Counseling

To be admitted to the PBDC program, applicants must have:

• an undergraduate (baccalaureate) degree, normally four years
• a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 in the last 10 full course equivalents (60 credits).
• a minimum of three courses* (nine credits) in psychology or educational psychology, including:
  • a course in developmental psychology (3 credits)
  • a course in learning psychology (3 credits)
  • a course in counselling theories or personality theories (3 credits).

  * These courses must be at the second-year undergraduate level or above.

English is the language of interaction and instruction in Athabasca University\xc2\x92s graduate programs. Proficiency in English consists of a broad, complex set of skills in the areas of reading, speaking, and writing. It is the student\xc2\x92s responsibility to be proficient in both written and spoken English at the graduate level. Potential applicants to the University\xc2\x92s graduate programs should note that, just as advanced programs and courses may have certain academic prerequisites; graduate faculties apply entrance criteria that also include English Language Proficiency screening through diagnostic tests and standard test scores.

Prospective Visa students or foreign applicants* applying for admission to an AU graduate program (as a program student) are expected to provide documentation of completion of at least one of the following English Language Proficiency assessments at the time of application for admission:

• Successful completion of a degree program at an accredited post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction; proof that the instruction for the degree was in English may be required;
• A grade of 70% or higher in an Athabasca University undergraduate or equivalent level English course that is recognized by the faculty/centre;
• Successful completion as a non-program student of a number of Athabasca University courses as determined by the faculty/centre;
• Most recent official score, taken within the last two years, of any of the following:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and obtain a minimum score of 550 (on the written test) or 80 (on the Internet-based test);
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and obtain a minimum score of 6.0;
  • Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test and obtain a score of 80;
  • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) and obtain a minimum score of 60.

  * Note: Foreign Applicant, in this sense, refers to a student who is applying to a graduate program who has obtained a degree in a language other than English.