The CAGS in Mental Health Counseling is designed for students who are practicing counselors and do not possess a 60-credit master’s degree in counseling or related field and need a CAGS to apply for licensure in Massachusetts as a Mental Health Counselor (CMR 262).
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in counseling, which included an applied counseling internship with clinical supervision
- A 3.5 cumulative GPA in the master’s program*
- GRE combined score of 1000 or higher (if requested by the Department of Counselor Education)
- Demonstration of successful experience in a counseling capacity demonstrated for at least one year
- Three letters of recommendation from professionals or educators outside of the BSU Department of Counselor Education, at least one of which should be from a supervisor who has knowledge of the applicant’s counseling activities
- A completed Counselor Education admissions application, including a 500-word personal statement related to the student’s intended counseling program option
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
Applicant Screening Process
Students who meet all admission requirements as outlined above will be invited to an admission interview.
*Candidates who meet the following criteria will receive a conditional invitation to an admission interview:
- A 3.0-3.4 cumulative GPA
- A composite GRE score that exceeds 1000
Admission Interviews
All applicants with a completed application package who meet the admissions requirements outlined above will be required to participate in the on-campus Admission’s Day interview process. The Admissions Day interview is an opportunity for faculty to assess the applicant’s 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.
After matriculation into the CAGS program, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits of course work at BSU and fulfill the following requirements either through the student’s master’s degree or with courses and fieldwork experience as part of the student’s CAGS program.