Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline for fall quarter?
A: The deadline to apply for summer or fall quarter of a particular year is March 1 of that year. We do not admit during the winter or spring quarters.
Q: How long does the Counseling Program take to complete?
A: The program takes 3 years to complete. The first two years includes classroom-based courses, both content courses and skills courses. The final year includes practicum and internship.
Q: Can I complete the program in less than 3 years?
A: Because of the sequence of classes and cohort system, it is not possible to complete our program in less than 3 years.
Q: What is the course schedule like?
A: Each class session is between 3-4 hours long and meets once per week. Most students take two courses per quarter and are thus on campus two nights a week. Courses are offered starting at 4pm or at 6pm, Monday-Thursday only. Course start times vary; the start time depends on the specific course. Students take courses all four quarters each year (fall, winter, spring, and summer).
Q: Is there a summer break?
A: Although students do take summer courses, there is a 6-week break between summer and fall quarters. There is also a 3-week break between fall and winter quarters.
Q: Do I have to have a social services/human services degree to apply?
A: Not necessarily. Having a degree in a human services field is one way to be eligible. Other ways are to have at least 45 credits (30 credits on a semester system) of coursework in human services, or to have at least 500 supervised hours of work experience in human services.
If you would like someone to check your past coursework to see if it qualifies, email an unofficial transcript or a list of courses, including prefixes, titles, and number of credits, to coun@seattleu.edu. Work experience can be paid or volunteer, part-time or full-time, and does not need to have been done all at once or in one location.
Q: Can I apply before the deadline?
A: We accept applications at any time; however, decisions are not made until after the deadline passes.
Q: What classes are part of the degree?
A: See our list of Community Counseling courses here, and School Counseling courses here.
Q: Where can graduates work/practice?
A: School Counseling graduates qualify for the WA State ESA (Educational Staff Associate) certificate in School Counseling and can practice as school counselors in K-12 schools immediately after graduation.
Community Counseling graduates can practice upon graduation in mental health agencies and clinics, private practice, mental health programs in schools, hospitals, and other settings looking for masters-level counselors. Graduates must practice under supervision until they are licensed. Licensure requires an additional 3000 hours of experience and the successful completion of a state exam. Because of our CACREP accreditation, 500 hours of the internship experience can be counted toward the 3000 hour requirement.
Q: I already have a master's degree. Can I get my school counseling certificate without completing the entire degree?
A: We do not have a certificate-only option or a post-master's option. All students must complete the entire 72-credit program.
Q: Do you require the GRE?
A: This program does not require the GRE. However, if your undergraduate degree was non-graded (i.e., you have no GPA), Seattle University requires that you take a standardized test in order to apply. You may choose either the GRE or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test).
Q: What is the cost of the program?
A: Tuition for the 2011-2012 school year is $575 per credit, making the program cost a total of about $42,000. See www.seattleu.edu/sfs for up-to-date tuition information.
Q: Do you offer scholarships or graduate assistantships?
A: The College of Education offers two scholarships, based on financial need, academic history, and fit with the College. Find out more here. We occasionally have opportunities for graduate assistantships, which are posted for current students as they become available.
More FAQs coming soon! If you still have questions, please feel free to attend an info session or contact us at coun@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-5750.