College Admissions Counseling Graduate Certificate Lehigh University

Overview

Courses explore the university search, application preparation and selection process. Working with diverse international students and families is a focus of the certificate. Additional topics include financial aid, test prep and essay writing.

In addition to college counseling, the certificate includes courses that help counselors build school counseling programs and provide one-on-one helping skills. Counselors will also learn about guiding students through career exploration in preparation for university admissions. The four graduate courses prepare counselors for comprehensive school counseling. 

Working with international students brings unique challenges. The courses will touch on supporting Third Culture Kids, the different types of higher education systems and working with students who are applying for universities inside and outside of their country of residence.

Lehigh’s School Counseling programs have diverse graduate students. Enrolling teachers, college and career counselors and social-emotional counselors in the U.S. and abroad, this program benefits from the varying experience of those enrolled. Students bring their knowledge of domestic and international topics to the classroom to enrich everyones’ learning. Faculty have experience working in international schools and conducting research in the U.S. and internationally. 

The certificate starts in the fall semester with Introduction to University Admissions Counseling. In-person classes are held in an international location during the Summer Institute. Students may choose to spread out their classes over more than one year if a slower pace through the program is better suited to their needs.

The College Admissions Counseling certificate is a parallel program to the International School Counseling certificate. Both programs share the same two summer courses. Students may take courses in both certificates but can only graduate with one certificate. 

Certificate students can apply for the M.Ed. in International School Counseling program during their certificate or upon completion. If admitted, two of the courses (CPSY 452 and 453) will automatically count toward the master's degree. Certificate students who would like to pursue the master's degree are advised to take CPSY 456 in the summer as well.

Accreditation

Lehigh University has full accreditation from the Middle States. The College of Education at Lehigh University has additional accreditation.