FAQ

Yes, the Department of Counselor Education holds accreditation from CACREP (The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). CACREP accreditation provides assurance that a program has been thoroughly evaluated to meet the standards necessary to produce competent counselors. CACREP accreditation also confers greater ease in state licensure. Some states require credentialing, and in others it is voluntary but advantageous. 

CACREP is an independent accrediting body whose mission is to advance the profession of counseling by developing standards, encouraging peerless quality, and accrediting preparation programs. Faculty and staff are proud to offer this asset as further evidence of the caliber of the programs.

Students from all educational and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. A psychology degree is not required.

A GRE score is not required. Faculty consider each application holistically and GPA is just one of several elements. If your GPA is under a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, you are encouraged to submit a GPA explanation with your application.

A new cohort begins each Fall semester.

Fall and Spring semesters are 16 weeks in length and Summer is 12 weeks. Please see the Program Outline for more course sequencing details.

Graduates pursue counseling positions in various private, public, and non-profit agencies. Our graduates have worked in areas from private practice and family counseling to hospitals, social services agencies, colleges and even human resources. Some also go on to pursue a PhD.

You may request to transfer credits, which will require approval of the Department Chair, the Dean of the program, and the Registrar's Office.  A maximum of 1/5 of program credits may be transferred.

Coursework must be distinctively graduate level by the transfer institution and must have been taken within the last five years.  A minimum grad of a B must be earned.  Courses previously applied to a completed degree are not transferable to the student’s current program.

Jesuits have been educating people since 1540, and Gonzaga's Master's programs continue to offer the opportunity to pursue a degree that strives to educate the whole person: intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally. Gonzaga was founded in 1887 and continues to pursue a mission of educating leaders with the capacity for reflective and critical thought.

The program is completed in two years. It is delivered using a cohort model.

You will move through the program with the same group of approximately 10-12 students (your cohort) to encourage an interdisciplinary, collaborative and supportive learning environment. Students in each cohort will grow together by teaching each other, learning from each other and supporting each other. One cohort is admitted each Fall.

Every course is designed by our Gonzaga faculty, and classes are taught by faculty who have a PhD or a Master's degree with extensive experience. Most continue to practice in the field as licensed clinical professional counselors.

During the first year, courses take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the day. During the second year, courses are held on Wednesdays, leaving the remaining days of the week open for internships.

Yes. We have an Internship Coordinator who maintains strong connections throughout the community and works directly with students to pair them with their preferred site and complete the necessary paperwork.

The internship is a total of 600 hours (240 of those in direct service), completed in the second year of the program. 300 hours are completed during fall semester, and 300 during spring semester. There are an additional 100 hours collected in practicum during the first year.

With a river running right through downtown and four distinct seasons, Washington state's second largest city lives up to its motto: "Near Nature, Near Perfect." Spokane offers abundant green space and easy access to numerous lakes, ski resorts, mountains and bike paths. Along with access to endless outdoor recreational activities, you’ll enjoy big city attractions like shopping and entertainment without the congestion or expense of living in a larger metropolitan area. Gonzaga’s campus is just a short walk to downtown.

For more information, see Visit Spokane's website.

You will be assigned a faculty advisor who will work with you throughout the duration of the program to help you meet your academic goals. Our Student Services team is also available to answer your questions and connect you to the resources you need, including:

• Course Scheduling and Program Support
• Foley Library
• IT Help Desk
• Career Center
• Graduate Student Association
• Disability Access
• University Ministry

We are all here to help you succeed.