• The MA in Counseling is an existing program offered in a hybrid format, using a combination of synchronous (real-time video/virtual participation) courses and fully online asynchronous courses. Undergraduates accepted to the AGD program can begin taking master’s level classes while still in the undergraduate program. These graduate credits can be used for both undergraduate and graduate level coursework and will help facilitate an efficient transition into the master’s program. To be accepted into the AGD program, please see your undergraduate advisor, fill out the AGD Plan of Study (https://www.marshall.edu/graduate/current-students/forms-and-information/), meet with the program director or chair of the counseling department, and apply for conditional admission in the MA in Counseling program after 90 undergraduate credit hours have been earned (https://www.marshall.edu/admissions/apply/).   

• From Undergraduate to Graduate Student
  Full admission to the MA, Counseling program is not guaranteed. To be fully admitted to the MA in Counseling program, the student will need to complete their bachelor's degree, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all graduate credit toward their Master's degree program, meet all admission criteria, and meet all other program performance standards. Beginning with the semester after the student has earned the bachelor’s degree and has been fully accepted into the master’s degree program, the student is enrolled in the graduate program and is assessed tuition and fees at the graduate rate. Students will need to fill out an application to have their status changed to ‘Graduate Student.’ 

  All rules regarding graduate education will apply to the student once admitted into the master’s degree program. 

• Withdrawal from the AGD
  A student may withdraw at any time from the AGD by informing the undergraduate advisor and the Chair or Program Director of the Counseling Department. A student’s status will then revert to the standard undergraduate degree program. Any graduate hours earned must be approved for use in fulfillment of bachelor’s degree requirements by the student’s undergraduate dean. 

Admission Requirements

For admission to the AGD in Counseling program, students must meet the requirements established by the university and the department, which can be found here: Counseling, M.A. < Marshall University and Counseling – College of Education and Professional Development (marshall.edu). There are no course pre-requisites for admission in the AGD in Counseling. However, students interested in the AGD in Counseling should focus their professional development pathways and field experience in a manner that prepares them best for the AGD in Counseling. 

Eligibility Requirements for the MA in Counseling Accelerated Graduate Degree Program: 

There are no course pre-requisites for admission in the AGD in Counseling. However, students interested in the AGD in Counseling should focus their coursework in the following areas of emphasis: Psychology, Sociology, Comm Studies, Education, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Women's studies, and Political Science. 

To be eligible for the AGD in Counseling, students: 

1. Can apply for the AGD in Counseling at any time, but to begin, they must have completed at least 90 credit hours towards the bachelor's degree.  Must have at least a 3.3 overall cumulative undergraduate GPA. 
2. Must meet the minimum admission requirements for the MA in Counseling Program, which can be found here: Counseling, M.A. < Marshall University and Counseling – College of Education and Professional Development (marshall.edu) 

How to Apply: 

1. Eligible students should meet with their Undergraduate Advisor and the Chair or Program Director of the Counseling Department to develop an AGD plan of study. Any changes to the AGD plan of study must be approved by the undergraduate advisor and Chair or Program Director of the Counseling Department. 2The student’s acceptance into the AGD program is subject to the approval of the plan of study by the undergraduate advisor and Chair or Program Director of the Counseling Department. 
2. After the AGD plan of study is approved, the student should apply for conditional admission into the MA in Counseling program once they have completed 90 undergraduate credit hours towards their degree. 
3. Their application materials for the MA in Counseling degree program will be assessed for: (1) relevance of career goals, (2) aptitude for graduate-level study, (3) potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and (4) respect for cultural differences. 

Applicants that meet the admission criteria will be permitted to take graduate level courses and be conditionally admitted into the counseling program until the completion of the undergraduate degree. 

Programs offering an AGD option may allow up to 12 hours of graduate level coursework to also count towards an undergraduate degree.

Graduate coursework/credit will appear only on the graduate transcript, and graduate course grades will be calculated towards the graduate GPA.

Graduation Requirements

The graduation requirements for the AGD are the same as the existing MA in Counseling degree program.  

Course Requirements

In the fourth year of the RBA program, the free elective offerings in the plan of study could be used for the graduate level courses. Students accepted into the AGD program can begin taking graduate coursework up to a maximum of 12 hours in place of upper division courses as outlined in the AGD Plan of Study. These courses will count towards the total degree hours needed for the RBA degree and the MA, Counseling degree.  They must meet all the other degree requirements for their bachelor’s degrees while they work on their master’s degrees.

Students in the AGD will be conditionally admitted into the graduate program until the completion of their undergraduate degree if they meet all performance standards for the MA, Counseling program. The total time to complete the MA in Counseling degree will remain 7 years from the time of the first term classes are taken. 

• The AGD Plan of Study will be individualized for each student.  Eligible Core Counseling Courses (can do one course or up to four COUN courses): 

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
COUN 574	Social & Cultural Found	3
COUN 600	Professional Orientation	3
COUN 602	Human Devel and Adjustment	3
COUN 609	Research in Counseling	3