Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.

Counseling, Student Affairs Counseling Concentration, MEd


Department: Counselor Education

This 39-credit program is designed for those students interested in careers in higher education and student affairs.

Learning Outcomes  

Application Deadlines


Fall: February 1
Spring: October 1

Late applications will not be accepted. Applications will not be reviewed until after the application deadline.

Admission Requirements


  • Online application and $50 application fee
  • Resumé
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
  • GRE General Test scores (Combined Verbal & Quantitative)
    • If undergraduate GPA is 3.00 or higher, then the GRE requirement will be waived.
    • If undergraduate GPA is a 2.80-2.99, then a combined GRE score of 291 is needed.
    • If undergraduate GPA is 2.50-2.79, then a combined GRE score of 292 or higher is needed.
    • If candidate holds a master’s degree and GPA is a 3.50 or higher, GRE requirement is waived.
    • If candidate holds a master’s degree and GPA is a 3.00-3.49, a combined GRE score of 297 is needed.
  • Three letters of recommendation from professionals or educators
  • Personal statement – 500-word personal statement that presents a synthesized, integrated and self-reflective description of career goals as they relate to the chosen field of counseling and how they have led to the specific counseling program at Bridgewater State University

Applicant Screening Process


Candidates who meet the above criteria will be invited to an admissions interview. The Admissions Interview Day is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicant’s potential for employment as a professional counselor. Admissions Interview Day is held at the end of March and the end of November each year. Students who live, work or attend school more than 200 miles from Bridgewater State University may be granted an alternative online admissions interview.

Early Admission Requirements


An undergraduate student may apply to the MEd in Student Affairs program while enrolled in their senior year at BSU if their undergraduate cumulative GPA at the time of application is at minimum of 3.00. Interested Students should apply for the program in their second to last semester. If students meet the admissions criteria, attend interview day and are accepted, students will be allowed to take up to two courses (6 credits) in the Student Affairs Counseling concentration in the last semester of their senior year which will be counted towards their undergraduate degree and their master’s degree.

Undergraduate students can choose up to two courses (6 credits) from the list below:

Undergraduate students’ financial aid package will apply to graduate courses taken for undergraduate credit, and there will be no additional charge for taking a graduate course in the evening.

Under the early admissions process, students will be admitted but will not be deemed as graduate students until conferral of the Bachelor’s degree. Completed graduate course work with a minimum grade of “B” taken as part of the undergraduate program of study will not need to be repeated as part of the graduate program of study.

Grade Requirement


Students must receive a minimum grade of “B-” in each graduate course or fieldwork experience; students who receive a grade lower than a “B-” must repeat the course. In addition, students who receive a grade of “F” in any course will be placed on academic probation by the department. Any student who receives a second grade of “F” will be dismissed from the program. Lastly, students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or will be placed on academic probation as outlined in the graduate student handbook.

Program of Study


Elective (3 credits)


Complete three credits of counseling courses (CNGC, CNMH, CNSA, CNSC) at the 500-level or above. Students should consult with their academic advisors when choosing an appropriate elective.

Required fieldwork (6 credits)


Students will meet with their advisor to plan their fieldwork experience. Students must complete a minimum of 300 fieldwork hours at a site or sites (minimum of one site, maximum of two sites) approved by the Student Affairs Program director and fieldwork supervisor. Students may work 10-40 hours per 15-week semester and will register for three credits for each 150 hours of field work they complete that semester; 10 hours per week/150 total hours = three credits; 20 hours per week/300 total hours = six credits. Students must attend an internship seminar each semester they are involved in field expeerience and may not miss more than two total seminars.

Exit requirement: Culminating Experience


As part of the graduation requirement in the department, students are expected to complete a culminating experience which is overseen by members of the Department of Counselor Education faculty. The culminating experience focuses on students’ ability to integrate counseling and development theory into direct practice. Through the culminating experience, students will demonstrate the counseling competencies that align with the CACREP/ACPA/NASPA national student affairs competencies. Students will be required to take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) and earn the department set minimum score on six of the eight CACREP core content areas. Students who do not meet the minimum threshold for any of the six content areas will be required to show mastery in those areas through completing a comprehensive assignment (in the same semester that the CPCE was taken) designed for that core area which will be evaluated by three different departments of counselor education faculty members.

Please see the Graduate Academic Policies  section of this catalog for additional information regarding comprehensive examinations.

Total minimum credits: 39