Summary
Is the WFU Master of Arts in Counseling program nationally ranked?
Main Content
The Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University upholds the highest standards of the profession. While it is not eligible for consideration in the national rankings of counseling programs because it is not a doctoral level program, it is widely regarded as one of the best master’s degree programs in the nation. Evidence to support that claim is multifaceted and includes accreditation decisions, awards received, faculty leadership positions, caliber of students, pass rate and scores on national licensing exams, reputation of graduates with employers and doctoral programs, and testimonials from other counselor educators.
Summary
What is the difference between the full time, on-campus program and the part-time, online program?
Main Content
The face-to-face and the online curricula are identical. The major differences are delivery methods (face-to-face v. online) and the time needed to complete the program. The on-campus program is designed for full-time students only and can be completed in two years, while the online program is designed for part-time students only and can be completed in three years. Learn more about our
graduate programs.
Summary
Do you allow students to attend the Reynolda campus counseling program on a part-time basis?
Main Content
No. The Counseling Program at Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus is structured for full-time, Reynolda Campus students only. An average of fifteen full-time students are accepted each year.
The Online Counseling Programat Wake Forest University is designed for part-time students, and admits students to begin courses three times a year. Cohorts begin in each academic semester – fall, spring, and summer.
Summary
May I take a course or two before I am accepted?
Main Content
No. Our graduate courses are limited to students who have completed the regular admissions process and have been admitted to one of our graduate programs.
Summary
I already have a degree in counseling. May I take a course or two and use it to complete my application for licensure in my state?
Main Content
Yes, we allow students to take up to 6 credits as a non-degree or non-matriculating student, in our online program only. Please contact Louisa Steffen at steffel@wfu.edu for additional information on how to register.
Summary
Are there any prerequisites? Do I need to be a psychology major?
Main Content
No. Helping professions attract a diverse group with backgrounds in different disciplines including, but not limited to, psychology. We encourage prospective students to investigate the profession of counseling through activities including, but not limited to, supporting related research or by volunteering in helping organizations or schools.
Summary
Is the GRE required?
Main Content
No, the Graduate School of Wake Forest University does not require the GRE for consideration for admittance.
Summary
Does your graduate program have a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement?
Main Content
The Graduate School states “whatever your previous academic training may have been, all applicants should have superior records. This requirement in usually interpreted as at least a B (3.0 GPA or greater) average or standing in the upper quarter of the class, or both.”
While our accepted students typically demonstrate strong undergraduate records, including cumulative grade point averages (GPA) we do not hold a rigid cut-off. Rather than looking solely at the cumulative GPA, we conduct a review of transcript(s) to consider the prospective students’ academic achievements with regard to courses taken, major/minor, institution attended, and other contextual factors.
Summary
How will the field experiences work?
Main Content
All of our counseling students (On campus and Online) are required to complete a 185-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. Depending on which track the student chooses, the clinical experiences will be either in schools or clinical mental health sites. All sites must be screened and approved by the Department of Counseling. Students will receive clinical supervision from both site and University supervisors.
Summary
What is the typical course sequence and how long does the program take?
Main Content
- The full-time counseling program sequence is two years, beginning in the fall semester and ending after the spring semester of the second year.
- The part-time online counseling program sequence is three years beginning in the fall, spring, or summer semester.
Summary
What is a residency, and are residencies required for online students?
Main Content
Online Counseling students are required to complete two in-person, three-day residency experiences (Thursday evening – Sunday afternoon) on the Wake Forest Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. These on-campus sessions will allow students to connect with one another in-person, and give faculty opportunities to conduct student competency and readiness evaluations, as well as to plan and evaluate field experience arrangements. Students also complete the experiential group requirements of CACREP during this time. A third residency may be required for Counseling Students on an as-needed basis, pending student performance evaluations.
Read more about the residency experiences for Online Campus students here.
Summary
I live outside the United States. Can I apply to the online counseling program?
Main Content
While we welcome international students, all clinical experiences required for the counseling program must be completed in the United States. As a result, the University is unable to offer its online counseling programs to students who are ineligible for or unable to participate in U.S.-based internships.
Summary
What scholarships are available to on-campus and online counseling students?
Summary
I am currently attending another counseling master’s program. Do you accept transfers?
Main Content
While we do not accept transfer students, in some cases we may allow students to transfer up to six credits. To pursue this option, apply to the program. If you are accepted, you could petition the faculty to transfer up to six credits. These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to evaluate if the courses requested for transfer credit are appropriate for transfer, sufficiently comparable to our corresponding course, and that the student demonstrated successful completion of the course (earned a B or higher).
For on-campus students, even with six transfer credits, it is unlikely that you could complete the rest of the program in less than the typical course sequence timeline, due to the fixed order of course offerings.
