Admissions

Admissions Process and Criteria

Please contact Stephanie Whitson - stephanie.whitson@emu.edu for further information.

Application Deadline: March 1.

All of the following must be completed by the application deadline:

  1. Complete the Graduate Counseling online application, which will ask for
    1. letters of reference. Please supply the names and information of at least three references on the online application. At least two must be academic references. The references will receive an email directly with a link to complete the reference form.
    2. a non-refundable application fee of $50.
  2. Arrange for official transcripts to be mailed to Graduate and Professional Programs, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 or sent electronically directly to graduate@emu.edu.
    1. Foreign Degree Translation: If you have a degree from a college or university outside of the United States, you must have your coursework evaluated by a professional association. The evaluation must be a detailed report that includes course designations (lower & upper division). This detailed report should meet most transcript requirements for employment purposes. Here is a list of transcript/translation evaluation services. Please note that there is a fee for the evaluation service, and this list is for your information only.
  3. Submit a Statement of Purpose by writing a 1-3 page narrative that describes your: (a) academic/research interest and professional goals, (b) volunteer and professional experiences, (c) life experiences that have influenced your desire to become a counselor, and (d) view of compassionate service and social justice.
  4. Indicate nationality and country of birth: International applicants currently residing in the United States must indicate status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In addition, international applicants must submit a completed International Student Sponsor Agreement if accepted to the graduate counseling program.
  5.  For applicants whose native language is not English we require that applicants receive at least a 79 on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This score is comparable to a 550 on the paper-based test and a score of 213 for the computer-based test. EMU's institutional code is 5181. Applicants who have studied and received a degree from a college or university where all instruction is in English are not required to submit TOEFL scores.

EMU admits students of any gender, race, color, national/ethnic origin, and regardless of disability. EMU reserves the right to use student class materials and outputs for institutional research purposes. Confidentiality will be respected.

Housing

We are in the process of finalizing graduate housing opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year. As we are working out the details of creating a graduate community, please reach out to your admissions counselor with questions. If you are in need of on campus housing for the Fall 2024-2025 term, please complete the 2024-2025 Graduate Housing Form. For additional information on on-campus Graduate Housing, visit our Living in Harrisonburg page.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid 

Additional Info on Graduate Financial Assistance

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships in the community students can apply for, including the Laymon H. & Ruth S. Lantz Scholarship which supports training for qualified graduate students who plan to attend the EMU Seminary or Graduate Counseling program.

You may also search for scholarships using the Sallie Mae Graduate School Scholarship search.

Student Employment Opportunities

Each year there are a few grant-funded employment opportunities available to students. The hiring process for fall semester begins in August. Please contact the program director or administrative assistant at counseling@emu.edu if you have any questions.

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