Frequently Asked Questions

The application deadline can be found on the How to Apply page. We do not admit during the winter, spring or summer quarters.

The School Counseling program accepts applicants on a rolling basis starting each December, and continues accepting applications until the program is full. It is beneficial to apply in late fall for the best chance of admission. We do not admit during the winter, spring, or summer quarters.

Yes, however you should choose whether you prefer the in-person or the Online School Counseling program before you apply as the decision will be the same.

We do not require that applicants have an undergraduate degree in any particular field. Applicants with any undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply.

The counseling cohort begins every year in the fall (September). We do not admit during the winter, spring, or summer quarters.

We do not have a certificate-only option or a post-master's option. All students must complete the entire 90-credit program.

This program does not require the GRE. However, if your undergraduate degree was non-graded (i.e., you have no GPA), Seattle University requires that you take a standardized test in order to apply. You may choose either the GRE or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test).

Applicants who don't want to attend this fall will need to re-apply to the program. All application documents do not need to be resubmitted, but some may need to be updated by the application deadline to be considered complete.

Yes. The School Counseling (SCOUN) and Online School Program (OSCOUN) mirror each other. The online program allows students to obtain a high-quality graduate education remotely from anywhere in the US. The learning outcomes are the same for the online program and the in-person program.

Although students do take summer courses, there is a 6-week break between summer and fall quarters from mid-August to late September. There is also a 3-week break between fall and winter quarters. You can view the academic calendar here.

The School Counseling program takes three (3) years to complete. The first two years include classroom-based courses, both content courses and skills courses. The final year includes practicum and internship.

Students take 2-3 courses per quarter. All classes are online and asynchronous for the first two years. The third year is online and synchronous. Summer residency takes place in person in Seattle over one weekend after the first and second year in the program. Students take courses all four quarters each year (fall, winter, spring and summer).

This program was designed with the working adult in mind. We anticipate that most students will be able to work full-time while taking courses during the first two years of the program. During the third year, it may be difficult to work full-time because students will be in the field completing their practicum and internship.

The School Counseling program is a three-year full-time program.

Because of the sequence of classes and cohort system, it is not possible to complete our program in less than 3 years.

Our course list can be found here.

Classes are on a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Cohorts will stay together throughout the three-year program.

The School Counseling program is on a 10-week quarter system for fall, winter, and spring, and on an 8-week quarter system for summer. More detailed information on the academic calendar can be found here.

Faculty bring a combination of research and counseling experience to their teaching. All our faculty have doctoral degrees in counselor education, are experienced in the field of counseling, and those who teach clinical courses are fully licensed.

Each class session is between 3-4 hours long and meets once per week. Most students take three courses per quarter and are thus on campus three nights a week. Courses are offered starting at 4 p.m. or at 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday only. Course start times vary; the start time depends on the specific course. Students take courses all four quarters each year (fall, winter, spring and summer).

Program cost information can be found here.

Information on scholarships can be found here. Additionally, students may apply for a scholarship from the Puget Sound Partnership Program which supports School Counseling and School Psychology students with scholarships and financial aid options.

We occasionally have opportunities for graduate assistantships, which are posted for current students as they become available.

Yes. The in-person School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The School Counseling program also meets or exceeds the standards set for by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) in the state of Washington.

More information can be found on our accreditation page.

The School Counseling program is a licensure preparation program for:

1. Residency-Level Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification in K-12
2. WA State Counseling Licensure Preparation
3. WA State Substance Use Disorder Certification Preparation

School counseling graduates are employed in both private and public K-12 school settings as professional school counselors. Additionally, students can pursue work in other social service agencies and mental health clinics.

Because of the traditional academic year occurring August/September through June, practical counseling experience for school counseling students is broken up between your second and third years. Practicum occurs during the winter quarter in your second year and internship occurs August through June of your third year.

Practicum is 100 hours of which 40 are direct client contact. Students take part in a weekly group supervision class on campus, as well as individual or triadic supervision with a faculty supervisor one hour per week.

Internship is 600 hours of which 240 are direct client contact. Students also take part in weekly group supervision class on campus each quarter.

Fingerprints and background checks will be required. 

Counseling students can choose from a wide variety of practicum and internship experiences. Students have interned at Cleveland STEM High School (Seattle Public School District), Totem Middle School (Marysville School District), Cascade Middle School (Highline School District), Bailey Gatzert Elementary School (Seattle Public School District), Kentridge High School (Kent School District), and Stevenson Elementary School (Bellevue School District), where Seattle U has a partnership. Students can also request permission to intern at new locations if they work with the Counseling Internship Placement & Licensing Coordinator.

The counseling programs have a dedicated Internship Placement and Licensing Coordinator who supports you as soon as you enter the program with discerning the right internship experience, including monthly workshops on how to research sites, prepare a counseling resume, prepare for interviews, or initiate opportunities with new internship sites. The program has extensive partnerships and a robust system of resources and supports for the internship search process.

Most of our students end up pursuing internships in sites where students have worked before. However, we support the coordination of unique internship opportunities. Student internships are governed by regulations set forth by CACREP, Washington state administrative codes and program advisory councils.  In these cases, we will work in collaboration with students to explore how the unique internship can meet practical counseling experience requirements.

Though they are rare, there may be an opportunity to be hired by a district as a conditionally/emergency-certified school counselor. Paid opportunities are only available to interns (not during practicum).