Masters Admissions and Information Sessions

Application Deadline

The Department of Counseling reviews applications once each year. The deadline for Master’s applications is OCTOBER 15* to apply to begin coursework in Summer or Fall 2025. Students cannot begin their program of study in the Spring semester. Please note that the October 15 deadline is final*. Applicants must have all application materials (application, references, transcripts, résumé, and fee) submitted by October 15 to be considered for admission. Applications submitted or completed after October 15 are not guaranteed review by the admissions committee. Admission to the UNC Charlotte counseling program is competitive, therefore applicants must have all application materials submitted by the deadline to be considered.

*Applicants for the 2025 admissions cycle who live in Western North Carolina and currently cannot access electricity or internet are asked to email counseling@charlotte.edu to determine an alternate application deadline.

Program Information Sessions

Each year, Department of Counseling faculty host Counseling Program Information Sessions for prospective students. Below are links for scheduled sessions in 2024. Please click on a link to register to attend a session.

Wednesday, October 9   12:00- 1:00 pm Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Information Session

https://charlotte-edu.zoom.us/j/93069861007?pwd=Vnw5v71rb51XbVF9eRxASb6TXIzNep.1

This information session will include an overview of the clinical mental health counseling profession and the clinical mental health counseling concentration at UNC Charlotte. Attendees must click on the Zoom link above to join the meeting on October 9.

Monday, November 4 5:00- 6:00pm Cato College of Education Graduate Program Open House

This open house is for prospective students to learn about all graduate programs in the Cato College of Education, including the Masters in Counseling program. Attendees can hear from faculty and students, enjoy light snacks and beverages, and win a variety of prizes. For more information and to register for the event, click on this link: https://gradapp.charlotte.edu/register/?id=6adf3247-2032-485d-9451-1cde774df374

Admissions Process

Admission into UNC Charlotte’s Master’s in Counseling program is competitive. From 2020-2024, 17-35% of counseling program applicants were accepted into the program. Faculty seek students from a variety of backgrounds who are passionate about becoming counselors. Criteria for admission into the Master’s counseling program include an applicant’s potential success in forming effective interpersonal relationships in individual and small-group contexts, aptitude for graduate level study, relevant career goals, openness to self-examination, and potential for personal and professional self-development. Students are not required to have an undergraduate major in any particular field to enter the counseling program. Applications are reviewed holistically by a committee of faculty in the Department of Counseling.

Admission Requirements

All applications must be submitted electronically through the UNC Charlotte Graduate School. The admission requirements are as follows:

  • Possession of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 (occasional exceptions)
  • Transcripts from all universities attended
  • Responses to four short answer questions explaining the applicant’s interest in UNC Charlotte’s counseling program.
    • Responses should fully address all components of the prompt for each question.
  • 3 letters of recommendation from professional references.
    • Examples of professional references may include former or current professors, former or current employers, and former or current supervisors of volunteer organizations you participate in.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • A completed application and paid application fee

NOTE: GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission into our program. However, you may submit test scores with your application materials if desired.

All application materials, including transcripts and recommendations, must be received by UNC Charlotte by October 15 to be considered. Any applications that are submitted but incomplete by this deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed. Late applications will only be reviewed for admission if space and time allow.

Questions about the UNC Charlotte Masters in Counseling graduate application should be emailed to Graduate School admissions representatives at gradcounselor@charlotte.edu.

Apply to the Master’s Counseling Program!

Application Timeline

Applications are reviewed once per year in October for admission the subsequent Summer or Fall semester. Select applicants are invited to a group interview in January. Applicants are typically notified of admissions decisions in February.