Leah Smock
Associate Director of Enrollment for Graduate and Professional Studies
Advance your career goals with Messiah University's graduate program in counseling.
We are committed to guiding you through the admissions process every step of the way.
Messiah University offers a Master of Arts in Counseling with CACREP accredited degree tracks in clinical mental health; marriage, couple and family; and school counseling. Messiah also offers an online Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in counseling with an opportunity to do fieldwork through Messiah (CAGS with fieldwork or CAGS without fieldwork). Courses are also offered for non-degree seeking students.
Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please read our admissions requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment and to receive a helpful checklist of the supporting documentation that you will need to provide to complete your application.
There are prerequisite requirements in the graduate program in Counseling.
M.A. in Counseling: applicants must have earned a C or better in nine (9) credits of behavior science courses in any of the following:
- psychology
- human development & family science
- sociology, anthropology
- early childhood studies
- social work
CAGS with or without fieldwork: applicants must have completed a master’s degree in a counseling related field
-
Submitted Messiah University application
-
Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. To be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu
-
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
-
Statement of Purpose: in 300–500 words, please share why you believe you are a strong fit for graduate-level counseling studies at Messiah University. In your response, address the following:
- How your personal qualities, experiences, and learning strategies will help you succeed in a primarily online program
- What aspects of Messiah University’s counseling program attract you and align with your values or aspirations
- How completing this program will support your personal and professional goals
-
Contact information for one reference: please select a reference who can address your professional experience and/or academic performance (excluding relatives)
-
Resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
-
Completion of an interview: qualified applicants will be invited to interview with faculty via Zoom
-
Submitted Messiah University application
-
Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor's or master's degree. In order to be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu
-
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis
- Statement of Purpose: in 300–500 words, please share why you believe you are a strong fit for graduate-level counseling studies at Messiah University. In your response, address the following:
- How your personal qualities, experiences, and learning strategies will help you succeed in a primarily online program
- What aspects of Messiah University’s counseling program attract you and align with your values or aspirations
- How completing this program will support your personal and professional goals
The degrees and certificates in the graduate program in counseling are primarily or completely online. Because of this, the U.S. government does not allow Messiah University to offer an F-1 student visa for entry to the United States in order to study in this program. International students living outside of the U.S. are also unable to participate remotely in this program.
Prospective students living in the U.S. on different visa types may qualify on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the enrollment counselor for counseling to determine eligibility.