK-8) or the 5th through 12th grade level (5-12) are outlined below. Licensure by the university will result in interstate reciprocity with signatory states as specified under the Interstate Certification Compact. To discuss the various licensure program options, please consult with your adviser.