Counseling and Human Development Services

Professional Counseling, Specialization: Community Counseling, M.Ed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What entrance exam do I need to take?

You should take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

What are the minimum GPA and GRE scores required?

On the GRE, the minimum score required by the Graduate School is 850 (combined verbal and quantitative). The minimum undergraduate GPA required by the Graduate School is 2.6. The average GRE score for a Community Counseling graduate student is approximately 1100 and the average GPA is 3.5. With that said, a deficit in one area can be compensated by strength in another area. When considering applicants, the admissions committee looks very closely at letters of recommendation and personal statements in addition to GRE scores and undergraduate GPA.

When and how often are students admitted to the program?

Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Applications are due early in January and the interview process is generally complete by March.

Will I be able to work and be in this program?

During the first year of the program our students carry a full load of classes, most of which are held during the daytime and early evening hours. The summer and last year of the program students spend a lot of time at internship sites getting clinical counseling experience. This model makes it difficult for students to work full time while in the program.

Is this a full-time program?

Students are actively engaged in classroom and internship learning experiences during the two-year program. Because of our strong belief in the cohort learning model, we do not allow students to enter the program on a part time basis.

Are classes offered on the weekends?

Usually no; however occasionally electives are offered or out-of-class expectations require weekend time commitments.

Where are courses taught? Are there any satellite or Internet courses?

Currently no satellite or Internet courses are offered. All courses are taught at the main campus in Athens.

How many days per week are courses offered?

Students are generally on campus Monday through Friday.

At the completion of this program, will I be eligible for licensure as a licensed professional counselor or for certification as a nationally certified counselor?

Yes, with additional requirements involving tests and supervision.

What is the cost of tuition?

Tuition changes from year to year and depends on how many credits you are registered for. To find exact tuition for the year you are looking for, go to the Bursar’s Office website and access the tuition for the college of education. Check the schedule for 12 or more credits as a full time student

Do you have any certification programs? What courses do I have to take in order to be certified?

UGA offers a Pre-Professional Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy. This interdisciplinary certificate program can help a student to begin to prepare for state licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist or for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (although neither of these goals can be completely met by the certificate program, since there are extensive supervised practice requirements).
If students in the Community Counseling program take all their electives to meet the requirements of the certificate program they can then obtain an M.Ed. in Community Counseling and a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy simultaneously. When this is done, students generally will have taken more than 54 hours of coursework to meet the requirements of both programs.
Students interested in this certificate program must file a separate application to be admitted to this program once they are admitted into the Community Counseling Program. Not all of the students who submit applications to the certificate program will necessarily be accepted into this program.
Students are expected to take courses in the following areas in order to meet the requirements of this certificate program: Professional Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Therapeutic Skills, Human Development and Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Women’s Studies Certificate Program

Will I be able to complete this program in less than two years?

Will I be able to do my internship and work at the same time?

As mentioned earlier, the requirements of the internship generally do not allow for full time employment outside of the program

Are there any assistantships or financial aid available for master's students?

Within the department, priority is given to providing assistantships to doctoral students. Occasionally, master's students have obtained assistantships within the department or across campus. Residence life offers live-in positions in housing. Financial aid information is available through the UGA Financial Aid Office.
There are several types of financial aid available. One type is the federal student loans that are available through filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To find out more information about this type of aid or to fill out the form online, visit the FAFSA website. Other types of aid are also available. These are available through the Graduate School, not the Community Counseling department. To learn more about these types of aid, visit the Graduate School website and click on the financial aid and awards button. If you have any additional questions, please contact the department.

What is CACREP?

CACREP stands for the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. More information regarding accreditation requirements can be accessed through their website.

What are the licensure requirements?

Licensure requirements vary by state. Our program is designed to meet the licensure requirements for the state of Georgia. Additional information can be obtained through the American Counseling Association website.

Are there any other expected expenses in addition to tuition and books?

Our program does required ACA student membership and the procurement of student malpractice insurance. Combined these expenses are generally no more than $125 annually.

What is the cohort model?

The cohort model is a unique learning model which encourages the development of relationships among members of the program. Students foster close relationships with one another and share experience and expertise in the learning process. Cohorts are generally made up of 12-15 individuals and students attend most of their classes with this group during the course of the program.