Joint Undergraduate-Master’s Programs (JUMP) in Counseling
The Department of Counseling and Student Affairs Joint Undergraduate-Master’s Program allows highly motivated undergraduate students to earn graduate credit towards their applied master’s degree at the undergraduate tuition rate. JUMP in Counseling applicants are eligible to begin the application process if they are a WKU undergraduate student in good standing (must have a GPA of 3.00 or above) who has 60 undergraduate hours completed but no more than 100 undergraduate hours completed at the TIME OF APPLYING; and has completed one semester at WKU. Applicants are expected to have discussed their intentions to apply with their undergraduate advisor. JUMP in Counseling students are eligible for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling residential concentration only and must follow the steps below to be considered for admission.
JUMP students may complete a maximum of twelve (12) graduate hours as undergraduate students. For undergraduate candidates pursuing a first baccalaureate degree in combination with a Master's degree, nine (9) graduate hours may be counted on both the undergraduate and graduate transcript as prescribed by the approved program curriculum. JUMP students twelve (12) graduate hours may be counted on both the undergraduate and graduate transcript.
Application Deadlines
March 1 for fall admission
October 1 for spring admission
Apply to Joint Undergraduate-Master’s Programs (JUMP) in Counseling
JUMP Applicants do NOT apply to Graduate School, but rather directly to the Department. Applications will not be reviewed if the aforementioned criteria have not be met.
Application Materials and Submission
Students applying to the Department of Counseling Joint Undergraduate-Master's Programs (JUMP) should submit, via email, all of the following materials and the application merged into one PDF. The application will not be processed unless the attachment is included in an email sent to the WKU CSA Office Coordinator while copying their Undergraduate Advisor with Subject Line: Counseling JUMP Application [Your #800].
A statement of interest of no more than 6 pages in length (including a cover page), written in APA format, includes correct spelling and grammar, and organized according to the prompts below. Applicants who submit Statements of Interest that do not adequately meet expectations (i.e., excessive writing and format errors; failure to address all prompts; and/or career objectives and personal/interpersonal dispositions that are incongruent with program objectives) may be denied admission or asked to reapply with an updated Statement of Interest for the next admissions cycle.
- Discuss how your career objectives and personal and interpersonal dispositions are fitting for the counseling or student affairs profession. Provide support for and specific examples of why you believe your interests, as well as personal and interpersonal dispositions (including interpersonal skills and experiences, as well as ability to handle stress and emotional triggers) are appropriate and fitting for the profession.
- Briefly discuss how you will be successful in forming effective relationships with clients through both face to face and digital delivery of individual, couples and/or family counseling. Be specific and provide examples. Consider ways in which you may need to grow to be success in either type of delivery and/or with a given population.
- Briefly describe your aptitude for graduate-level study through both face-to-face and digital delivery modalities. Provide evidence for why you believe you are ready for graduate studies. Given that courses are offered through both face-to-face and delivery, respond to the following questions: If you are accustomed to face to face learning, how will you adjust to digital learning? If you are easily distracted, how will you remain focused and attentive during zoom class meetings? How will you seek and maintain relationships with instructors in both face to face and digital settings so as to assure your success in the course?
- Describe your experiences. More specifically, discuss how you have formed and maintained relationships with persons from different backgrounds and cultures from your own in both individual and group contexts. How do you maintain respect for these differences? In what ways will you need to develop in order to be culturally sensitive when providing counseling services? Use specific examples.
JUMP Applicants are required to include the following as their list of References:
- Their WKU undergraduate Academic Advisor
- Two faculty members who can speak to the above with specific detail, as well as the applicant’s academic and professional readiness for graduate school.
Applicants should submit an updated resume. Current WKU undergraduates may seek the WKU Career Center for resources related to resume building.
Download The Counseling Background Check
Download the Student Affairs Background Check
Applicants to either the CMHC or MCFC program should select “Counseling”; Student Affairs, should select “Student Affairs” and then proceed with the directions and fee. All questions should be directed to the Verified Credentials Client Services Team at 1-800-938-6090.
- The background may take weeks to be processed; this process should be initiated well in advance of the application deadline as it could take a month to process.
- Upon receiving the Background Check back from Verified Credentials, it should be included in order (as noted above) in the PDF Application Portfolio.
Interview for Counseling Program
Based upon a holistic review of their application materials, including consideration of the feedback from references, highly reviewed applicants will be invited to an on-line admissions group interview scheduled on the last Tuesdays of March and October from 11am - 1pm CST. Since the Department does not offer an alternative admissions date or time, applicants should arrange in advance to attend.
During the interview, applicants are reviewed by faculty on skills related to but not limited to listening, awareness of self and others, ability to collaborate and communicate, sensitivity to diversity, as well as respect for others. Based upon a collective evaluation of the application materials, as well as the demonstration of skills, applicants will receive an invitation for admission or denial.
JUMP Matriculation into CSA Courses
JUMP Applicants who are accepted will receive an email indicating so. Upon notification of their acceptance, they should follow the steps below as soon as possible in order to be considered for enrollment in graduate courses offered in the following semester.
Upon receiving an email indicating acceptance to the program, JUMP students begin the JUMP Statement of Intent document signature process by first forwarding that acceptance invitation email from the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs to their Undergraduate Advisor. Next, they should go to https://www.wku.edu/graduate/documents/index.php, then under Matriculation, choose JUMP Statement of Intent. Information for Graduate Program Coordinator should include the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs JUMP Coordinator. Please contact the Department for details. The student should save the completed Statement of Intent once they receive a copy of it from the Graduate School. (Students should not contact the Department until they have completed this and the next outlined step.)
After receiving a copy of the completed Statement of Intent, they should schedule a meeting with their Undergraduate Advisor to discuss how many graduate course/s would be appropriate to take within the next semester. This conversation should include consideration of the student's anticipated undergraduate course load, as well as what graduate courses would be applicable or allowed towards the undergraduate degree. (Some departments have restricted course electives.) JUMP in Counseling students may take the CSA graduate courses listed below. For further information see the CSA Course Offerings for descriptions of courses. Since focusing on their undergraduate degree is a priority, JUMP students are not advised to take more than one graduate class each semester unless approved by the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs Graduate JUMP Coordinator. Following meeting with their Undergraduate Advisor, the student should reach out to the CSA JUMP Coordinator to discuss which graduate class they will be taking in the upcoming semester/s.
|
Offered in the Fall |
Offered in the Summer |
Offered in the Spring |
|
CNS 555 Social & Cultural Diversity CNS 560 Professional Studies CNS 637 Theories of Addiction |
CNS 556 Dev Career Counseling |
CNS 558 Theories in Counseling CNS 557 Human & Family Development |
The student will then add the course/s on the JUMP Exception Form and gain the Undergraduate Program Signatures. Upon the completion of the form, the student should email the completed JUMP Exception Form to the CSA JUMP Coordinator with subject line: “JUMP Exception Form Attached” while copying registrar@wku.edu, their undergraduate advisor, and undergraduate Department Head. The email should confirm that the student has met with their undergraduate advisor, and that they are seeking the CSA JUMP Coordinator’s approval of the Exception form and permission to reach out to the instructor of the respective course to register. (JUMP students are only permitted to enroll in residential course sections when there is an otherwise online section offered. The online section is reserved for the CMHC-digital pathway only.) The CSA JUMP Coordinator will upload it in the student's electronic folder.
APPLY TO GRADUATE SCHOOL DURING LAST SEMESTER OF UNDERGRADUATE !
Upon receipt of the form, the student should email the instructor of the graduate course with Subject Line: "JUMP Registration for CNS [123]." The Statement of Intent (received from Graduate School; see first step) should be attached; with the following email: I am CSA JUMP Student (800#) and would like to register for CNS 123:123. My undergraduate advisor and the CSA JUMP Coordinator have approved the course. Questions related to registering/dropping from courses and/or the JUMP should be directed to the CSA Office Coordinator.
JUMP students must apply to Graduate School (and select one of the counseling programs) by the Department’s application due dates. See https://www.wku.edu/csa/apply.php.
Not doing so will delay their entrance into the program by at least a semester. Upon applying to Graduate School, the student informs the CSA Admissions Coordinator.
Important: On-Campus Intensive Requirement
(For students starting Fall 2026 or later)
Per CACREP Policy, all counseling students, including digital and residential, must attend two mandatory Counseling Skills Intensive experiences at WKU's Bowling Green campus. These Intensives are embedded within the CNS 559 Techniques in Counseling course (offered fall semester, first Friday & Saturday in November) and CNS 554 Group Counseling (offered spring semester, first Friday & Saturday in April) in addition the regular weekly meetings required within the courses.
What to Expect
CNS 559: Techniques in Counseling - First Friday & Saturday in November
CNS 554: Group Counseling - First Friday & Saturday in April
Schedule: Friday afternoon/evening & all day Saturday
Requirement: Full attendance is mandatory to pass these courses and graduate.
Student Responsibility: Transportation & lodging arrangements.
Scholarship Opportunities & Financial Support
WKU offers generous scholarships that may help you further reduce the cost of the Hilltopper experience.
Department of Counseling
and Student Affairs
Gary A. Ransdell Hall 3036
1906 College Heights Blvd. #51031,
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1030
(270) 745-4953