Professional School Counseling (SCOU), MS

Mental Health and Wellness Mission Statement:

The mission of Harding’s Mental Health and Wellness program is to prepare counselors to provide caring, compassionate and competent counseling services in a variety of settings to a diverse population. To that end, students will be provided with current, practical, and ethical education consistent with Harding’s Christian foundations equipping them to be effective counselors capable of facilitating health change, growth and development.

Program Overview:

Admission Requirements for the MS in Professional School Counseling:

Admission to Harding University is determined on an individual basis with the following criteria considered: (1) academic preparation, (2) character, (3) educational interests and (4) academic potential. Effort is made to admit all students who qualify and who can benefit from the unique educational program and opportunities available at Harding irrespective of their religious faith, national origin, sex, race or color. When applying, students should be aware of the distinct mission of Harding University and be willing to commit themselves to upholding institutional values.

Applicants for the MS Professional School Counseling degree program must:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or more, or 2.75 on the last 60 hours, attested by official transcript(s); OR an earned master’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, attested by an official transcript.
2. Earn the required score on one of the following entrance exams:
   • PRAXIS II Examinations, earning at least the Arkansas cut-off score for licensure (Principles of Learning and Teaching and Specialty area),
   • Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a minimum score of 385,
   • or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 286. When requesting the score from the Educational Testing Service please reference Harding University code 6267.
3. Abide by the University Code of Conduct. Counseling students must also abide by the Graduate Policies and Procedures and the Mental Health and Wellness Handbook.
4. Applicants holding a master’s degree will be evaluated individually to ensure CACREP master’s criteria is met.

Provisional admission for the MS Professional School Counseling program:

A student who does not fully meet the requirements listed above may receive provisional admission, with the approval of the counseling faculty, if he or she holds a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation with a cumulative grade point average below 2.50 but not less than 2.34, attested by official transcript(s). Provisional status is removed when the student completes 12 graduate hours with at least a 3.0 grade point average, six of which must be in the academic area of concentration.

Application Procedure

1. Complete the online application.

2. Request official transcripts* be sent directly from previous institutions to MHW@harding.edu.

   *Note: Harding alumni and current students do not need to request Harding transcripts as they are on file.

3. In addition, applicants must submit

   1. three letters of reference that focus on the applicant’s academic and professional abilities

   2. documentation of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunization

   3. a professional resume

   4. official test results from the MAT or GRE

4. Applicants must complete a personal interview with the professional counseling faculty. The interview will include a writing prompt and assessment of the candidate’s professional objectives, professional commitment, level of self-awareness, and compatibility with the counseling program.

Application Review and Selection of Candidates

Each applicant will be interviewed by the program area graduate faculty. This interview will determine the candidate’s professional objectives, professional commitment, and the compatibility of the program with his or her goals and interests. The applicant must complete an impromptu writing sample at the time of the interview.

The chair of Mental Health and Wellness or the director of each specific program may request additional information from the applicant prior to final approval for admittance to the program.

Other Program Requirements:

Upon acceptance into the program, students must consult with the director or assigned advisor of their program concerning the required course of study, register for classes online through Pipeline each term, and complete financial registration with the Business Office online.

All requirements of the Professional School Counseling program must be completed within eight years from the time of acceptance into the program. Course work that is taken more than eight years before graduation will not be accepted.

Transfer and International Students:

Up to 9 hours of credit for coursework from other institutions accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation may be transferred if the institution is accredited by NCATE, TEAC, or a similar accrediting organization and the earned grade is a B or higher. All transfer hours are subject to the approval of the chair of Mental Health and Wellness and must be completed before a student’s last semester.

Students who (1) speak English as a second language, and have (2) not previously completed an undergraduate degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation must meet a minimum score on a nationally recognized test of English language proficiency such as the TOEFL or IELTS. 

Minimum TOEFL scores acceptable for admission to the university are 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test). The minimum IELTS score is 6.0. Scores must not be older than two years prior to the date of application to the university. Please note that individual programs may have more stringent minimum requirements.

Academic Standing Requirements

These requirements are common to all programs in education and are listed in the Cannon-Clary College of Education  section. Mental Health and Wellness students should refer to their student handbook for program requirements.