Application Instructions for the. Master of Science in Counseling

Graduate and Professional Studies in Education Eureka Hall 401 (916) 278-5942 www.csus.edu/coe Dear Prospective Student: Thank you for your interest in the master s degree programs in the Department of Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) in Education. The following application and procedures are for students interested in the following programs: Application Instructions for the Master of Science in Counseling Career Counseling Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC) School Counseling with Embedded PPS Credential Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Please READ all instructions carefully and thoroughly BEFORE completing the FALL 2018 supplemental application packet. Applicants MUST submit ALL of the Graduate School and Supplemental Application documents by the deadline date to be considered for admission. 1. Complete the Graduate School application (https://www2.calstate.edu/apply) at least two weeks before the deadline. Instructions and FAQs are available on the Office of Graduate Studies website at http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/futurestudents/index.html#apply. Delaying your Graduate School application can result in missing the deadline to submit supplemental materials. Complete this application as soon as possible. 2. Do NOT submit supplemental documents to the CSU Apply website. 3. You will receive a confirmation email from the Office of Graduate Studies with your Sac State ID number, instructions regarding how to set up your SacLink Account (if not already set up) www.saclink.csus.edu, and instructions for how to submit the supplemental application through the Document Submission website. This process can take up to two weeks, so allow time to ensure that all of your application materials are submitted by the deadline. NOTE: Please make sure that your email provider is set up to accept CSUS.edu emails. 4. Upload your supplemental application and supporting documents on the Document Submission website (use the link emailed to you by the Office of Graduate Studies).

5. Transcripts cannot be uploaded via the Document Submission website. Mail or hand deliver official copies to the Office of Graduate Studies. All official transcripts must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies by the application deadline in order for your application to be considered. 6. Submit a hard copy of your supplemental application, including letters of recommendation and unofficial transcripts, to the Department of Graduate and Professional Studies office in Eureka Hall 401. Mailing address: Counselor Education Program Admissions College of Education In the process of completing the university application for The Office of Graduate Studies, you will need to select your specific specialization (Career; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; School Counseling; Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling). You may apply to only one specialization. Thank you again for your interest in pursuing graduate studies with our department. We hope to have the opportunity to work with you. Sincerely, Dr. Elisabeth Liles Department Chair Graduate and Professional Studies in Education Final Submission Deadline: Graduate School and Supplemental Application due by 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2018 **Incomplete applications will not be accepted** Application Process Instructions Page 2 of 11

Admission Requirements Application Procedures for Master of Science in Counseling All applicants must meet the University's admission requirements in order to be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Counseling Program. Admission as a classified graduate student in the Master of Science in Counseling program requires: 1. Bachelor s degree from an accredited university. 2. minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60/90 units completed; 3. complete CSU Graduate School Application (CSU Apply) https://www2.calstate.edu/apply 4. complete supplemental application (submitted online and in hard copy to Eureka Hall 401) Department staff will do the initial processing and the faculty will complete the review process of the applications. This review process takes from 8-10 weeks at which time you will be notified via email of the next steps, interviews, and/or any other requirements. Candidates who are invited for an interview will be notified via email from Sign-Up Genius. Be certain to check your spam, junk, and clutter folders to ensure you don t miss this notification. Admittance to the counseling program at CSUS is a competitive process. The number of applications received far exceeds the number of students that can be admitted in a given year. Decisions regarding admission are based on consideration of the applicant s potential for success as a professional counselor, academic performance, professional promise, interpersonal skills, maturity, motivation for personal and professional development, and congruence with the counseling program s philosophy. Admission is determined by examining the following: (1) academic record and grade point average (GPA), (2) quality of written portions of the application, (3) quality of letters of recommendation, (4) relevant work and/or volunteer experience, and an (5) interview with program faculty advisors. All applicants are rank ordered based on the above criteria, and the top candidates are offered admission to the Counselor Education program. The top applicants who successfully pass all screening elements will be classified students in the M.S. in Counseling program. Only those applicants who show professionalism, promise of success, and fitness will be admitted, and only those who continue to demonstrate a satisfactory level of professionalism, scholastic competence, and fitness shall be eligible to proceed in the program. Students become fully classified into the M.S. in Counseling program only if they have completed all steps discussed in this packet. Once students are fully admitted in the program they MUST read a copy of the Counselor Education Student Handbook. ALL students are responsible for knowing and following the requirements to proceed in the M.S. in Counseling program. REJECTED APPLICATIONS: The department staff and faculty cannot answer questions concerning the reasons why a particular application was rejected. All admissions decisions are final. University Application Requirements 1. CSU APPLICATION FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSION: Applicants not currently attending Sacramento State, Sacramento State graduating seniors, and Sacramento State students completing a master s degree or second bachelor s degree must complete and submit the CSU application for graduate school admission online at: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply no later than two weeks prior to the application deadline. Delayed submission may result in an applicant being unable to submit supplemental application materials by the application deadline. The $55.00 non-refundable application fee must be paid online at the time the application is submitted. Application Process Instructions Page 3 of 11

IMPORTANT TIPS When completing enrollment information on the application: Select Face to Face as the Delivery Format Select the program you are applying for o Counseling Career Counseling o Counseling Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling o Counseling School Counseling o Counseling Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling If you are a returning M.S. Counseling graduate who is applying only for the PPS School Counseling Credential Program, be certain to select the PPS School Counseling Credential as the program of study you are applying for Complete the rest of the online graduate school application, pay application fee, and click the submit button. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION: Up to two weeks after you submit the CSU Application for Graduate School Admission, the Office of Graduate Studies will send you an email with instructions for setting up your SacLink Account and uploading your supplemental application materials through the Document Submission website. 3. TRANSCRIPTS needed for CSU Application: Non-Sac State students: One (1) set of official transcripts (sealed) from all community colleges, colleges, and universities attended. Submit this set of transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018. Office of Graduate Studies, CSUS Riverfront Center 215 Sacramento, CA 95819-6112 **All Transcripts must be received by OGS no later than 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2018. Electronic transcripts cannot be accepted at this time** One (1) set of unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must also be submitted in hard copy with the Supplemental Application to Eureka Hall 401 by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018. Sac State students: If you graduated/are graduating from Sacramento State, you DO NOT need to submit any additional transcripts to OGS unless you attended another college after you graduated. Sac State Students DO need to submit a hard copy unofficial transcript with their supplemental application to Eureka Hall 401 by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018. Foreign Degrees: Applicants with degrees from outside of the United States, please visit the following website for instructions, http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/futurestudents/applicantswithforeigndocuments/index.html or call OGS at (916) 278-6470. Foreign documents/transcripts must be sent directly from your University to OGS and received no later than December 1, 2017. International Admissions: Applicants on F-1 or J-1 visas, please visit the following website for application instructions, http://www.csus.edu/oge/international-admissions/intlwelcome.html **You will receive a confirmation email from the Office of Graduate Studies with your Sac State ID number and instructions regarding how to set up your Sac Link Account (if not already set up). Please make sure that your email provider is set up to accept CSUS.edu emails** Application Process Instructions Page 4 of 11

Supplemental Program Application Requirements A. GPA REQUIREMENT: In order to be considered for admission into the Master of Science in Counseling program, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units completed. Applicants who do not satisfy the GPA requirements will not be considered for admission. B. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: You will initiate the recommendation request process through the Document Submission website (a link will be emailed to you by the Office of Graduate Studies). Provide your references with the cover sheet included in this supplemental application. References will then be able to upload the cover sheet and their letter online. You will also submit hard copies of these letters (and the cover sheets) with your supplemental application materials to Eureka Hall 401. The hard copies do not need to be sealed. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that all three recommendations are submitted online and in hard copy by the deadline. Given the high number of applications received each semester, we cannot contact students who are missing letters. Applicants who do not submit all three letters of recommendation by the deadline date will not be considered for admission. All letters of recommendation must be received online and in hard copy by 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2018 in order for an application to be considered. C. RÉSUMÉ: Upload current résumé. D. PROGRAM STRUCTURE: This is a cohort program; if admitted to this program, students will matriculate in (6) predetermined semesters (3 years as a full-time student) or in (12) pre-determined semesters (6 years as a part-time student). Students are expected to evaluate their own circumstances and commitment to this program, which is constructed of both day and night classes. It is the student s responsibility to be available during the scheduled class times, practicum, and field study hours. Classes in this program are not offered online or on the weekends. Complete Application Packets The Counseling Education supplemental application and all materials pertaining to the application* should be uploaded online and submitted in hard copy to EUR 401 no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2018. Please note that we do not accept incomplete applications. Upload the supplemental application and supporting documents using your Saclink Student ID to the Document Submission website and submit a hard copy to the program office in EUR 401. APPLICATION/SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (SUBMIT ONLINE AND IN HARD COPY TO EUREKA HALL 401) Supplemental Program Application (scan to PDF) NOTE: Do not include instruction pages or check list Applicant Questions-Responses (scan to PDF) Personal Statement (scan to PDF) Current résumé (scan to PDF) California Basic Educational Skills (CBEST) Scores (optional) School Counseling Applicants only Reference Letters (Cover sheet and letter) Official Transcripts (from all colleges and universities attended) Official transcripts sent to Office of Graduate Studies (non-sac State students only) Unofficial transcripts sent to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 (ALL applicants) UPLOAD DOCUMENTS BY DOCUMENT TYPE (SELECT DOCUMENT TYPES FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU AT DOCUMENT SUBMISSION WEBSITE) Document Type: Supplemental Application Document Type: Writing Sample Document Type: Statement of Purpose Document Type: Résumé Document Type: Basic Skills Requirement References will upload directly to Document Submission Website Submit hard copies to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 Mailed directly to: Office of Graduate Studies, CSUS Riverfront Center 215 Sacramento, CA 95819-6112 Submit hard copies of unofficial transcripts to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 Application Process Instructions Page 5 of 11

Graduate and Professional Studies in Education Master of Science in Counseling Supplemental Program Application Fall 2018 Submit no later than 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2018 Personal Information Mr. Ms. Mrs. Last Name First Name M SacLink Student ID Street: City: State: Zip: Mailing Address E-mail: Primary phone # Alternative Phone #. Ethnicity (optional): Language(s) spoken fluently: Preferred Area of Specialization (select only one) Career Counseling Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC) School Counseling with embedded Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling (VRC) California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) (provide verification) Required only for students applying to the SCHOOL COUNSELING with embedded PPS Credential program I have/will fulfill this requirement by:. CBEST: Date passed CBEST: registered to take the exam on CBEST: I will register to take the examination prior to the end of my second semester in the program Application Process Instructions Page 6 of 11

References Please identify three individuals from whom we will receive letters of recommendation. Provide each reference with the cover sheet included in this supplemental application. Complete the recommendation request process online through the Document Submission Website AND Submit hard copies of the letters of recommendation (with cover sheet) with supplemental application to Eureka Hall 401. Name/Title Organization/Institution Phone Applicant Questions/Responses Please respond to the following two questions. Limit typewritten responses to one page (per question), double-spaced, size 12 point font. Sign and date at the bottom page(s) of your responses. Question #1 As an undergraduate student (or graduate student in other programs), you were asked to write research or essay papers in which you selected the topics. Reflect on the topics of papers that you have written during your time as a student and summarize the following: What, if any, themes emerge in the types of papers that you elected to write? What factors can you identify that influenced the emergent themes or topics that you wrote on? How did those themes develop across time? If you were to add to that body of writing now, what would you want to write about? Question #2 Please describe your experience in working with, serving, or socially engaging with diverse persons or populations. Please summarize your assessment of the quality, quantity, and nature of these experiences. Summarize your strengths and challenges in these relationships, as well as the strengths and challenges of diverse others in forging a relationship with you. Personal Statement Provide a personal statement that should be no more than two pages typed (double-spaced, size 12 point font). Your personal statement will be evaluated based on your demonstrated interest and background in counseling. Sign and date at the bottom of the last page of your response. Release of information I authorize the release of information regarding my credential status to the following: Sacramento State College of Education faculty, staff, school districts, County Offices of Education, The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and other colleges and universities. I certify under penalty of perjury that I have provided complete and accurate responses to the items on this application. I further certify that all official documents submitted in support of this application are authentic and unaltered records that pertain to me. Applicant s Signature Date Application Process Instructions Page 7 of 11

California State University, Sacramento College of Education, Graduate and Professional Studies in Education Eureka Hall 401 (916) 278-5942 (916) 278-5993 FAX www.csus.edu/coe Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet for the Counselor Education Program Fall 2018 Applicant s Name: Career MCFC School VRC Day Phone: Evening Phone: SacLink Student ID: TO THE EVALUATOR: the above named applicant is seeking admission to a graduate level program that trains persons to assume responsible roles in the helping professions. Please provide what evidence you have regarding any or all of the following: The applicant s 1. Ability to succeed at graduate level academics 2. Emotional stability and ability to attend to the needs of others 3. Dependability, responsibility, morality, and ethics Letter of Recommendation and Cover Sheet must be submitted online. Applicants must also hand deliver or mail a copy of the recommendation and cover sheet to: (received by 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2018): California State University, Sacramento College of Education ATTN: Counselor Education Program Admission (EUREKA HALL 401) Evaluator s Name: Title: Organization: Phone Number: Address: Relationship to Applicant: How long you have known this applicant: Please attach a letter of recommendation to this cover sheet Evaluator s Signature: Date: Application Process Instructions Page 8 of 11

CHECKLIST FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING SUBMIT A HARD COPY OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO EUR 401 AND UPLOAD USING YOUR SACLINK STUDENT ID TO THE DOCUMENT SUBMISSION WEBSITE (A LINK WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BY THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR GRADUATE STUDIES APPLICATION ) APPLICATION/SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (SUBMIT ONLINE AND IN HARD COPY TO EUREKA HALL 401) Supplemental Program Application (scan to PDF) NOTE: Do not include instruction pages or check list Applicant Questions-Responses (scan to PDF) Personal Statement (scan to PDF) Current résumé (scan to PDF) California Basic Educational Skills (CBEST) Scores (optional) School Counseling Applicants only Reference Letters (Cover sheet and letter) Official Transcripts (from all colleges and universities attended) Official transcripts sent to Office of Graduate Studies (non-sac State students only) Unofficial transcripts sent to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 (ALL applicants) UPLOAD DOCUMENTS BY DOCUMENT TYPE (SELECT DOCUMENT TYPES FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU AT DOCUMENT SUBMISSION WEBSITE) Document Type: Supplemental Application Document Type: Writing Sample Document Type: Statement of Purpose Document Type: Résumé Document Type: Basic Skills Requirement References will upload directly to Document Submission Website Submit hard copies to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 Mailed directly to: Office of Graduate Studies, CSUS Riverfront Center 215 Sacramento, CA 95819-6112 Submit hard copies of unofficial transcripts to Counseling Program in Eureka Hall 401 MAKE A PHOTOCOPY (for your records) of all application documents before submitting the application packet. FAXED applications cannot be accepted. HARD COPY SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CAN BE MAILED TO: California State University, Sacramento College of Education ATTN: Counselor Education Program Admission (EUREKA HALL, 401) Please note: Applications, Letters of Recommendation, and Transcripts must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2018 (both electronic submission and hard copy submission) (Postmark date is NOT acceptable as meeting submission deadline) Application Process Instructions Page 11 of 11