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Counselor Education Program

Admission

Successful counselors possess a genuine concern for people, an exceptional ability to relate and communicate, a high level of sensitivity, and patience. Persons who are challenged by ambiguity and diversity, who are curious, creative, and emotionally stable may find this specialty particularly rewarding.

The faculty of the IPFW Counselor Education Program adopted the basic criteria listed below as general guidelines for admission of applicants to its program. Applicants who do not meet these standards may present written evidence of information to justify differences, and it will be considered in determining admission. Program standards are competitive and not all applicants will be admitted. Students failing to maintain a full schedule of classes will reapply for admission; licenses may be pursued upon completion of the degree. IPFW follows a semester calendar with two summer sessions.

For the master’s degree, the same admissions criteria are used for school counseling and marriage & family therapy.

Criteria for the M.S.Ed. include:

  1. An undergraduate grade-point average of 3.2 or better overall (on a 4.0 scale).
  2. Three references.
  3. Vocational goals compatible with the selected subspecialty.

How to Apply

Application materials are reviewed both by the dean of the School of Education (for consideration of acceptance to graduate study) and by the counselor education faculty. Applications are reviewed as they become complete; personal interviews are requested by faculty. Preference is given to applications completed prior to April 1. Entry into the program begins in the Summer II semester (end of June).

To be considered, submit the following materials:

  1. Application form, official transcript(s), three references, application fees, and copies of applicable licenses.
  2. A current resume.
  3. A goal statement summarizing professional and personal goals. It should be approximately two pages in length and include explicit statements regarding:
    • Professional goals including preferred professional setting(s), examples of typical activities, and any specialized interests.
    • Pertinent past experiences that contribute to the development of the professional goals cited.
    • Any unique skills and/or characteristics that will aid in the applicant’s pursuit of the goals cited.

To obtain an application package, contact:

Vicky Schmidt, Graduate Secretary
Office: 250 Neff Hall, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne IN 46805-1499
E-mail: schmidt@ipfw.edu
Phone: 260-481-6450

For more information about the Agency/Marriage & Family Therapy program, contact Dr. Bill Utesch by e-mail at utesch@ipfw.edu or by phone at 260-481-6003.

For more information about the School Counseling program, contact Dr. Amy Nitza at nitzaa@ipfw.edu or by phone at 260-481-6453.

Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne recognizes, affirms and celebrates the diversity in its campus, local, state and national communities. Each member of these communities represents varied and different cultures and attributes simultaneously, yet because of these differences, many have been systematically excluded from full, fair, and respected participation in higher education. Therefore, Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne seeks to demonstrate through its curriculum, support systems, and policies that it values these differences, creating and maintaining a campus environment that welcomes diverse characteristics, backgrounds, and experiences and identifying such diversity as a vital source of the intellectual, social and personal growth essential to a university education.