1. How closely must M.Ed. Counselling Program applicants meet the two-year teaching or related experience admission requirement? Can study be considered related experience?

The graduate application process is competitive. Applicants to the M.Ed. Counselling must have accumulated the equivalent of two years of full-time, paid, relevant work experience and have completed a four-year undergraduate degree. The two full-time equivalent (FTE) years may be accumulated over a period longer than two years. Your application will not be considered if you do not have this experience. Relevant work experience for those applying to the Counselling Program should involve strong interpersonal and communication skills. Some examples of relevant work experience might include social work, peer helping, pastoral care, working with members of a vulnerable population, teaching, special needs care, group home, hospice work, at-risk youth outreach, community outreach, distress line work, big brothers/sisters, and lay counselling programs. Relevant volunteer work, in addition to the 2 FTE years, will be considered an asset. Please note that study cannot be counted as a related experience.

 

 

2. Can I still be considered for the Counselling Program if I don't have the pre-req B average in the courses taken in my last 2 years (or 60h) of university study (i.e. including coursework in undergraduate degree(s) and any graduate work completed)?

A four-year undergraduate degree with a B (73 - 76%) average in the final two years of study. The School of Education doesn’t specify what degree applicants can apply with, unless they’re applying to the school stream, then applicants MUST have a B.Ed. degree. The ownness is on the applicant in their letter of intent to connect their work experience and background to a helping profession.

If you do not meet the B (73-76%) average requirement in the courses taken in your last 2 years (or 60 credit hours) of university study, your application will be considered under the following conditions:

a) You document a minimum of 8 years of work experience since graduation in a field related to counselling

b) You submit your score (that meets or exceeds the mean) on the Verbal Reasoning component of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) with your application

 

3. I do not have the required 4-year undergraduate degree. Can I still be considered for the Counselling Program?

The minimum eligibility requirement is completing 120 credit hours of university study. Typically, this requirement is met by completing a 4-year undergraduate degree. Other degree combinations that add up to at least 120 credit hours may also meet this criterion. For example, you might hold a 3-year undergraduate degree plus a Bachelor of Education degree or a 3-year undergraduate degree plus a master’s degree. This criterion will be satisfied as long as the total credit hours earned across the degrees equate to or exceed 120.

If you hold a 3-year degree only (90 credit hours) and so do not meet the 120 credit-hour requirement for acceptance into Graduate Studies, you can establish an equivalent standing by successfully completing an extra 30 credit hours of university courses prior to applying. Although there are no specifications for the additional coursework, you are encouraged to complete courses in the social sciences such as anthropology, communication studies, psychology, public health, and sociology. Alternatively, if you have a minimum of 8 years of work experience since graduation, you may submit your score on the Verbal Reasoning component of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with your application in lieu of additional coursework. A university transcript for a 3-year degree (90 credit hours), plus a GRE Verbal Reasoning score of 150 or higher (the score range is 130-170), will confer eligibility for the M.Ed. Counselling Program.

It is important to note that all applicants to the school stream must have a B.Ed. to apply.

4. I was offered admission to the M.Ed. Counselling Program. Can I defer my acceptance to the following year?

The M.Ed. Counselling Program does not approve deferrals. Students who do not accept an offer must reapply in subsequent years. It is also important to note that the quality of applicants can significantly vary from year to year. As such, there is no guarantee of admission outcomes. Students who are accepted in one year and decline admission may or may not be accepted in subsequent applications.

5. Can I take the M.Ed. Counselling Program at a distance?

The M.Ed. Counselling Program (both full-time and part-time) is not offered virtually due to the nature of the core courses in Counselling and the associated Regional/National Certification Requirements.

Each year, based on the regional requests and the available human resources, a decision is made on offering additional part-time cohorts in the Counselling Program. The nature and location of the cohort are part of this decision-making process, as the needs of the counselling community vary widely, and the faculty can only respond to some requests.

6. In my application package, what information should my Personal Reflection Statement contain?

The previously required Letter of Intent has been changed to the Personal Reflection Statement. The Personal Reflection Statement allows applicants to position themselves as strong candidates for the M.Ed. Counselling Program. This statement should include a reflection on the following questions:

  • Why have you decided to pursue a graduate counselling degree at this time?
  • What strengths do you bring to the counselling program/counselling profession, both your innate/personal strengths and through your work/life experiences?
  • How do you anticipate Acadia’s M.Ed. Counselling Program will assist you in achieving future professional goals/plans?

The Personal Reflection Statement does not require a specific format. It can be submitted as a video or audio file, a written reflection, or a visual creation. If writing the statement, it must be limited to 500 words and double-spaced. For all video and audio files, they should not exceed 10 minutes in length. Visual work must be accompanied by an audio or video file that explains to the reviewers how the visual creation is representative of the three questions above, ensuring that all questions are clearly spoken to.

You will upload your Personal Reflection Statement through the Applicant Status Portal once you submit your application form. If choosing the video or audio option, please refer to the "Edit Portfolio" button on the Applicant Status Portal for detailed information on file sizes and types that are supported by Acadia.

Please note, all content that exceeds the limits outlined above will not be reviewed as a part of the application.

7. Important information for Counselling students concerning Practicum
  • Cohorts Pre 2024: Practicum is scheduled in the fall semester for part-time cohorts and in the winter semester for full-time cohorts. Students are at the practicum site Monday through Friday. Because of supervision requirements established by external regulation, all practicum experiences must be undertaken concurrently with registration in EDUC 5066 – Counselling Practicum and Group Supervision. Classes are usually held on six Saturdays over the semester. During the 4-month practicum period, students accrue professional experience at their practicum site and receive supervision from the site supervisor, faculty supervisor, and in their group supervision class. Since Nova Scotia is a small, predominantly rural province, students will require a vehicle and should be prepared to commute to a practicum site. Given the limited availability of sites and appropriate supervisors, practicum placement will likely not be in Wolfville, so students must be prepared for placement outside the Annapolis Valley and Kings County reach.
  • Cohorts 2024 and after: Starting with the 2024 Cohorts, the practicum experience will be separated into Practicum I (100 hours) and Practicum II (400 hours). For part-time cohorts, Practicum I is scheduled in the fall semester and Practicum II in the winter semester. Practicum I will occur 6 hours a week over the semester while concurrently registered for EDUC 50P3 – Counselling Practicum I and Group Supervision. This course will usually be held on six Saturdays during the semester. Practicum II will occur starting in the winter semester with either a full-time 4-month practicum (Monday-Friday) or a 6-month part-time practicum (3 days per week) for a minimum of 400 hours while concurrently registered for EDUC 50N3 – Counselling Practicum II and Group Supervision. This course will usually be held on six Saturdays during the semester. For full-time cohorts, Practicum I is scheduled during the spring semester and will occur 6 hours a week while concurrently registered for EDUC 50P3 – Counselling Practicum I and Group Supervision. This course will be a weekly class throughout the semester. Practicum II will occur in the fall semester for full-time practicums and in the fall and winter semesters for part-time practicums. Practicum II will occur along with registration in EDUC 50N3 – Counselling Practicum II and Group Supervision, which will usually occur on six Saturdays during the practicum experience. Since Nova Scotia is a small, predominantly rural province, students will require a vehicle and should be prepared to commute to a practicum site. Given the limited availability of sites and appropriate supervisors, practicum placement will likely not be in Wolfville, so students must be prepared for placement outside the Annapolis Valley and Kings County reach.
8. Can I continue to work and still complete the full-time M.Ed. Counselling Program?

The M.Ed. Counselling Program is an intensive 48-credit-hour program requiring students in the full-time cohort to take courses during the daytime and some evenings over 18 months. Students cannot maintain a full-time job and participate at the level required in the program. Part-time work should be at most 12 hours per week. When a student works part-time, it is not permissible to miss any class or practicum time due to work commitments.

9. When can I expect a response to my M.Ed. Counselling application?

Notification of M.Ed. Counselling Program admission decisions generally occur 3-4 months after the application deadline. Applications are processed one cohort at a time, beginning with the full-time cohort. First, applications are reviewed and assessed by the School of Education faculty. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to participate in an interview. Interviews will be conducted virtually. All the components of the application process are considered in admission recommendations: letter of intent, résumé or CV, letters of reference, transcripts, and interview. Applicants will receive written notification as to whether they are being offered admission, are on a waitlist (this applies whether or not an applicant was interviewed), or will not be considered for that intake period either because an admission criterion has not been met (e.g., minimum of 4 years of university studies, B average or higher in the most recent 2 FTE years of study, minimum of 2 years of FTE post-degree employment experience) or the application was completed after the deadline.

Waitlists remain active until June 30 of the intake year. Please be assured that applicants will be notified of their application status as soon as that information is available. Because of the high volume of applications being processed, we ask that applicants refrain from contacting the School of Education or Research and Graduate Studies to seek updates.

10. When does the M.Ed. Counselling Program commence?

Students in all cohorts commence the M.Ed. Counselling Program in July, usually beginning the first weekday following the July 1 holiday. Courses are completed one at a time for 9 days each and 4 hours daily. Part-time cohorts will complete two courses in July, and full-time cohorts will complete four courses in July and August. All new cohorts will attend orientation during the first day of classes.

11. When I apply to the M.Ed. Counselling Program, is it okay to apply to both the part-time and full-time cohorts?

All aspects of the admissions process are conducted separately/independently for the full-time and part-time cohorts, including review and shortlisting of applications, interviews, and admissions decisions. Applicants are asked to identify the cohort model that best meets their graduate study needs and/or preferences and make their application accordingly to one cohort only.

12. Once admitted into the M.Ed. Counselling Program, can students transfer from a part-time cohort to a full-time cohort or from a full-time cohort to a part-time cohort?

The M.Ed. Counselling Program operates on a cohort model, meaning that students stay with the same group from the beginning of their program to graduation. Students who are admitted into a part-time cohort and wish to transfer to a full-time cohort must apply in writing to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education by December 1st to be considered for transfer in the next academic year. The transfer request will be considered along with all other full-time applications for the next intake period. Students who transfer to the full-time cohort must register in a sufficient number of courses in the following fall and winter semesters to be considered full-time students.

Students who are admitted into a full-time cohort and wish to transfer to a part-time cohort may do so only if they have completed EDUC 5033 and EDUC 5133 during the first summer of their program of studies and if there is room available in the cohort to which they are applying. This request also must be made in writing to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education.

13. Will the choice of stream in the M.Ed. Counselling application make a difference with regard to job opportunities when I graduate from the Counselling Program?

Given that the degree is a general M.Ed. Counselling degree (and no stream is indicated on the transcript or diploma), with considerable overlap of at least 36 credit hours of common coursework, there is latitude in subsequent employment possibilities. Prospective students who contemplate working as a school counsellor in the public school system at some point are advised to verify the requirements in the provinces, territories, or countries of interest. Generally, eligibility criteria include having earned both a B.Ed. degree and an M.Ed. Counselling degree. Employers may also require or favour the completion of a school-based practicum and the EDUC 50C3 School Counselling Programs course.

Graduates of the School Counselling stream are permitted to work in agency settings (referring to any setting other than P-12 school settings), including private practice. Like their colleagues who graduate from the Agency Counselling stream, there will be an ethical expectation that they document and demonstrate competency in the areas of practice pursued by virtue of their education and supervised experience. Competencies may be developed within and subsequent to the period of graduate study.

14. If I am not accepted into the M.Ed. Counselling Program, will I be told why my application was unsuccessful?

Due to the volume of applications to the M.Ed. Counselling Program each year, faculty are unable to follow up admission decisions with individual meetings or phone or email conversations. Each M.Ed. Counselling Program cohort is capped at 20, representing a blend of School and Agency Counselling stream admissions. The admissions process is highly competitive, and generally, there is a significant surplus of applications from well-qualified applicants relative to the number of seats in a program cohort. Ultimately, the outcome of an application comes down to the nature and composition of an applicant pool in a given year. For this reason, it is difficult to offer specific advice related to improving an applicant’s chances of future admission.

The application process's components are considered in final determinations: letter of intent, résumé or CV, letters of reference, transcripts, and interview. Sometimes, it can be helpful for applicants to gain additional relevant volunteer or paid employment experience or to complete additional university coursework to boost their GPA. If not admitted in the year of initial application, some applicants opt to register with Acadia as an “Independent” or non-program student. There are a few graduate counselling-related courses that are available to Independent students. Although successful completion of these courses does not guarantee future admission, up to 12 credit hours may be counted toward the M.Ed. Counselling degree if the student is subsequently admitted to the M.Ed. Counselling Program.

15. What are the beginning and end dates for the full-time Counselling Program?

Cohorts Before 2024: The full-time program is 14 months long, beginning the first week of July upon entry into the program and ending the second week of August the following summer.

Cohorts 2024 and After: The full-time program is 18 months long, beginning the first week of July upon entry into the program, ending either the following fall semester if a full-time practicum is chosen or the second winter if the part-time practicum is chosen.

16. Are there any additional application processes for international students?

Because the M.Ed. Counselling Program requires a practicum experience; all international students must have a study and co-op permit from the Canadian government. You can explore the requirements at the following webpage:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/intern.html

Please give yourself enough time to receive the study and work permit. Our International Centre has Student Immigration Advisors who can assist with your application for a: study permit; co-op work permit; PGWP (post-graduate work permit; and spousal open work permits. An Immigration Officer can be reached immigrationadvising@acadiau.ca.

 

17. What types of recommendations/references are required as a part of the application process?

Two references are required as part of your application.

  • If you have taken a course in the last five years before the start date of your MEd program, or if you are currently enrolled in a course, one academic and one professional reference is required.
  • If you have not taken a course in the last five years before the start date of your MEd program, two professional references are required.

An academic reference is from a current or recent instructor, teacher, or professor.

A professional reference is from someone other than an instructor/teacher/professor who would be familiar with your work. Your professional reference:

  • should not be a family member, colleague or friend
  • should not be someone that you have an ongoing, non-professional relationship with: this should be a strictly professional relationship
  • should hold, or did hold, a senior or administrative position, higher than your rank now or in the past
  • should be someone who oversaw your role or someone that you reported to
  • should be able to evaluate your performance based on your job description or position at the time you worked with them