Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Last Updated:06/02/2008
Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
How many credits is the Professional Counseling degree?
How long is the program?
How many credits would I take per semester?
When are classes offered?
Can I work and go to school?
Are classes available online?
What are the class sizes?
What are my options for internship training?
Is the University of Utah program CACREP accredited?
Is the degree portable to other states?
Can I do a research thesis?
What are the tuition costs?
Is funding available for graduate students at the master's
level to offset tuition costs?
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Who do I contact for information?
Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
The Master's Program in Professional Counseling has a specific content focus that teaches you general counseling skills. It is assumed that you will receive training to facilitate your development as a professional helper. This program is part of a larger infrastructure that also encompasses master's training in school counseling and doctoral training in counseling psychology. It espouses a "strength-based" approach to counseling that teaches you strategies that capitalize on a person's inherent capability to adapt and find meaning in living.
How many credits is the Professional Counseling degree?
Sixty (60) semester hour credits are required to complete the degree program. This is because the educational requirement for state licensure mandates 60 semester hours of graduate study in designated content areas germane to professional counselors.
How long is the program?
The Program Handbook indicates that the PC degree is completed in three years and students typically finish in this three year time frame. The third or final year involves a three credit-hour internship in a mental health agency. Some students elect to take fewer credits per semester and this spreads their total time to degree completion over a four year period.
How many credits would I take per semester?
In order to finish the degree in three years, most semesters you would register for 12 credit hours (See the Program Handbook or Course Sequencing for details on curriculum/credits by semester).
When are classes offered?
Most courses are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. There are a few course offerings in the summer; however, your program timeline does not require summer coursework. With respect to the times that courses are offered, the majority of classes meet once per week, Monday through Thursday from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Can I work and go to school?
The vast majority of our students work during the day and begin taking courses at 4:30 p.m.
Are classes available online?
No. At this time, the nature of the coursework involves active attendance and face-to-face involvement in the curriculum and with other students. The reason for this is that part of our commitment to high quality programming involves fostering a close, collegial atmosphere with your instructors and your peers.
What are the class sizes?
The majority of courses enroll between 10 and 20 students. It is our goal to keep class size small so that you can become personally familiar (and interact closely) with your instructors and peers.
What are my options for internship training?
The program retains an extensive list of potential internship training sites. These sites are in settings that are highly regarded including the Children's Center, the Rape Recovery Center, and the University of Utah Women's Resource Center to name a few. The program has an outstanding record for placing student interns in literally dozens of different sites. The internship experience (EDPS 6910) is individually coordinated by a departmental faculty member and placements are based on maximizing your unique strengths and interests.
Is the University of Utah program CACREP accredited?
No. However, the program exceeds CACREP educational requirements.
Is the degree portable to other states?
Because the program exceeds most CACREP and State standards for mental health licensure, our graduates generally have no trouble obtaining licensure in other States and/or Jurisdictions in the United States.
Can I do a research thesis?
The M.Ed. is predominantly a practice-based degree with the goal of helping you to become a licensed professional counselor. Our past experience has been that the requirements of LPC licensure are not compatible with the master's thesis. Given that the master's thesis is not required to become a licensed professional counselor, this option does not currently exist in this degree track.
What are the tuition costs?
Tuition and fees (per semester) are approximately $2,643 for residents of the State of Utah and $8,399 for non-residents (based on 12-credits per semester at current tuition rates). Exact, up-to-date tuition rates can be found by consulting the appropriate link below:
Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
Non-Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
Is funding available for graduate students at the master's level to offset tuition costs?
There are no scholarships specifically geared to Professional Counseling master's degree students. There are, however, occasional opportunities to work on campus or assistantships that come available that can be filled by master's level students. There are some general scholarships provided through the College of Education for which students may apply. The vast majority of students elect to work off campus.
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
Most of what you need to know about the process of applying to a Master's Program in Professional Counseling is contained within the standard application process for the Department of Educational Psychology. You can also download the Information for Professional Counseling Applicants page for details. When completing your application be sure to check the box to indicate your interest in being considered for the Master's Program in Professional Counseling.
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Most of the graduates from this program pursue professional practice in an agency. This may be in the agency where you complete your internship. Other agencies such as community mental health centers, hospitals, and social service agencies hire our graduates.
Who do I contact for information?
At this time, the training director for the Master's Program in Professional Counseling is Dr. Robert Hill. You may contact him by email at bob.hill@utah.edu.
You may also contact our Academic Programs Specialist, Sherrill Christensen, by phone at 801.581.7148 or by email at: sherrill.christensen@ed.utah.edu.
