MAPC Bridge Program Protocols and Procedures

Admission Requisites

For the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program, DBU offers a specialized Bridge Program. Permission to pursue the program will be considered based on the following criteria:

• Completion of 108 semester hours (see individual degree requirements) with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at the time of filing a Statement of Commitment. The 3.0 GPA criteria must be maintained to retain admission to the master’s program and to continue in the program.
• A filed Statement of Commitment, approved and signed by both the undergraduate advisor and the master’s program director
• Good academic standing in the applicant’s undergraduate program
• The following requisites completed for the MAPC program:
  • PSYC 1301- General Psychology
  • PSYC 2301- Statistics
  • 6 hours of upper-level psychology coursework (3000 level and above)

Prior to filing an application for the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Bridge program, students must meet with their undergraduate advisor to review the requisites and obligations of the Bridge program outlined in the Statement of Commitment Form. Students will sign the Statement of Commitment Form, the student’s academic advisor will sign the Statement of Commitment Form, and the form will be sent to the Program Assistant, the Bridge Graduate Advisor and Director of the MAPC Program for review. Signing this form indicates the students understanding and commitment to proceed with a Bridge master’s degree at Dallas Baptist University and indicates the students full understanding of the ramifications associated with withdrawing from the bridge program after beginning master’s courses.

Admission Process

Once applicants have completed the above-mentioned Requisites for admission, students may file an application for the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Bridge Program through the Graduate Office. Applicants to the Master of Professional Counseling Bridge program will submit all required application forms to the graduate office. Application files will be forwarded to the MAPC Admissions committee for review. The MAPC Program Advisor/Graduate Assistant will review the application packet alongside the program director and will schedule personal interviews with applicants. The committee will consider each applicant’s:

• relevance of career goals
• aptitude for graduate level study
• potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
• respect for cultural differences

Committee recommendations will be sent to the university’s graduate admissions committee for final admission decisions.

Upon acceptance into the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Bridge Program, students will schedule an advising appointment with their new Graduate Bridge Program Advisor to ensure the appropriate bridge courses are planned. Students should continue working with their undergraduate advisor concurrently with their Graduate Bridge Program advisor to ensure all requirements are met for the students’ undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Course Matriculation and Graduation

MAPC Bridge students will complete the following 12 hours of coursework, with all twelve hours counting towards graduate credit and undergraduate credit:

The semester following completion of the required 12 bridge credit hour courses, students must file a graduation application and graduate with their undergraduate degree. Students will then proceed with the appropriate master’s courses as prescribed by their graduate bridge program advisor and will be considered MAPC graduate students.

Withdrawing from a Bridge program, or attempting to transfer, may constitute loss of Bridge credit and poses the potential to re-complete master’s courses at a later date. Students should note that admission to one Bridge program does not accompany the opportunity to transfer; transfers between Bridge programs will not be allowed. Students should refer to the statement of commitment for the full outline of commitments and consequences when enrolling in the Bridge program.