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Admissions requirements

The minimum prerequisite is a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants with less than the minimum GPA are encouraged to describe the circumstances contributing to their past. Coursework in psychology and human development and family studies is preferred but not required.

Competitive admissions

Eighteen spots per year are available in the cohort. Due to the competitive nature of the process, find out if you're ready for grad school. Those who pass the initial screening of written applications will be invited for a personal interview, after which the final cohort composition will be determined.

The following are evaluated in the process of determining whether an applicant will be recommended to the Graduate School for admission:

Criteria include:

• Academic background - evidenced by your undergraduate GPA and references
• Alignment of professional goals and personal qualities with the profession of mental health counseling - evidenced by your statement of objectives and references
• Applicability of educational background to the profession of mental health counseling - evidenced by transcripts
• Relevance of work/volunteer experience to the profession of mental health counseling - evidenced by your résumé and references
• Commitment to cross-cultural experiences and social justice -  evidenced by your statement of objectives and references.

When to apply

The application deadline for the summer 2023 cohort is Dec. 15, 2022.

How to apply

To apply to the OSU Graduate School and to the Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) program, go to the OSU Graduate School’s online application form. Log in or click on "create new account" to begin the application process.

The nonrefundable application fee is $75.

Required application materials

• Official transcripts
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé
• Statement of objectives
• Letters of recommendation

Official transcripts

Submit official transcripts (including school stamp/seal) from all post-secondary institutions attended.

CV/résumé

Detail your relevant experience, in the following order:

• Educational experience
• Work experience
• Volunteer experience
• Diversity/social justice experience (e.g., cross-cultural immersion, advocacy &/or direct action, language proficiencies)

Statement of objectives

Submit a written personal statement (2-3 pages, 12-pt font, double-spaced) that addresses:

• Why you are pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling (as opposed to related degrees like a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology or a master’s degree in social work or school counseling);
• What prompted you to do so at this point in your life;
• The personal qualities, values and experiences that make graduate study in counseling appropriate for you;
• What experiences have shaped your beliefs about diversity, multiculturalism, social justice, and peoples’ capacity for change; and
• Your professional goals and concerns about yourself as a student and as a counselor trainee.

While the content of this statement is most important, it is also a writing sample that gives the admissions committee an idea of your attention to style, grammar, and syntax, which speaks to your ability to write at the graduate level.

Letters of recommendation

Provide the names and email addresses of three professional references who can attest to your personal and professional qualities and your readiness for graduate study. They must be willing to supply letters of professional reference on your behalf. These individuals will be contacted directly by the OSU Graduate School and asked to independently upload their letters.

Ideal references can speak to your:

• Academic ability and/or potential for graduate study
• Experience in the helping professions (volunteer/employment)
• Character
• Encounters with individuals whose background or cultures differed from yours

References may include employers or internship/volunteer supervisors, faculty, mentors or community members (e.g., religious or community leaders). Please do not request references from family members, personal therapists/counselors, current or former supervisees or clients.

Important Note:  Please allow yourself, your references, and your former institutions ample time to submit your materials, to prevent any delays in processing or consideration of your application.

All applicants are evaluated for their fit with the vision and mission of the university, the Graduate School, College of Education and the Counseling Academic Unit. Admission decision recommendations are made by the unit’s selection committee and include consideration of your relevant career goals, aptitude for graduate-level study, potential for success in forming effective counseling relationships and respect for cultural differences.

State authorization and licensure disclosures

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education and the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission for participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), Oregon State University provides information pertaining to professional licensure and certification in correlation with programs delivered online by OSU Ecampus.

Not all of the OSU Ecampus programs that lead to professional licensure are formally approved by the states and territories outside of Oregon. To learn more about this program as it relates to licensure in the state or territory in which you intend to be licensed, visit our licensure disclosure webpage.