Student Affairs in Higher Education Admissions
Overview
Application Deadlines
| Start Term | Application Deadline | New Student Orientation* |
| Spring 2027 | Nov. 1, 2026 |
Nov. 12, 2026 or Dec. 10, 2026 |
| Summer 2027 | April 1, 2027 |
April 8, 2027 or May 6, 2027 |
| Fall 2027 | July 1, 2027 | August 5, 2027 |
*If an applicant is admitted to the program, they will receive a confirmation email with their assigned New Student Orientation date.
Important: Applications must be fully complete by the stated deadline to be considered for review by the selection committee. A complete application includes all required materials, such as letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and any additional documentation outlined in the application instructions. Applications that are incomplete at the deadline are not guaranteed consideration.
Academic Prerequisites
- Bachelor's degree
- 2.7 GPA or higher
Application Requirements
- Official transcripts of all attended universities
- Current Resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose, maximum 2 pages in length, double-spaced, addressing the following:
- Motivation for the counseling profession
- Describe your reasons for pursuing a career in professional counseling. Discuss the personal, academic, and/or professional experiences that have influenced your decision and how your values align with the ethical responsibilities and professional identity of a counselor.
- Relevant experiences and interpersonal learning
- Describe experiences that have prepared you for graduate study in counseling (e.g., helping roles, employment, volunteer work, leadership, academic experiences, or significant life experiences). Focus not only on what you did, but on what you learned about yourself, particularly in relation to interpersonal relationships, boundaries, empathy, and working with diverse individuals.
- Self-awareness, professional dispositions, and growth
- Counselor education requires ongoing self-reflection and personal development. Reflect on your interpersonal strengths and areas for continued growth as they relate to counseling practice. Provide examples that demonstrate your capacity for self-awareness, your ability to accurately assess your own strengths and limitations, and your openness to feedback, supervision, and personal change.
- Professional goals and program fit
- Describe your short- and long-term professional goals in counseling and how graduate training will support these goals. Explain why you are applying to the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s counseling program, including how the program’s mission, training model, and values align with your professional goals and your development as a counselor-in-training.
- Motivation for the counseling profession
Application Process
- Apply to the UNO Graduate College
- Submit your application to the UNO Graduate College and indicate your intended program. Click here to apply for admission.
- Submit All Required Materials
- Ensure that all required materials, including official transcripts, are submitted to the Admissions Office. Please note that transcript processing may take up to 3–4 weeks, so applicants are encouraged to request transcripts and letters of recommendation well in advance of any deadlines.
- Department Review
- Once your application and all required materials have been received, it will be forwarded to the Department of Counseling for review.
Note: Applications are reviewed only after all required materials have been submitted.
- Once your application and all required materials have been received, it will be forwarded to the Department of Counseling for review.
- Admissions Decision
- Applicants will be notified of their admission decision after the review. Admitted students will also recieve confirmation of their New Student Orientation date.