Admission Requirements and Application

Applicants to the Oregon State University - Cascades graduate counseling program share a commitment to working with children, youth, adults or families in a school, community college, agency or professional setting.  A complete application will include the items listed below.  All of these items except the official transcripts can be found in or uploaded to the online application. All listed items are due by the application deadline.  For full admission to the program, students must demonstrate and submit the following:

1. Complete the online application

2. Official Transcripts

  • Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree prior to the start of the program. An application may be submitted with the bachelor's degree still in progress as long as it is scheduled to be completed prior to the program start date.
  • Official transcripts from each institution are required upon admission, including any graduate coursework or degrees completed
  • Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate degree and all work completed thereafter (if you have questions or concerns regarding your GPA, please contact our recruitment coordinator)
  • Transcripts can be sent to admit@osucascades.edu

3. Résumé - prepare a current résumé detailing your: 

  • Educational Experience: This may include but is not limited to undergraduate program(s), certificate or training programs, ongoing learning and development related to issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, involvement in undergraduate clubs or leadership activities, involvement in undergraduate mentoring or support networks, study abroad or service-learning experiences  
  • Work and/or Vocational Experience: This may include but is not limited to paid work positions and can include internship positions, unpaid positions in the service of family or caregiving, promoting the well-being of others and communities, engaging in advocacy and/or advancing equity and inclusion
  • Volunteer Experience: This may include but is not limited to seeking out new and challenging experiences in service to community, others, or non-profit, school or organization

4. Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) Character Questionnaire

  • The TSPC Character Questionnaire is available via the link above.  The questionnaire will include a list of instructions followed by ten questions. Regardless of the track you are applying for, you must complete the questionnaire. 

5. Application Questions - applicants submit their responses to these questions via the online application portal

  • What motivated you to pursue a counseling career? (Suggested length 200 words)
  • There are several graduate programs (e.g., clinical social work, counseling psychology, school psychology, marriage and family therapy) that prepare students to provide counseling services to clients or student clients. Please describe how enrollment in a graduate counseling program aligns with your short-term and long-term professional goals. (Suggested length 200 words)
  • What skills and aptitudes do you believe are essential to succeeding in a graduate counseling program? Considering your personal and professional life experiences, A.) describe which skills and aptitudes align with your strengths, and B.) which are still emerging. (Suggested length 200 words)
  • How have your personal and professional experiences contributed to your understanding of the ways in which power, oppression, privilege, and inclusion influence your worldview? (Suggested length 300 words)
  • Is there additional context that you would like to offer as we review your application that we did not ask about? (Suggested length 200 words)

6. Optional Letters of Recommendation - letters of recommendation are not required for the application. If you choose to not submit letters of recommendation, you may leave this section of the application blank.

Please make sure your first and last names appear on all of your application materials. Any questions regarding the online application or application materials can be sent to the Graduate Student Recruitment Coordinator. Any materials not uploaded into the application (such as transcripts or letters of recommendation) can be sent to admit@osucascades. Please be sure to include your first and last names, as well as your OSU ID or your birth date.