Masters Programs

Student Affairs Counseling (39 credit hours effective Fall 2011)

Graduates of the Student Affairs Counseling Program are trained to utilize skills in counseling and program development and implementation in a variety of higher education and student affairs settings such as: residence life, student activities, academic enhancement/advising and in career services.

View Student Affairs Counseling Program of Studies

Admission Requirements for Student Affairs Counseling

  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8, based on four years, or a 3.0 GPA based on the junior and senior years.
  • A composite score of 900 (192 after 8/1/11)* is preferred on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test.  Candidates who already hold a master's degree are not required to take the GRE.
  • Three letters of recommendation from professionals or educators outside of the Department of Counselor Education at Bridgewater State University.
  • A completed Counselor Education specific application, including a five-hundred word personal statement related to your intended counseling program option.
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate course work.
  • If the candidate already holds a master's degree, a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 is required.
  • All applicants with a completed application package and who meet the minimum admissions requirements will be required to participate in the on-campus Admissions Day interview process.  The Admissions Day is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicants potential for employment as a professional counselor.  Admissions Day is held on the third Friday of March and the third Friday of November each year.

Admissions Criteria Process

Phase One: Screening Process of Academic Criteria for M.Ed. Applicants

     1)    "Clear Invitations" to continue to Phase Two: Admissions Day Participation

  •      A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8, based on four years or a 3.0 GPA based on the junior and senior years.
  •      900 GRE (192 after 8/1/11)*
  •      If the candidate already holds a master's degree, a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5

     2)    "Conditional Invitations" to continue to Phase Two: Admissions Day Participation

  •     GRE between 700-899 (149-191 after 8/1/11)* AND undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher based upon four years.
  •     Undergraduate GPA between 2.50 - 2.79 based upon four years AND GRE of 901 or greater (193 or greater after 8/1/11)*.

*The GRE's are changing their test with an updated/revised version that will launch on August 1, 2011, resulting in the scores to be reported differently than the format that they are currently reported in.  Our admission requirements pertaining to the GRE scores have been adjusted according to the new scale.  This change in score is only for candidates who take the GRE's after August 1, 2011.

Phase Two: Admissions Day Participation

All applicants with a completed application package and who meet the minimum admissions requirements as described above will be required to participate in the on-campus Admissions Day interview process.  The Admissions Day is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicant's potential for work as a counselor. Admissions Day is held on the third Friday of March and the third Friday of November each year. 

All newly accepted students are required to attend a new student orientation session.  Students who do not attend a session in the semester that they are accepted for admission will have a registration hold put on their account.  Upcoming dates have been scheduled as follows:  Spring 2012 - Thursday, May 10, 2012, and Tuesday, May 15, 2012, both from 5-6:30 p.m.; and Fall 2012 - Tuesday, December 11, 2012, Thursday, December 13, 2012, and Tuesday, January 15, 2013, all from 5-6:30 p.m.

Application Deadlines

Students must submit a completed application with supporting materials by October 1st for the spring semester and February 1st for the summer and fall semesters.

Download Application for Admission (pdf)

For additional information, contact either:

College of Graduate Studies
Maxwell Library
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
gradschool@bridgew.edu
(508) 531-1300

Counselor Education
Kelly Gym Room 104
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 531-2836

Professional Links

ACPA College Student Educators International http://www.myacpa.org/

American Counseling Association http://www.counseling.org

American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org

Board of Higher Education http://www.mass.edu

Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International http://www.csi-net.org/

NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education http://www.naspa.org/

National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) http://www.nacac.com

National Board of Certified Counselors http://www.nbcc.org

National Career Development Association http://www.ncda.org

National Education Association (NEA) http://www.nea.org

Last Modified: December 9, 2011