MASTER’S OF COUNSELING

Online

WHY FHSU?

Counselors support people going through the various challenges and stages of life. While the issues counselors face constantly change, these caring individuals strengthen their communities through their continued social and educational efforts. If you are called to this profession, this graduate degree will provide you a flexible, high quality educational experience and help you satisfy state licensure.

NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE

Our university is ranked 7th Nationwide in affordability by Online Course Report.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Opportunities to apply skills and network are provided check

ACCREDITED

by the Higher Learning Commission, CAEP, and KSDE

ARE YOU READY?

To enter the Counseling Master’s program, you must meet the following requirements:

Submit 2 letters of recommendation
Submit an official transcript(s)
Submit a personal statement
Have a bachelor’s degree
Have a 3.0 or higher GPA
Complete a background check
Have an acceptable MAT score or Combined Verbal and Quantitative Score on the GRE

ONLINE TUITION FOR FALL 2021 – SUMMER 2022

Undergraduate:	$226.88 per credit hour
Graduate:	$298.55 per credit hour
MBA:	$350 per credit hour
DNP:	$400 per credit hour

Admission Fees
Undergraduate: $30
Graduate: $40
International Students: $50

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNSELING PROGRAMS

The admissions process requires that you meet the requirements for both the FHSU Graduate School and the Counseling Program. Please fill out an application online and submit the additional materials listed on the Graduate School website. The departmental admission materials listed on this page will need to be sent to the Graduate School, where they will be forwarded on to the Department of Advanced Educational Programs. When applying for this degree program in the Graduate School, look for this title on the application, MS in Counseling.

APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THE COUNSELING PROGRAM

In addition to the Graduate School Requirements, the Counseling Program requires that you submit the following materials with your graduate school application:

1. Proof of a Grade Point Average of 3.00 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate credit.

2. Two letters of references from supervisors and/or professional peers.

3. A Professional Goals Statement related to the completion of a master’s degree as a counselor.

4. Official transcripts of all college work completed and documentation of a degree conferral.

5. A Group Interview through VideoConference – A member of the Counseling Faculty will contact you to set up an interview time after you submit your application materials.

6. A completed background check that uses the process detailed below, or an independent background check you may have completed through your employer.

The Master’s Degree Committee in the Counseling program will review the applicant’s file and forward their recommendation of approval or denial to the Dean of the Graduate School. If you are admitted to the Counseling program, the committee chairman will appoint an advisor and designate a graduate committee responsible for developing your program of study.

A maximum of six graduate credit hours may be transferred with approval of the Graduate School and departmental review.

ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS AND PROCEDURE

1. Beginning September 1, 2014, all degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking applicants for programs within Advanced Education Programs (AEP) Department will be required to successfully complete a Background Check prior to admittance to AEP.

2. Candidates are responsible for obtaining the background check and for the cost.

3. Applicants who have completed a successful background check within four years of the date of receipt of the application in the Graduate School may submit a record of the successful check to Katelyn Strack, kmstrack@fhsu.edu, in lieu of obtaining a new background check.

4. Applicants who do not have a successful background check within four years of the date of the application will be required to have a check completed. Please see the directions below.

5. All Background Check information is to be submitted to Katelyn Strack, Academic Program Specialist in the Graduate School, kmstrack@fhsu.edu.

6. Background check information will be verified prior to the application being forwarded to graduate faculty for screening for admission.

7. Validity Screening Solutions will be recommended to all applicants needing a background check. Information on securing a background check is available from Katelyn Strack in the Graduate School, 785-628-4236.

ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK INSTRUCTIONS

Beginning September 1, 2014, all degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking applicants for programs within Advanced Education Programs (AEP) Department will be required to successfully complete a Background Check prior to admittance to AEP.

Here is what you need to do:

Go to the secure link: https://www.ejobapp-validityscreening.com/p/fhsu3138
Create a personal profile by completing the required fields
- If your email has been used in a previously created profile you will need to log in via the “Returning Student Log-In” section, select the “New Screening Profile” link on the next page.
- If you have forgotten your password you can click on the “password (forget?)” link and answer the security question you chose when you first creating your personal profile.
Complete each section of the screening profile
- Review the screening profile to ensure all sections are complete and click Next
- Read the “Notice and Disclosure” and check the confirmation box
- Read the “Summary of Rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” and check the confirmation box.
- Fill out all form fields in the Certification and Release and enter your signature in the electronic signature box.
Choose a payment option:
- Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard) $35.50 plus $2.00 administrative fee; Money Order or Cashier’s Check $35.50
Select Submit

* Your results will not be released to your institution until you successfully submit your request to Validity. This can be verified if you have received the confirmation email titled ‘Academic Screening Profile Received. Results will be forwarded to Fort Hays State University. Instructions on how to access your completed report via your profile page will also be sent via email once your profile has been submitted. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Katelyn Strack at (785)-628-4236 or kmstrack@fhsu.edu. You may also contact Validity Screening Solutions with technical questions at 913.322.5995, toll-free at 866.920.5995 or via email at students@validityscreening.com.

Application Deadlines

The Counseling Program accepts applications throughout the year; however, the deadlines noted below have been established for admission to start in a particular semester. Failure to meet the deadline for a particular semester could delay admission into the program.

Fall Semester March 1
Spring Semester October 1
Summer Semester February 1

The counseling program faculty reserves the right to admit an applicant on a conditional basis.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE: MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING-SCHOOL COUNSELING

KANSAS SCHOOL COUNSELING LICENSURE PATHWAYS

To receive a Master’s degree in School Counseling, you must complete the Master’s curriculum consisting of 48 hours coursework. To qualify for an Initial School Specialist License in Kansas, you must achieve a 3.25 grade point average or higher in this coursework. Your coursework includes a three-hour research methods course, in which you will learn research methods and complete a research paper. You must also satisfactorily pass a comprehensive exam over the subject fields of the program. In the semester you intend to graduate, you will need to file an Intent to Graduate form by the posted deadline. All Master’s degrees must be completed within eight (8) calendar years after starting the program.

Please visit our student forms and information page for a breakdown of the course sequence.

If you have any questions about the M.S. in Counseling-School Counseling program, please contact Dr. Sarah Lancaster at (785) 628-4753 or smlancaster2@fhsu.edu.

There are three available routes to obtaining a School Counselor license in Kansas.

School Counselor Traditional Program
School Counselor Parallel Pathways program
School Counselor Restricted License Program

LICENSURE INFORMATION

The 60-hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling and 48-hour School Counseling degrees are designed to lead to professional licensure as outlined by individual state boards of counseling and the Kansas Department of Education. Before enrolling in a program at Fort Hays State University, students should consult the rules and regulations regarding Professional Counseling and School Counseling for their particular state. More specifically, students should be aware of the following before enrolling in one of Fort Hays State University’s counseling programs:

State regulations regarding licensure opportunities if an applicant has a previous felony conviction.
State regulations regarding the type and number of academic courses and practicum/internship hours.
The state accreditation requirements for educational institutions.
The state regulations and requirements for online graduate education programs.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling – State Licensure Boards

School Counseling – State Certification Requirements

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Registration in one of the M.S. licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Fort Hays State University or qualification for professional licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. Further information regarding these academic and professional requirements is outlined in the MS in Counseling Student Handbook. Students registered in the counseling programs are responsible for knowing the material outlined in the handbook. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not the program, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state board of counseling or Department of Education.

The information pertaining to state licensure requirements is subject to change without notice. Fort Hays State University is not responsible for knowing when changes occur. Additionally, there might be other states with unique licensure requirements.

Fort Hays State University Online Masters In Counseling