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Frequently Asked Questions

The Department of Counselor Education offers students advanced programs of study in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling (generalist practice or substance abuse and addiction specialization).

As a unit within the School of Education of The College of New Jersey the department embraces the mission of Creating Agents of Change, the overarching goal of the Conceptual Framework of the Professional Education Unit at the College.

Since becoming the first program in the state of New Jersey to be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the department has striven to maintain national accreditation status for the Master of Arts (MA) programs in counseling.   These highly regarded programs stress theory and practice, assessment and treatment, ethical, legal and professional issues, and a strong commitment to cultural diversity, tolerance, and human rights.

In addition, the department offers a 21 semester hour graduate certificate program to prepare students to be eligible for the Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate in the public schools in New Jersey.

Candidates for both options within the MA degree must present a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; meet college matriculation requirements; and attend an interview with the department faculty. College matriculation requirements include: a 2.75 cumulative average or a 3.0 in the major at the undergraduate level; completion of the graduate application; two (2) letters of recommendation and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  The GRE requirement will be waived with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

In addition to the above criteria, consideration will be given to the candidate’s openness to personal and professional development and potential success in developing interpersonal relationships in the counseling context and prior relevant experiences.

Applicants for the Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate Program must: a.) Complete an application for admission, including undergraduate and graduate transcripts (where applicable), personal statement and reference letters; and b.) Present evidence of: 1.) Certification or licensure as one of the following: school psychologist, school social worker, school counselor, director of school counseling services, school nurse, alcohol and drug counselor (CADC or LCADC), or prevention specialist (CPS); or 2.) A standard instructional certificate; or 3.) A master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university; and c.) Present evidence of completion of the following prerequisite courses (or their equivalent): COUN 501: Introduction to Counseling, COUN 670: Counseling Theory and Techniques, and COUN 675: Group Counseling; and d.) Provide Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (if candidate does not have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA); and e.) Participate in an interview process (to be arranged by the Department of Counselor Education).

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