Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
**THE DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSIONS IS MAY 16
Q. What is the minimum GPA required for admission?
A. For the community, mental health and college counseling programs, and for the college student personnel program, a 2.75 undergraduate GPA is the minimum. For the elementary and secondary school counseling programs, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA is the minimum as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Q. If I have less than a 2.75 then what?
A. For the community, mental health and college counseling programs, and for the college student personnel program, the applicant must successfully complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Students in the elementary and secondary school counseling programs must have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA; therefore, completing the GRE or MAT is not an option.
Q. Are there additional requirements for admission to the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programs?
A. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires School Counseling students to take and pass the Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST). The PPST test is comprised of the reading, writing, and mathematics tests. The Department of Counseling only provisionally accepts school counseling candidates until they pass the reading, writing, and mathematics sections of the PPST. This provisional acceptance allows you to register for courses, but will only remain valid until the time of your candidacy interview at the end of Phase I in the program. At that time, if you have not passed the reading, writing, and mathematics sections of the PPST, you will be dismissed from the program.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you take the PPST prior to entry into the program. Those who pass, immediately gain standard acceptance to the program. If, however, you fail one or more sections of the PPST, you have a choice about whether or not to proceed in the program based upon how close you are to passing. If passing is likely with other attempts and you wish to go forward in the program, you will have until your candidacy to pass the failed tests. If at the time of candidacy you have not passed the PPST tests, you will be dismissed from the program.
The fourth PRAXIS examination, the Counseling Subject portion, must be successfully passed prior to graduation.
Q. What is the rule regarding transfer credits?
A. We will accept a maximum of 9 - 12 transfer credits with a grade of “B” or better. Courses that will be accepted for transfer must be graduate classes, and must have the student’s advisor’s approval. Generally, the credits should not be more than five years old.
Q. What constitutes full-time status?
A. Nine (9) credits per semester are considered full time for graduate school. Anything less than 9 credits constitutes part-time status.
Q. What about financial aid concerns?
A. If you are a full-time student, you are eligible for a graduate assistantship, which gives you a tuition waiver and a small stipend. Students who have a graduate assistantship are responsible for paying for textbooks and student fees. If you are scheduled for six credits, you are eligible for a Stafford Loan through the Office of Financial Aid. If you hold a G.A., you can still apply for a Stafford Loan and receive the money allocated through the loan to pay for you own living expenses. Please keep in mind that applying after March 1, will give you a decreased chance of securing a graduate assistantship.
Q. Is there on campus housing for graduate students?
A. Only during the summer terms. For more information regarding on and off campus housing, contact the Office of the Dean of Students (717-477-1164) or email deanstu@ship.edu.
Q. How many years do I have to complete my degree?
A. All course work and research for the master’s degree must be completed within a seven-year period.
Q. If I have questions about scheduling courses, where do I go for information?
A. Approximately three weeks before scheduling begins, a memo is emailed to all students who are active in the counseling program. Students are admitted into classes based on the number of credits that they have completed, with a preference given to students who have more credits. Students must submit their schedules on-line at www.ship.edu/~counsel. Schedules are emailed directly to the department secretary for processing. If students want to take classes concurrently with a class that is a pre-requisite, they must obtain permission from their advisor and submit a Pre-Requisite Waiver Form. Any student scheduling a class after the deadline set by the Registrar’s Office will have to schedule through the Registrar’s Office and pay for their classes at the time they schedule. Non-degree students may only schedule non-clinical classes and will only be considered AFTER all active students have been scheduled. In addition, they must receive permission from the faculty member teaching the course.
Q. If I have questions about grades, withdrawing from a class, scheduling courses, or candidacy, where do I go for information?
A. Contact your advisor or the program Team Leader.
Q. Each program requires applicants to have a minimum of one year’s experience prior to admission. What counts as experience?
A. You need to have a minimum of one year experience, either paid or volunteer, with the age group of people you ultimately wish to work with, for example, children, adolescents or adults. Some common experiences include volunteer work with a crisis line or Hospice, internships completed at the undergraduate level, and working as a Therapeutic Support Staff. Faculty members in each counseling program will make the final determination as to what counts as relevant experience for that particular program.
Q. When can I start the program?
A. Completing the application process generally takes 4 – 6 months. After the Department receives your completed application from the Office of Graduate Admissions (717-477-1213), the applicant will be scheduled for the next available on-campus interview. While we will make every effort to schedule you for classes the semester following your interview, there is a possibility that if the classes are filled, you would have to wait an additional semester. Keep in mind that applying after March 1 gives you a decreased chance of obtaining a graduate assistantship.
Q. Can I take classes prior to admission?
A. Applicants are not permitted to take classes prior to admission.
Q. What kinds of jobs do graduates obtain and what is the placement rate of students graduating from the Dept of Counseling & College Student Personnel?
A: Job placement rate is 92% for our graduate students. The following is a list of positions and locations that recent graduates have obtained.
Assistant Dean for Admissions, Shippensburg University
Resident Director, St. John's University, Queens, NY
Career Counselor, Penn State York
Professional Advisor, Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies, Penn State University
Assistant Director of Student Activities, Mt St. Mary's, Emmetsburg, MD
School Counselor, James Buchanan High School, Mercersburg, PA
School Counselor, Washington County Schools, Hagerstown, MD
Outpatient Counselors in Chambersburg and Carlisle, PA
Alcohol & Drug Specialist, Lebanon Valley College, PA
Director, Outpatient Community Service Program, Harrisburg, PA
Counselor, Department of Communications, Arts & Sciences, Harrisburg Area Community College
Counselor, MECCA Services, Community based substance abuse & behavioral health services, Iowa City, Iowa
Academic Specialist, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
