Doctoral Admissions—Counselor Education
The GRE is no longer a requirement when applying to the Counselor Education doctoral program
Please follow the directions below to apply to Western Michigan University's counselor education doctoral program, offered by the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.
All applications MUST be COMPLETE by the due date listed below in order to be considered for admission
- Dec. 10 for fall admission
Admissions process
WMU has a new online graduate application system that allows all students (domestic and international) to submit required information into one system. General application information for the University, as well as specific requirements for individual programs, are captured into this system.
Admission review procedures
The chair of the Counselor Education Training Committee is responsible for reviewing admission files, circulating them to the appropriate faculty for evaluation and scheduling interviews (if needed). Applicants interview with three to five Counselor Education Training Committee faculty and students. Upon completion of the review, the Counselor Education Training Committee makes recommendations to accept or deny applicants. These recommendations are forwarded to the department chairperson by the Counselor Education Training Committee chair. The department chairperson is responsible for reviewing the recommendations of the Counselor Education Training Committee and forwarding the admissions decisions to the applicants and the Graduate College.
Applicant acceptance of admission
Applicants are offered admission for the fall semester only. Applicants who are offered admission must, within 30 days, notify the department of their intent to matriculate. Applicants who fail to notify the department of their intent to enroll within the specified time will be considered to have declined the departmental offer and the offer of admission will be withdrawn.
A maximum of seven years is allowed for completion of the doctoral degree. Additional admissions and enrollment information is contained in the Graduate Catalog.
Transfer from other WMU graduate programs
Students seeking to transfer to a counselor education doctoral option from other Western Michigan University doctoral programs (including those in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology) will be considered on the same basis as all other applicants seeking admission. All other departmental admission requirements and procedures will apply.
Admission of re-entry applicants
A doctoral candidate in good academic standing may be classified as "inactive" due to an interruption in enrollment. According to the WMU Graduate Catalog, "A graduate student retains active admission status for one year from the time of admission, as well as one year from the date of the last enrollment in the Graduate College."
A graduate student who no longer has active admission status may request it by submitting a re-entry application to the Office of Admissions at least one month before registering for classes.
If the Graduate College approves the re-entry request, the Counselor Education Training Committee will review the request and make a recommendation to the department chairperson.
Reapplication for admission
Unusual or extenuating circumstances may cause an applicant to desire reconsideration after the applicant has been denied admission. Declining a previous offer of departmental admission or failure to matriculate after having been offered admission could also be considered factors which might warrant reapplication for admission.
The applicant must forward a letter to the department chairperson stating the circumstances under which the request is being initiated. A copy of that correspondence should also be forwarded to the Graduate College. The department chairperson will forward the request to the Counselor Education Training Committee and the applicant may be contacted with a request to provide new or additional admissions information. The Counselor Education Training Committee will review the applicant's file and forward a recommendation to the department chairperson.
Licensed Professional Counselor: This program is exclusively designed to meet the requirements as a State of Michigan Licensed Professional Counselor. Upon graduation, a person can apply for a Limited License. A "full" license is granted after 3,000 hours of post master's work experience and passage of the National Counselor Examination. Graduates of this option may also qualify as a National Certified Counselor after passing the National Counselor Examination examination.
Doctoral program admissions for international applicants
The deadline for receipt of all admission materials for the counselor education doctoral program is Dec. 10. Please note that department doctoral students begin their doctoral studies in the fall semester and our doctoral program admission deadlines are earlier than the general application deadlines for Office of International Admissions and Services. Information on application procedures for international students is available from the Office of International Admissions and Services.
Admission questions
Contact Dr. Glinda Rawls.