Plan of study

Non-Missouri Residents: Prospective students are responsible for reviewing the UMSL state authorizations page to see if this program is offered in their state throughout their program and to review the licensure or certification requirements for the state in which they reside.

Application Process

Q: How do you apply for the program?

A: Get your materials together and apply online. See the doctoral application checklist for specific application requirements.

Q: When is the application deadline?

A: November 1 for fall admission in the following year.

Application Requirements

Q: What are the application requirements?

A: Complete and submit the online Graduate School application. Visit the How to Apply page on the Graduate School website.

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, other special provisions apply to international students. Prospective students should contact the Office of International Student Services (Phone 314-516-5229; e-mail: iss@umsl.edu or visit the website of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services). International requirements for graduate admissions can also be found on the UMSL Global website.

2. Pay the application fee if you are a first-time UM-St. Louis graduate student
3. Request an official transcript of each University you have attended to be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office.
4. Request letters of recommendation to be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. Use the standard graduate school forms. Three letters of reference are required.
5. Submit your professional resume or curriculum vitae (CV) through the electronic application system. The document must be in PDF format.
6. Submit a copy of a paper you have written on a scholarly topic as a writing sample through the electronic application system. Please limit to 20 pages or less. The document must be in PDF format.
7. Answers to the questions below. Please provide typed (double spaced) questions and responses that are saved as a PDF document and submitted through the electronic application system. Please limit your responses to about 300 words per question:
   1. How do you envision the University of Missouri—St. Louis doctoral program preparing you to meet your career goals?
   2. Briefly describe your experiences working with diverse populations and what you have learned from those experiences.
   3. What personal qualities do you possess that relate to your interest in doctoral education in counseling?
   4. If accepted into the program, which of the faculty members are you interested in working with?

Important Note: All document submissions must be in PDF format. Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage.

Q: What transcripts do I need to submit?

A: Admission to all graduate programs at UMSL require official transcripts from every college or university you have attended. International students must request official certified transcripts. International students should contact International Student and Scholar Services with any questions or for more detailed information.

Official transcripts must be received directly from the issuing college/university. We can receive them via paper mail or electronic submission.

Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded into your online application. Please note that this is optional. If/when you are admitted to the university, you will need to have official copies sent.

UMSL Alumni: Your undergraduate records are accessible by Graduate Admissions and you do not need to send an UMSL transcript or resend previously submitted final transcripts.

Send transcripts to the following addresses:

Q: What makes a successful candidate for this program?

A: The UMSL faculty reviews all applications holistically within the context of each individual’s life experiences and identities. So, even if you do not meet all of the following requirements, we still encourage you to apply! An undergraduate and graduate GPA of at least 3.5, work experience as a counselor, a social justice orientation, excellent recommendation letters, strong   writing ability, and demonstrated potential for scholarly work (e.g., research, presentations) are preferred.

Q: What happens after I submit my application?

A: The counseling faculty will review all applications and some prospective students will be invited for a Zoom interview in December or January. The daylong interview will consist of a group activity, a writing sample, individual interviews with faculty, opportunities to meet with current doctoral students, and more.

Q: Can I apply to the program with only a bachelor’s degree?

A: No, a master’s degree is required to be considered for the program.

Q: Can I apply to this program with a master’s degree from a different field?

A: Yes, but you may be required to take master’s level counseling courses unless you have completed related coursework in a similar field (e.g., counseling psychology, social work). You may transfer in a maximum of 45 credits from outside the program.

Tuition, Fees, & Funding Opportunities

Q: What scholarships, graduate apprenticeships, and other funding opportunities are available?

A: Numerous opportunities are available for scholarships, graduate assistantships, and jobs at UMSL. Most of our students who want a graduate assistantship are able to get one. Many students get jobs working on campus too. Graduate assistantships typically involve 20 hours of work per week either teaching courses or working as research assistants for a professor(s). Students who have graduate assistantships are not allowed to work off campus. Also, the UMSL College of Education dissertation and travel grant subcommittee offers opportunities for doctoral students to receive funding for travel to professional conferences and for their dissertation research. Information about these opportunities is sent out twice yearly each fall and spring through email.

Q: How much does the program cost?

A: For more information about the tuition and fees, visiting the Student Financial Services website.

Q: Are application fee waivers available?

A: Your fee can be waived if you have previously applied to the graduate school at UMSL or previously been enrolled as a graduate student at UMSL. It can also be waived if you are a veteran or a McNair scholar (You must submit a letter confirming this to the graduate admissions office).

Q: I paid an application fee for a previous graduate application; do I need to pay the fee again?

A: Once you have paid the application fee once, you do not need to pay it again, even if you submit multiple applications.

About the Program

Q: Is the doctoral program CACREP-accredited?

A: Yes.

Q: When are courses offered?

A: Most courses are offered on campus once a week from 5:30pm to 8:20pm. A few courses are         offered synchronously or asynchronously online.

Q: What are the program course requirements?

A: See the 3 ^rd page of our doctoral application checklist for degree program requirements. The program includes a 600 hour internship split between at least 3 different experiences of the student’s choice (i.e., teaching, research, counseling, supervision, and leadership and advocacy). The program also requires a doctoral counseling practicum (typically taken during the fall and spring of the first year) that requires accruing counseling hours outside of class time. Additionally, the supervision class requires that students supervise multiple master’s level counseling students while taking the course.

Q: Can I transfer into the program from another PhD program?

A: Yes. Students who have completed a master’s degree in a CACREP-accredited program typically transfer in most or all of the required master’s level coursework for the program. Students can transfer in credits from non-CACREP-accredited master’s programs or from programs in related fields at the discretion of the faculty. Students cannot transfer in more than 30 credits from their master’s programs. For students transferring in from other doctoral programs over half of their coursework must be completed at UMSL (up to 45 credits).

Q: How long does the program take to complete?

A: Our program is structured in a way that is flexible based on the lives of our students. Our doctoral students go through the program at different speeds, but typically students complete the program in about 4 to 5 years.

Q: What opportunities are there for getting involved in the program?

A: Doctoral students take an active leadership role in our program through participating in the student lead Doctoral Student Leadership and Service Committee, the Doctoral program committee, and as leaders in Chi Sigma Iota.  At our Counseling and Social Advocacy Center (CSAC), our program’s counseling center, doctoral students play active roles in partnering with the local community to organize and present at conferences, which focus on an array of topics, including play therapy, grief, and trauma.

Q: What do students do after they graduate?

A: Our students work as counselor educators, private practice counselors, school counselors, and in other leadership roles in the field. The vast majority of our students work in the field after they graduate.

International Students

Q: What are the admissions requirements for international students?

A: Information for graduate admissions requirements for international students can be found here.

International students whose native language is not English and who have spent less than two of the last three years in an English-speaking country are required to submit scores from an internationally accepted standardized examination before a decision is made on admission. Teaching assistantships will be awarded only to students with demonstrated oral English proficiency. For information on the online TOEFL test, visit the ETS website. Another acceptable standardized English exam in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For more information on English Language Requirements, visit this site.

Students must also submit official copies of their international transcripts translated into English as necessary. For more information on transcript requirements, visit the UMSL Global website.

Q: I’m an international student with a conferred degree in the United States. May I be exempt from the English Language Requirement?

A: Yes, if you have spent more than two of the last three years in an English-speaking country, you are not required to submit English Language Testing scores. For more information on English Language Requirements, visit the UMSL Global website.

Q: What do I need to score on the TOEFL test to be admitted?

A: It is recommended that students have a 79 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, or 53 PTE-A, 105-110 Duolingo. You may be able to be admitted conditionally with lower scores. For more information on English Language Requirements, visit the UMSL Global website.

Q: What is entailed in the VISA process?

A: For more information about F-1 and J-1 Visa regulations and tax information, visit the UMSL international student & Scholar Services site. For more information about H-1B Visas, visit the H-1B Visas page.

Q: How many credits are required to be a full time student?

A: 9 credits. International students must be full time students (excluding summer semesters).

Q: What employment opportunities are there for international students?

A: Please visit this UMSL global employment page for more information on employment opportunities and internship.

St. Louis & Campus Resources

Q: What does St. Louis have to offer?

A: The St. Louis metropolitan area has many cultural, athletic, and entertainment venues. For more information on what Saint Louis has to offer, please visit the Explore St. Louis website.

Q: What public transportation options are available?

A: While mass transit is available, with Metrolink (light rail) and  shuttle service on campus, many students find a car necessary.

Q: What housing options are available?

A: Students are generally able to find affordable and acceptable housing on campus or within a short commuting distance from the University.

Q: What resources are available on campus?

A: The Triton Pantry

The Triton Pantry is a food resource for all enrolled students that are experiencing or are at risk of food insecurity or hunger. The Triton Pantry is located at 170 Millennium Student Center, in the hallway to the right of The Nosh. The Triton Mobile Pantry is a one day, outdoor food resource open to everyone - UMSL students, staff and faculty, and members of the community. Mobile Pantries are held on the Parking Lot VV on UMSL's south campus, directly outside Marillac Hall (2940 Bellerive Dr., St. Louis, MO 63121). For more information visit the Triton Pantry webpage.

Housing Counseling

Housing counseling helps students who do not have stable housing or are facing homelessness and includes services such as: Linkage to community services/resources related to emergency housing, rental assistance, legal assistance, utility assistance, and credit repair; Exploration and planning of available and appropriate housing options; Individualized budgeting; Creation of a sustainable housing plan; Advocacy for appropriate on-campus resources and Housing crisis intervention. For more information visit the Housing Counseling webpage.

Case Management

Students who are experiencing life issues, hardship, or unmet needs that impede their ability to be a successful student can receive case management from student social services. Case management can assist students with issues of homelessness, food insecurity, public assistance applications and healthcare access. For more information visit the Case Management webpage.

Counseling Services

The counselors and psychologists at Counseling Services provide personal counseling sessions for students, faculty, and staff at UMSL. To schedule an appointment with a counselor, you can call 314-516-5711 or stop by Counseling Services during office hours. [Monday through Friday; 8 am - 5 pm]. The Counseling Services are located in the Millennium Student Center (North Campus) office suite 131. For more information visit the Counseling Services website.

Student Organizations – UMSL is home to many student organizations with many serving graduate students. This includes graduate organizations in business, creative writing, psychology, biology and more in addition to graduate honors societies and student veterans organizations.

Career Services – Students have access to professional career counselors who can assist in everything from resume development and interview preparation to lining up an internship or connecting you with your next fulltime career. UMSL alumni also enjoy high quality, lifelong career management programming, services, events and resources to assist in all phases of career development.

Networking – with the largest alumni network in the region, UMSL graduate students have access to leading professionals engaged in business, research, entrepreneurship, non-profit, government, community organizations. Our academic units engage this network in curriculum development to ensure our graduate students gain the skills needed to advance along their choose career path.

Research – There are many opportunities for graduate students to showcase their research including our annual Graduate Research Fair, which is open to students from all graduate programs. Doctoral and thesis master’s students can also compete in the Three Minute Thesis challenge to be evaluated by a panel of judges for a chance to win cash prizes.