Apply to School Counseling
The following degree options are available for School Counseling:
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in School Counseling
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling
- Master's Plus in School Counseling (this option is not available for international applicants).
- Post-Master’s Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling (this option is not available for international applicants).
Admission Information for the M.A. and M.Ed.
To be considered for admission into the school counseling master’s programs, applicants need to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university by the date of entry. Undergraduate majors do not need to be in psychology (or related fields) to be considered as a prerequisite for admission. At a minimum, applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and hold a B or better in their last two years of undergraduate study.
Transfer Credit for the M.A. and M.Ed.
Upon acceptance, new students may transfer up to 12 credits from a CACREP program, or equivalent, towards our 60-credit hour master’s program.
To be considered to transfer into our program, course credits must be earned from a CACREP approved, or its equivalent, graduMate program within the last five years. Your final grade in the course must be a B or better and courses must directly relate to those required for Loyola's school counseling program.
New students work with their academic advisors. Faculty advisors will determine if credits can be transferred into the program. Students must submit a syllabus and transcript for review to their academic advisor upon acceptance into the program. Academic advisors approve all transfer credits.
Clinical classes such as techniques, group counseling, practicum, and internship cannot be transferred into our program.
Application Deadlines for the M.A. and M.Ed.
The school counseling program admits students in the summer and spring semesters. We admit a cohort of 30 (summer) and 20 (spring). Some years our cohort numbers could be less to maintain our student to faculty ratios as required by CACREP. Invited applicants must attend an admission interview.
| Summer | |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline* | March 8, 2025 |
| Admission Interview Day (Invitation Only) | March 28, 2025 |
| Decision Emails | April |
| New Student Orientation | mid-April |
| Summer Registration | mid-April |
| Summer classes will begin mid-July in a hybrid format. | |
| *International students should plan to have documents in at least one month earlier than the deadline, because it can take a prolonged period of time for transcript evaluations and language proficiency scores to be processed and results sent to Loyola. | |
| Spring | |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline -applications may be reviewed after this date if space is available.* | October 9, 2024 |
| Admission Interview Day (Invitation Only) | October 18, 2024 |
| Decision Emails | October 25, 2024 |
| New Student Orientation | November |
| Fall Registration | November |
| *Please note that international students are not eligible to be admitted for the Spring term. | |
Application Deadlines for the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling and Master's Plus in School Counseling
Admission Timeline: occurs year-round, with the priority deadlines below:
| Fall | August 2 |
| Spring | December 15 |
| Summer | May 1 |
At the discretion of the department, applications will continue to be reviewed after the application deadline on a space-available basis.
Important Licensure Information
Loyola University Maryland offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of Maryland. States and other jurisdictions vary in what professions they require to be licensed and the requirements for licensure within their borders. Loyola University Maryland programs are designed to prepare students to apply for licensure exams in the state of Maryland. Students planning to become licensed in another state other than Maryland should contact the licensing agency for that state or jurisdiction to determine the appropriate requirements of the state-specific licensing board.
Application Form
Online application form Track your application
Required Supplemental Materials
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that a completed application and all supplemental materials are received by the application deadline. Supplemental materials, once received, become the property of Loyola University Maryland and cannot be returned.
In addition to the application form, you must submit the following:
$60 Application Fee
The application fee is nonrefundable and must be received before the application will be reviewed.
Essay
The essay prompt is found on the online application.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts from all degree granting institutions attended. The admission committee reserves the right to request official transcripts from universities where an applicant attended but did not complete a degree. Please note that not submitting all transcripts where courses have been completed could impact course waivers.
We strongly recommend that all applicants have their schools send us official e-transcripts if possible. If your school uses an automated transcript request service, select “Loyola University Maryland” as the receiving institution, and be sure to select “Graduate” or “Graduate Admission” as the receiving office. If your school does not use an automated transcript request service but will still send an official transcript on your behalf via email, have your school send your transcript to graduate@loyola.edu.
If your school is unable to provide electronic transcripts of any kind, your transcripts must be sent to us by mail in envelopes sealed by the school. Our mailing address can be found on the Graduate Admission webpage.
Foreign Transcripts
Foreign transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an approved international academic record evaluation service. Visit the International Academic Records page for a list of approved services.
Letters of Recommendation
Two professional/academic recommendations must be completed on our school counseling recommendation form.
Official English Language Examination Scores
Optional Resume
Additional Admissions Details
Additional Application Information
It is the policy of departmental admission committees to give promising applicants the opportunity to undertake graduate work. A careful examination of an applicant's academic and professional qualifications precedes every admission decision. The committees look for previous academic achievement by considering an applicant's undergraduate and graduate records. Work experience is assessed through the presentation of a resume or vitae and professional references.
Applicants accepted for graduate study will be advised in writing. At the time of admission, individuals will be informed of any courses for which they have qualified for advanced standing and/or additional courses or prerequisites requiring completion before commencing their graduate studies. A program advisor who assists in planning a program of study will be assigned, and students are responsible for discussing any special needs they may have with their advisor.
Non-Discrimination
Loyola University Maryland does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, or any other legally protected classification covered by federal or state law in the administration of any of its educational programs and activities or with respect to admission or employment. The designated compliance officer to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (Title IX), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Section 504), is David Tiscione, Director of Title IX and Bias Compliance (105 Jenkins Hall, 410-617-5171, dmtiscione@loyola.edu). Inquiries about the application of Title IX, ADA, or Section 504 may be made to David Tiscione, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), or both. Inquiries about discrimination related to any other protected class aside from sex or disability may be made to Rodney Parker, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer (Humanities 224, 410-617-2201, rparker1@loyola.edu), OCR, or both.
The Loyola University Maryland nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures and information regarding how to report information or make a complaint about conduct that may constitute discrimination can be found in the following places:
- Sex discrimination: Loyola University Maryland Title IX and Bias Compliance Website
- Discrimination on protected classifications (non sex-based): Loyola University Maryland Title IX and Bias Compliance website for students and Human Resources website for employees
Loyola University Maryland is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant, alien students.
Accessibility Accommodations
If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@loyola.edu or 410-617-5020.
Ready to learn more?
Contact us at education@loyola.edu or 410-617-2990.Attend an Information Session
Program Options
Loyola's School Counseling programs are designed to meet all stages of your professional life—whether you are entering the profession and learning the basics, or if you are an established counselor who wants to continue your education and advance your knowledge and skillset. Our students are prepared to effectively serve, lead, and be advocates for social justice and mental health in pre K-12 settings.
To meet the youth mental health crisis, we offer counselors the opportunity to not only become eligible for certification of a school counselor, but also meet requirements for licensure in the state of Maryland. We invite you to explore our M.A. or M.Ed. program, or one of three post-master's options.
Request information
Ready to learn more?Explore the following links or contact us at mat@loyola.edu or 410-617-2990. For admission-related questions, contact Mechelle Palmer at mjpalmer@loyola.edu.