The Illinois State Board of Education has approved the School Counseling program to prepare candidates for the Professional Educator License (PEL) in School Counseling.
All School Counseling students must present evidence of passing the ISBE School Counselor Proficiency Test before they will be recommended for the Professional Educator License (PEL) in School Counseling.
Delivery Format
Governors State’s 27-credit hour certificate in School Counseling is offered fully on-campus.
Applications must be completed by February15 for fall admission session. School track applicants can only apply in the FALL semesters. The
number of admits may be affected by accreditation standards and requirements.
THE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION PROCESS
IMPORTANT! Getting your application in early increases your chances of successfully proceeding
through the application process and waiting until the deadline decreases your
ability to submit any missing documents.
Therefore, it may might cause your application to be denied. Getting your application in early does not increase your admission chances; it does
ensure accuracy. COMPLETE means all required documents were submitted, essay questions answered, required
transcripts have been received, and three (3) reference forms are included.
Criteria to be Considered for Admission
- Show proof of completing a master’s degree from
a regionally accredited institution of higher education in counseling
or psychology
- Have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; and
- Be interviewed by faculty members.
Personal Reference Forms (3)
You must submit three
references on the official personal reference form. The personal reference forms should be completed by someone who can speak to your academic ability (faculty prefer these to come from instructors). Please contact the Graduate Academic Advisor if
you are unable to get a reference from an instructor. Letters of recommendation do not replace the official forms.
TOEFL Scores, if applicable
Applicants who submit credentials from countries other than the United States must take the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam
and unrelated to residency status. It
is your responsibility to have the Educational Testing Service
submit scores before the deadline. Our Institutional Code is 1263.
Application Fee
The university requires a $50.00 application fee for all GSU graduate applications.
Application Process
STEP 1:
Access
the admission’s portal GSU Certificate Application and begin the application process.
STEP 2:
Read
the information carefully and answer all the essay questions within the supplemental
application.
STEP 3:
Read,
answer all the questions, and sign the Statement of Character.
STEP 4:
Request official graduate transcripts. GSU
official transcripts are not required!
STEP 5:
Complete the information necessary to acquire three (3) Personal
Reference Forms. You will
need the email address of all three individuals. Once the form(s) is returned, they will be
attached to your application.
STEP 6:
Office of International Services– Follow this link, and
it will provide you with the necessary instructions to make sure your
application is processed correctly. This
department also can provide any necessary support. Need a copy of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
results (if applicable).
STEP 7:
Once
you have completed the application, submitted all documents, and paid the fee,
please send an email to Jeanetta G. Edwards - Graduate Academic Advisor jedwards4@govst.edu assuring you received any updates or notifications
regarding the process.
Required Certificate Courses
Counseling Course Prerequisites (18 hours)
* or equivalent courses
School Counseling Required Certificate Courses (27 Hours)Total - minimum of 27 Hours
Certificate Requirements
Students must
meet all university requirements for a certificate. See the internship
manual or materials for additional information.
FINAL INFORMATION
Applications will be reviewed to determine if they
will be offered a spot in the program.Admission to the program is determined by
the program faculty. Program faculty reserves the right to request personal
interviews with applicants. Admission decisions are final and cannot be
appealed. Students must follow the sequence, program, college, and
university requirements and policies.
The review process takes about two weeks after the application deadline(s) for faculty to review
and determine who they would like to interview. Please be patient as you will be receiving
correspondence from the Graduate Academic Advisor.
The Certificate is designed for those who already possess a
master’s degree in Counseling or Psychology and now wish to pursue the Professional
Educator License (PEL) with a school counseling endorsement (formerly the Type
73).The set of 27 hours meets the ISBE
requirements for the school counseling endorsement.
Prior
to receiving the university recommendation for the Educator License,
students must provide evidence of having passed the School Counselor
content area examination of the Illinois Licensure Testing System.
Student Progress
The faculty monitor and evaluate student
progress continuously. The Counseling Department Faculty and Student
Handbook provides a specific description of the standards used to
evaluate student progress.
Conditional Continuation
The faculty may permit a student to
progress conditionally. In such cases, faculty review of the applicant’s
record and performance identifies evidence that the student is likely
to be successful in the program. The status of all students permitted to
progress conditionally is reviewed by the faculty each semester, and
students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to
be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the
student is transferred to good standing status. Students may not be
admitted to the culminating project without achieving good standing
status.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Graduate Academic Advisor at (708) 534-4973.
View the Complete Certificate Requirements in the Academic Catalog