Counseling Requirements
Applicants to the Master's program in Counseling must:
1) Hold a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies (Please note, there are special requirements for international students).
2) Posses an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
3) Engage in a required, on-campus group interview (on Friday, February 23, 2018).
4) Submit the following materials:
a. A brief (no more than 2 pages) resume.
b. 3 letters of recommendation, ideally with at least one that speaks to the applicant’s academic abilities.
c. Unofficial transcripts (official to be submitted if accepted in the program).
d. Applicants with a undergraduate GPA below 3.0 are required to take the GRE exam. GRE scores no older than 5 years will be accepted.
e. Response to a set of application essay questions below.
Essay questions:
1. The American Counseling Association defines the profession of counseling as: a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. In an effort to train effective professionals capable of effective engagement in such a wide range of tasks, the Department of Education and Counseling at Villanova University is committed to facilitating both the professional development and personal growth of our students.
To that end, we have developed a professional performance review process for students in the program, whereby students are assessed according to specific attributes, characteristics, and behaviors that researchers and scholars have identified as necessary for effective counseling.
Please review these characteristics found on the Effective Counselor Qualities page. Then, in 300 words or less, identify and discuss the following: (a) one attribute listed in the document that you believe is a strength for you, and (b) one attribute that you believe is an area of growth for you.
2. Counseling professionals must regularly make decisions regarding complex ethical dilemmas involving multiple perspectives and no one clear ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ solution. In 400 words or less:
(a) describe an ethical dilemma you have encountered in your personal or professional life;
(b) state how it was resolved, and why you chose to resolve it in that manner;
(c) indicate what the most challenging part was, regarding this dilemma.
Applying to the Master’s in Counseling Program: The First Step
Review the program website and identify the specific area of emphasis that you wish to pursue (e.g., either Clinical Mental Health or School Counseling). Consider visiting campus, in particular during a fall or spring Graduate Open House, check the graduate school website for those dates and to sign up. Questions? Contact Dr. Krista Malott, Program Director, at krista.malott@villanova.edu or 610-519-4642.
Seeking Funding?
Various programs and departments at Villanova offer graduate assistantships for graduate students, or consider applying for a Resident Assistance position in a dormitory. For students seeking to apply for a graduate assistantship in the Department of Education, please see our Counseling Graduate Assistantships page. To identify other campus work opportunities: see the Graduate School Website for links identified under Financing Your Education or call individual departments to inquire as to potential positions. Also, see online, Villanova’s Student Job Directory.
Deadlines
- Counseling applications will only be accepted for fall semester entry. The application deadline is February 1st.
- Selected applicants will be invited for interview, held on Friday, February 23, 2018. Please reserve this entire day for a possible interview.
How to Apply
1. Applicants to any graduate program should follow the process outlined for Prospective Students on the Graduate Studies website and summarized below. The application is only online.
2. Additionally, the Counseling Department requires a completed your written response to two essay questions, which can be uploaded to your online application.
The Application Process
The Application Process:
1. Submit the following materials:
- Application fee: The fee is waived for students with a Villanova degree or who have attended an Open House or a Virtual Information Session.
- Transcripts:
Step 1 - You may upload unofficial copies of your transcripts in the online application in order to receive an admission decision. However, those who are offered admission must complete the following process in order to enroll.
Step 2 - Official transcripts of all previous college work undergraduate (and graduate where applicable), must be sent directly from your registrar's office to the Office of Graduate Studies at Villanova. (Applicants in their last year of undergraduate study who have not completed their bachelor’s degree should provide a transcript of all courses completed at the time of application, and submit an official transcript when the undergraduate degree is completed.)
- Three Letters of Recommendation, preferably from undergraduate faculty; for those who have been out of school for a number of years, professional letters are acceptable. Please use the form found on the online application.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: Only required if your GPA is below a 3.0. Please note that scores from tests taken more than five years before the date of application will not be accepted.
- A resume: no longer than 2 pages.
- Request to tranzfer credit
- Response to essay questions
2. Applicants to a non-degree Certificate Program should submit the following materials:
- Application for admission online.
- Application fee: The fee is waived for students with a Villanova degree or who have attended the Open House or Virtual Information Session.
- Transcripts:
Step 1 - You may upload unofficial copies of your transcripts in the online application in order to receive an admission decision. However, those who are offered admission must complete the following process in order to enroll.
Step 2 - Official transcripts of all previous college work undergraduate (and graduate where applicable), must be sent directly from your registrar's office to the Office of Graduate Studies at Villanova. (Applicants in their last year of undergraduate study who have not completed their bachelor’s degree should provide a transcript of all courses completed at the time of application, and submit an official transcript when the undergraduate degree is completed.)