New program improves access to careers in clinical or school counseling

BETHLEHEM, PA, October 10, 2023: Today, Moravian University and Penn State Abington announced the creation of a pathway to careers in clinical and school counseling designed to fit the needs of today’s students and an essential workforce.

This new 4 + 2 Pathway program will allow undergraduate students from the Penn State Abington Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS) and/or the Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Social Sciences (PSS) programs to obtain pre-admission to the Moravian University Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling or School Counseling programs.

“This program with Penn State Abington offers their undergraduate students an excellent way to get started on a master’s degree in a field they care about, all while completing their coursework at Abington,” said Dr. Freda Ginsberg, MBA, dean of the School of Behavioral & Community Health at Moravian University. “We know the demand for mental health professionals is urgent, and we’re confident programs like this will help fill the need within the community.”

Penn State Abington students majoring in the RHS or PSS programs with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average can apply to the program. If provisionally admitted to the program, Penn State Abington students will be eligible to take up to 15 credits tuition-free in master-level coursework in either the clinical counseling or school counseling programs at Moravian University.

“We are delighted to embark on this new partnership with Moravian University in a growing field,” said Dr. Nicole Stokes, division head for Social Sciences, Business, and Education at Penn State Abington. “Penn State Abington, located near Philadelphia, is Penn State’s most diverse campus, with over 40% of our students identifying as first-generation college students and over 50% of our students coming from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds. I am a proud first-generation college graduate who benefited from a similar pathway program that prepared me from my bachelor’s degree to the master’s degree in sociology. Pathway programs provide qualified students with an opportunity to save both time and money toward achieving their academic and career goals. This is an exciting time for both of our institutions.”

Program contacts:

Moravian University
Vanessa Blose
Student Experience Mentor
blosev@moravian.edu
610.625.7986

Penn State Abington
Michael Lavetsky, Program Chair
Rehabilitation and Human Services
Mbl122@psu.edu

Media contacts:

Moravian University
Michael Corr
Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications
corrm@moravian.edu
610.861.1365

Penn State Abington
Patrick Dunne
Director, Strategic Communications and Community Engagement
Pfd101@psu.edu

About Moravian University
Moravian University is the nation’s sixth-oldest university, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that blend liberal arts with professional programs. For more than 275 years, the Moravian University degree has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), a national consortium of selective, small to midsize independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how the Moravian University focus on education for all prepares its students for lifelong success.

About Penn State Abington
Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible, and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.

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