The 3+2 Counseling Accelerated Pathway (CAP) is a selective, cohort-based program for first-year students who are confident they want to pursue counseling. Complete a bachelor’s degree in three years, then at the end of your junior year apply for formal entry into Elon’s 60-credit, CACREP-aligned M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Program benefits
- Earn your bachelor’s degree and CACREP-aligned M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in five years, instead of the traditional six to seven years.
- Be part of a cohort of students also admitted to the 3+2 Counseling Accelerated Pathway (CAP) program annually. Students who take part in this type of experience take classes together, form study groups and build strong peer relationships.
- Attend group advising sessions each semester that support academic planning and accelerated degree completion.
- Participate in a seminar in fall semester with other CAP students focused on counseling identity and expectations. Learn about the counseling profession’s values, skills and ethical standards that shape how practitioners define themselves, their role and their approach to client care.
- Take courses in counseling foundations; human development and psychological foundations; research literacy and quantitative reasoning; culture, identity and social systems; meaning-making, ethics and existential inquiry; and creative expression and therapeutic imagination.
- Participate in professional development workshops in spring semester with other CAP students. These workshops can include anything from presentations and discussions on topics such as ethics to a question-and-answer session with an alumni panel.
- Participate in an annual review and advising checkpoint with faculty.
Who should apply?
The 3+2 Counseling Accelerated Pathway (CAP) program is competitive and accepts only incoming first-year students each year. Candidates should have a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA and pursued a rigorous high school curriculum that includes strong writing and analytical preparation. Incoming first-year student with the intent of pursuing a degree in human service studies, psychology, religious studies, sociology, philosophy, music, art, education, public health, communications or other liberal arts disciplines aligned with the helping professions are eligible.
How to apply?
This program is only available for incoming first-year applicants. The 3+2 Counseling Accelerated Pathway application is in your acorn account and is due March 20.
Application requirements
- 500 word statement of purpose
- Résumé of leadership, service and/or community engagement
- Faculty interview
Program requirements*
- Maintain a 3.2 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Complete required foundational coursework
- Participate in structured cohort advising and programming
- Receive satisfactory annual faculty evaluation
*Participation in the Counseling Accelerated Pathway (CAP) program doesn’t guarantee admission to the CMHC graduate program. Formal admission will occur at the end of junior year and is contingent on academic performance, professional disposition and faculty approval.
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