|
Admissions Process - Information for Prospective
Students
Applicant Dates
Credential
Evaluation Process
Admission
Workshop Evaluation Process
International
Student Applicants
Goal Statement
Guidelines
Student Applicant Dates to Remember:
Spring 2008 Application Deadline: October 5,
2007
Workshop will be held on October 26, 2007
Summer and Fall
2008 (Campus) and early admission for Penn
Center East
Application Deadline:
April
4, 2008
Workshop will be held on April 25, 2008
Penn Center - East
- Fall 2008 Admission
Deadline for applications: June 13, 2008
Monroeville Workshop will be held on July 11,
2008
On-Line Application for Admissions:
www.iup.edu/graduate/assets/instructions.htm
Credential Evaluation Process
Once an applicant's complete file has been
received by the Graduate School and meets their
admission standards, it is forwarded to the
Department of Counseling where the applicant's
materials are reviewed independently by the
counseling faculty.
Counseling Program
evaluation criteria require that applicants attain
a 2.8 or above undergraduate grade point average (UPGA),
possess two strong letters of recommendation, and
provide a clearly written goal statement regarding
their chosen course of study. In addition, they
must meet the Pennsylvania Department of
Education's undergraduate prerequisite
requirements.
In
2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education
(PDE) instituted undergraduate prerequisite
requirements for admission to any school
certification program. All individuals applying
to either our elementary or secondary school
counseling program (and certificate only
applicants) must, thus, have had 1 English
Composition and 1 English Literature course in
their undergraduate program. In addition, the
applicant must have 2 courses in mathematics at
the undergraduate level. PDE now also requires
school counseling applicants to pass the PRAXIS
subject examination for school counseling upon
completion of their graduate program. There are
also 2 PRAXIS exams for those who do not yet hold
a PA teaching certificate. Everyone must take the
Counseling & Guidance Subject exam. Those not
holding a PA certificate must also take the PRAXIS
PPST exams, which include, Math, Reading, and
Writing. The PDE does not require the
Listening Skills test to be taken.
Applicants with a
2.6 to 2.79 undergraduate grade point average will
be considered for admission if they earned their
undergraduate degree more than five years prior to
making application to the counseling program. A
limited number of students who earned their degree
more than five years prior to applying and who
possess an undergraduate grade point average
between 2.4 and 2.59 may be accepted under
"probationary status". These students will be
expected to have a satisfactory performance at the
Admissions Workshop and must attain a 3.0 or
higher grade point average in the first 9 hours of
specified course work to remain in the program.
Admissions Workshop Evaluation Process
Applicants
satisfying the credential screening process are
notified by mail and invited to participate in an
Admissions Workshop (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with
other applicants who have applied for admission
during the same semester. The purpose of the
workshop is threefold: (1) for faculty and
students to get acquainted, (2) to inform students
about the counseling programs, and (3) to
determine student interpersonal and writing skills
which are assessed through group activities and a
writing sample. Admissions recommendations are
made by the counseling faculty after each
workshop. These recommendations are then forwarded
to the Graduate School which, in turn, contacts
all applicants in writing, informing them of their
status. Newly admitted students receive a
"pre-candidacy" letter with the name of their
advisor whom they should contact immediately to
discuss program plans and course selection for the
coming semester.
International Student Applicants
Applicants from non-English speaking countries are
considered for admissions using the following
criteria: minimum undergraduate grade point
average of 2.8 or its equivalent, acceptable TOEFL
scores, letters of recommendation, a goal
statement, and evidence that their command of the
English language and the American culture are
sufficient to meet counseling program demands.
Applicants who meet these criteria may be accepted
for admission without having to participate in the
workshop portion of the admissions process if
geographical distance precludes this activity.
Applicants
from non-English speaking countries may be
accepted into the M.Ed., school counseling
program. However, the Pennsylvania Department of
education will not grant school certification to
international students. You must be a United
States citizen to gain school certification
through the state of Pennsylvania.
Students who are
advanced to candidacy may, with advisor and
counseling faculty approval, transfer to those
counseling programs requiring practicum and field
experience.
Guidelines for Applicant Goal Statement
The faculty of the graduate counseling program
at IUP is interested in learning more about you
and your desire to pursue one of our degree or
certification programs. The Goal Statement
requested in the Graduate School's application
materials is the vehicle by which you can provide
the information we request. Please use the
questions below to guide you in the development of
your goal statement.
Why do you wish to
pursue the particular counseling program you
have chosen?
How do your personal
life experiences (education, prior work
experience, volunteer work, etc.) complement your
career decision?
What personal
qualities (e.g., interpersonal skills) do you
possess that you believe will contribute to your
success as a counselor.
If there are any
inconsistencies or time gaps in your work or
education history, please provide an explanation.
Feel free to add any
additional information that you believe would be
of assistance to the faculty in assessing your
desire and qualifications for the field of
counseling. |
