Master's in Counseling - Couple and Family Counseling

The Masters of Science (M.S.) program prepares students with a high level of evidence-based, ethical, and culturally responsive skill sets to serve clients. The Couple and Family Counseling concentration prepares you to serve as couple and family counselors, and to work with individuals through a systems approach, in a variety of counseling settings.

All Department of Counseling and Educational Development (CED) programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Students receive the highest quality preparation for professional licensure as a family systems therapist.

Graduates with the Couple and Family Counseling Concentration may work with families in outpatient settings. They may also support children in foster care and survivors of domestic violence.

master of science in counseling, couple and family counseling Program Distinctions

UNC Greensboro’s Department of Counseling and Educational Development (CED) is consistently recognized as a top graduate education program by the U.S. News & World Report. It ranks fourth in the nation and first in North Carolina. It has been among the top-15 programs in the country for 30+ consecutive years.

Within North Carolina, CED is rated as the top graduate counseling program and comes in fourth nationally in U.S. News & World Report rankings. The program has been rated among the top 15 in the country for more than three decades.

UNCG students begin developing clinical skills in the Nicholas A. Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic, the department’s on-campus training clinic. Students work with real clients while receiving close supervision from experienced counselor educators before transitioning to community internships.

In our counseling program, master’s students are provided with intensive clinical supervision from the department as they develop their counseling skills in clinical practicum and internships. Our students in Couple and Family Counseling can expect specialized classes in couples counseling and human sexuality from a systems lens.

The Master of Science, couple and family counseling Student Experience

In the Couple and Family Counseling track, hands-on practicum experiences begin in the first semester with almost every content class. Graduate students engage with the material to better understand the systems perspective. All programs are in-person and full-time with courses offered predominantly during the day between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students work with clients under close clinical supervision. They can work in Nicholas A. Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic. A 600-hour internship places them in a local community agency or private practice matching their desired setting and specialty area.

Educational topics include:

• Working with family systems
• Couples counseling
• Trauma and crisis in counseling
• Diagnosis and treatment planning in counseling 

Each year, an admissions committee made up of program faculty recommend 32-38 master’s students for the full-time/day-time counseling program.

Applying to the master of science in counseling, couple and family counseling program

The deadline to apply for the master’s program is Nov. 15. Admission is for the fall semester only. Applications not completed by the respective deadlines will not be reviewed. Applicants should contact the Graduate School to confirm they received all required information.

Application criteria for application for master’s program 

1. A complete online graduate school application.
2. Two professional letters of recommendation for master’s students (at least one of which should be an academic reference).  
3. Resume or curriculum vitae detailing work experience, volunteer experience, and research background. 
4. Three written statements in 12-point font and double-spaced:
   • Experience and background
   • Ethical decision making
   • Personal statement.
5. Undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts.
6. If your undergraduate GPA was a 2.75 or below, please complete a statement that contextualizes your earlier academic performance. Explain how you are now prepared to be successful in a graduate program.

*Please note: GRE scores are not required for application to the master’s program.

Experience and background Statement (2 pages) 

Reflect on your developmental history, personal experiences, and background. Consider how these shaped you into the person you are today. Please describe how your background will impact your effectiveness with clients, both in terms of your strengths and limitations.

Ethical Decision Making Statement (2 pages) 

The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics states “Counselors refrain from referring prospective and current clients based solely on the counselor’s personally held values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.”  

This statement points to the idea that counselors are expected to provide services to individuals from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. How are you prepared to meet this ethical standard by thinking through complex issues that may arise, particularly with individuals who represent backgrounds or perspectives that differ from your own?  

Personal Statement (2 pages) 

Describe your interest in pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and your post-graduation aspirations. Discuss what you believe positions you to function successfully as a professional counselor. Explain how you came to the decision to pursue graduate training in a helping profession, along with other information that helps to describe you.

Reference Letters 

Submit two professional references from people whom you have worked with in a workplace or educational context (e.g., instructor, adviser). These individuals should be able to describe you as a worker or learner. They should know you well enough to discuss your potential for success in a graduate program in counseling.  

Transcripts

Applicants may upload official transcripts issued by their institution’s Registrar’s Office onto their online application. Or they may order official transcripts to be mailed to the Graduate School at the following address: 

The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
1202 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412 

Applying Online for the Couples and Family Counseling Track

The CED graduate program use a completely electronic application process. All applicants should include the following supplemental documents as attachments to their online application: 

• Personal Statement 
• Experiences and Background
• Ethical Decision Making
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Timeline and Interviews

UNC Greensboro’s admissions committee will begin reviewing applications after the application deadline.

• They will invite selected applicants for an interview early in the spring semester. Participation in the interview process is mandatory for selected students.
• Applicants typically get notified of their admission status within two to four weeks of all interviews being completed.
• Typically, students receive notification no later than April 15.

After Graduating with your master’s in couple and family counseling

Graduates leave the Couple and Family Counseling Concentration ready to work as counselors. They may work with children, parents, couples, and families in outpatient mental health settings and in-home counseling settings. They can also work in the foster care system or with clients impacted by domestic violence and other forms of family violence.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial teaching license. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. Licensure Reciprocity Information (please search “By Program” and type in Counseling, MS, Couple and Family Counseling Concentration)