The program is only open to matriculated degree candidates. New School Counseling candidates are accepted only once a year for the Fall term. The application review (with all documentation submitted on time) begins March 1st  for the Fall semester. You can apply to the Counselor Education program only online here.

The Graduate Admissions Office is located in Shuster Hall 167.. After an initial screening of materials, applicants who meet the criteria are invited to an on-campus group interview. Admissions decisions are made after the group interview process in late April and announced in Apply Yourself May 1. You do NOT need a teaching certificate to be a school counselor in 46 of 50 states (including New York!). CE:SC program admission is competitive with usually double the amount of applicants we are able to accept with a substantial wait list annually; there is no guarantee of being taken off of a wait list, however. Wait list candidates who are not selected become denied applicants. 

A. Submit an online application for admission in Apply Yourself starting November 1 at 

B. Arrange to send (or deliver in person) ALL  official undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts (copies are not acceptable) to the Graduate Admissions Office, Shuster Hall, Room 167, Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., Bronx, NY 10468 to document an undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.0 or better (B average) on a 4.0 scale. If you did any CUNY undergraduate or graduate degrees, the admission office can access your CUNY transcripts electronically and you do not need to send them.  Applications cannot be reviewed until all transcripts are uploaded by admissions staff at Lehman.

C. When you open the online admission form, you will email two persons to write and upload recommendation letters of reference that evaluate your readiness to be a school counselor and to start graduate school. One reference should be from a faculty member who can address your written and oral communication skills, readiness for graduate study, and potential for success as a professional school counselor. The second recommendation would ideally be from a K-12 building leader, school counselor or current work supervisor outside schools who can address your potential for success in graduate school and as a professional K-12 school counselor. Two faculty are acceptable as recommendations if you are not currently working in schools.

D. A current resume.

E. A group interview for qualified candidates after faculty screen the applications in late April on a weekend late afternoon. The invitations are made via email usually a week prior to the interviews.

F. Application fee of $75 (waived for Lehman students and alums!).

G. If admitted, you must (1) have evidence of updated immunizations on file at Lehman College (2) pay a deposit to hold your place in the cohort, (3) get your EMPL ID number, (4) await a time for advising to get course permissions, and (5) register on CUNYFIRST, and (6) pay for courses as soon as possible in prior to the fall semester. Initial advising/registration occurs in May and June. Program orientation and classes begin the last week of August. 

H. Candidates seeking the bilingual extension take EDG 702 and EDG 704 as part of the 60-credit program. The additional 2 courses are EBS 701 and EBS 760 taken during the 3rd year summer sessions, one of which counts as an elective in the 60 credit program. Bilingual extension candidates must take the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) exam prior to their last semester in the program and received a passing score of 220 or higher. They also must file a change of program form with the Office of Graduate Studies prior to the Spring semester of the third year signed by their advisor to add the extension.

You can find informations on tuition & fees here

Visit the financial aid page for more information 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The professional organization that serves as the umbrella for all the counseling professions is the American Counseling Association (http://www.counseling.org) and the New York State branch is NY-ACA. . The American School Counselor Association (http://www.schoolcounselor.org) is the professional school counselor association with resources and membership benefits including the scholarly journal Professional School Counseling and the magazine ASCA School Counselor.  In addition to the national organization, New York State’s ASCA state branch is the New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA) (http://www.nyssca.org/). The college access/affordability/admission professional membership organization national is the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) www.nacac.org, and the New York State Association of College Admission Counselors (NYSACAC) is the state branch  https://www.nysacac.org/ . 

Counseling candidates are expected to follow the most recent

American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics

https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf, 

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) codes of ethics https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf, and

the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Guide to Ethical Practice https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/advocacy-and-ethics/nacac_guide-to-ethical-practice-in-college-admission_sept.-2020_final.pdf . 

The Counselor Education program is applying  for the CMHC bridge program in the 2024-25 academic year and will begin once the state gives permission. The doctoral program planning began in 2024 and is not expected to be operational for at least five years.

The Graduate Studies Office, Shuster Hall Room 275, is where Counselor Education candidates access forms and approvals to withdraw from a course, transfer of credit forms, or to have a hold removed from their registration. The Director of Graduate Studies can be contacted at 718-960–8448.  Your advisor will work with you and the Director of Graduate Studies to sign the appropriate forms and monitor your coursework and credits toward graduation.  If there is a HOLD on your registration, go to either the Graduate Studies Office in Shuster Hall Room 275 or go to the Registrar in Shuster Hall Room 108. You must have the HOLD removed prior to registration. 

Sometimes Counselor Education candidates take a leave of absence from the program by informing your advisor and the program coordinator. When you are ready to return, go to the Graduate Admissions Office (Shuster Hall – Room 150), complete a Readmission Application, and pay a maintenance of matriculation fee. This form needs to be signed by your advisor or the program coordinator and returned to the Graduate Admissions Office prior to re-enrolling. If you have been away from the program for an extended time, your readmission is contingent upon a reevaluation of your coursework and current program requirements by the Program Coordinator. The programs are expected to be completed within 5 years and there is a one-time 2-year extension if needed.

Grade Appeals–start with the course instructor and talk with them. If that does not resolve matters, go to the program coordinator. If that does not resolve things, go to the CLLSE Department Chair and ask for a formal appeal with the Department Grade Appeals Committee. Their decision if final and the grade may be raised, lowered, or stay the same.

Transfer Credits may occur in the first semester of the program with your advisor to review your previous transcript, grades, syllabi, and coursework samples. The decision regarding transfer credit is determined by the faculty advisor and the director of graduate studies. Coursework must be less than five years old and preferably from a CACREP-accredited Counselor Education program. No more than 12 credits may be transferred. If approved, you must obtain and file a Transfer of Credit form signed by your advisor with  the Graduate Studies Office, Shuster Hall Room 275.

The Lehman College Graduate Program in Counselor Education is the Tau chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI)  Eligible candidates who have completed 24 credits with a 3.5 GPA may be invited to apply for membership by the CSI Advisor. CSI induction ceremony is conducted annually at the end of the Spring Semester. 

All programs begin the last week of August with an orientation and first classes. Breaks occur in late November, the last two weeks of December, the last week of January, Spring Break, the last two weeks of May, the first two weeks of July, and the third week of August. Lehman has annually updated undergraduate and graduate calendars for each fall, spring (includes winter intersession), and summer sessions view here