Begin Application Process

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Admissions:

What you need to know to apply

A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. To be admitted to the MSE in School Counseling – General Concentration online program, students must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Although a teaching certificate is not required for this program in Arkansas, students should be prepared to have access to a classroom setting as part of the internship component of the program.

Please note, meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Student applications that meet minimum requirements are forwarded to the School Counseling Program Coordinator in the Department of Psychology and Counseling for final review, after which a decision on admission will be determined. Students should check for specific requirements in their state. See full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

Minimum 2.75 GPA

Official transcripts

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA

If you have lower than a 2.75 GPA, you may still be admitted, dependent upon your references and your essay responses.
Note: If you are admitted and have less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 12 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University

Two references who could speak to your professional responsibilities and academic potential

Answers to three essay questions (listed below)

Application submission requirements

Complete online application
Submit a nonrefundable $30 fee
Have official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
Supply the email addresses for two references who can speak to your professional responsibilities and academic potential
- One recommender must be a work supervisor while another must be a faculty member in your most recent academic program of study. If you have not been enrolled in an academic program for at least five years, you may substitute an additional recommendation from a current or former employer.
- Please note: All recommendation letters are confidential. MSE School Counseling Applicants waive their right to view these recommendation letters after submission.
Complete three essay questions as part of your application. You will upload your answers as either a .pdf or Word document. The questions are:
- Discuss your interest in Arkansas State University's School Counseling program. Please share relevant professional experiences and discuss how these experiences have impacted your goals of pursuing a degree in school counseling in working to foster social/emotional, career, and academic success for all.
- In accordance with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)'s National Model, please discuss the significance of being a culturally responsive and data-driven school counselor in today's global and dynamic society.
- Share the attributes you possess that will enable you to be successful in a fully online and rigorous graduate program. Also, please describe your professional disposition, as well as how your disposition will impact the critical stakeholders you interact with while in graduate school, as well as in your future work setting.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Unless otherwise noted, Arkansas State University has not confirmed if a program has met requirements for an out-of-state licensure. Please refer to the Program Approval Map to determine which programs are eligible to be offered in states and to find relevant State Agency contact information. Eligibility to offer in a state does not guarantee the program will meet state licensure/ certification requirements.

Note: To verify that an applicant can be recommended for licensure in another state, he/she must be eligible for professional licensure in the state of Arkansas. It is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for licensure in his/her state as it applies to the participation in an out-of-state degree program.

Please contact your state’s Professional License Department/Board to ensure that your chosen distance education program meets your state’s requirements in which you intend to practice.

Appeals process

Students who fall below the minimum admission requirements (GPA) or who are denied may send a written letter of appeal, GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial), and additional supporting information to [email protected]
The appeal request will be forwarded to the department chair for conditional admission review.

Transfer credits

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.