Admissions

Campus viewIndividuals interested in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Appalachian State University must apply through the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School. The Graduate School processes the applications and sends them to the Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education (CTH) for review. The Admissions Committee of the Clinical Mental Health Program will make a recommendation to the Graduate School regarding acceptance. The Department begins accepting students for the master's degree programs early in the spring semester for the following fall sessions. Please note: The program accepts new students for fall admission only. 

Admissions

Applicants must submit each of the following by the application deadline:

  • Resume/CV
  • CMHC Questionnaire
  • Transcript/s
  • Two References

Applicatons that are submitted without a one or more of the items listed above will not be reviewed, thus making the applicant inelligible for admission. The application deadline for the current admissions cycle is December 1st, 2024.

Group Interviews with the program faculty and current students will be conducted online in early spring semster. An invitation for a group interview will be extended for a small percentage of those meeting initial program criteria and other admissions factors. Attendance at the group interview is required for admission.  Decisions for admission will be issued in February 2025.

Students walking on campusMatriculation 

In addition to successfully navigating admission to the program, once enrolled, students will have to complete course work, receive favorable program reviews, be admitted into candidacy, pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), and complete 700 hours of supervised fieldwork to successfully graduate from the program.  

Tuition

Tuition is subject to change with each new academic year. Please check the student accounts website for most up to date information on the cost of tuition and fees. Appalachian State University has a competitive schedule of tuition and fees.

Financial Aid

To find out whether you may qualify for student loans, scholarships, or grants, please visit the Appalachian State University's Office for Student Financial Aid Website. Financial aid is available based on financial need as demonstrated by the information the student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The graduate school also has a page with many financial support resources.

Graduate Assistantships 

There are a limited number of assistantships available to Clinical Mental Health Counseling students each year ranging from 10 to 20 hrs a week. Assistantships may be offered to a student through the CTH department or through a university-wide department. For more information about graduate assistantships, visit the Graduate School website. To be considered for a graduate assistantship anywhere on campus, you must indicate your interest on your on-line application, to the graduate school, along with your most recent resume. You may also wish to submit a copy of your assistantship application to the CTH department as well.

Competitive Program 

When making a recommendation to the Graduate School for admissions, the Admissions Committee of the Clinical Mental Health Program considers the following documentation provided by the applicant: potential contribution to the counseling field, references, resume/CV, CMHC admissions questionnaire, and group interview.

Admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is quite competitive.  The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program highly values diversity and welcomes applicants from a variety of academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds who are committed to the program's mission and objectives.