Master of Science in Counseling
The Master of Science in Counseling offers an emphasis in two program areas: (a) Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 semester hours) for those students desiring licensure towards a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and (b) School Counseling (48 semester hours) for those students seeking certification only as a professional school counselor. As an online-hybrid program, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis includes a common core, courses specific to the emphasis area, one elective course, and field experience courses in which students work with client populations in a TEA-accredited school placement under supervision. As a 100% online program, the School Counseling emphasis includes a common core, courses specific to the emphasis areas, one elective course, and a field experience course (i.e., practicum) in which students work with client populations under supervision. Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis must enroll in COUN 501 and COUN 510 during their first semester of coursework; students in the SC emphasis must enroll in COUN 501 and COUN 514 during their first semester of coursework. Students are strongly encouraged to adhere to the recommended course sequences posted on each program's website. Please note that students who wish to enroll in coursework beyond the recommended course sequence may take classes from the "Open" list.
Program Requirements - MS
In order to graduate from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling emphasis, students must pass a comprehensive exit examination. The comprehensive exit examination for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), a nationally standardized examination developed and published by the Center for Credentialing in Education. The comprehensive exit examination for the School Counseling emphasis is the TExES School Counselor Practice Exam, a state-level examination develop by the Texas Education Agency and Pearson. Details regarding examinations and examination dates are available on the Counseling Department's website.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling students must complete three (3) field experiences: COUN 551: Practicum, COUN 552: Internship 1, and COUN 552: Internship 2. The Practicum consists of a minimum of 100 contact hours, of which 40 must be in providing direct service to clients and client populations. Each Internship experience consists of a minimum of 300 contact hours, of which 120 must be in providing direct service to clients and client populations. School Counseling students must complete 3 semester hours of COUN 551: Practicum. The Practicum consists of a minimum of 160 contact hours in an approved TEA school setting under a TEA-Certified School Counselor with three years of school counseling experience.
Master of Science degree in Counseling with School Counseling emphasis (100% Online) require the courses listed below:
| All courses carry 3 semester hours credit unless otherwise indicated. | ||
| Open Courses - No Prerequisites (12 semesters hours) | ||
| COUN 512 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 517 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 522 | Social, Cultural, and Family Issues | 3 |
| COUN 545 | Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling | 3 |
| Core Courses (18 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 501 | Orientation to the Counseling Profession * | 3 |
| COUN 510 | Counseling Theories and Techniques * | 3 |
| COUN 516 | Basic Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| COUN 528 | Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures * | 3 |
| COUN 595 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
| COUN 548 | Advanced Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| Specialty Courses (12 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 514 | School Counseling and Development | 3 |
| COUN 520 | Advanced School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 534 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 539 | Introduction to Play Therapy | 3 |
| Elective (Choose one course; 3 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 611 | Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy | 3 |
| or COUN 581 | Addictions Counseling | |
| or COUN 513 | Communication In Marriage | |
| Practicum (3 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 551 | Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
*Student pursuing the School Counseling emphasis in MS Counseling must take COUN 501 and COUN 514 together in their first semester
*Students pursuing the School Counseling emphasis in MS Counseling must earn a grade of A or B in: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, & 548.
Master of Science degree in Counseling with Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis (Online-Hybrid) requires the courses listed below:
| All courses carry 3 semester hours credit unless otherwise indicated | ||
| Open Courses - No Prerequisites (15 semester hours including an Elective course from the College of Education & Human Services). | ||
| COUN 512 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 517 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 522 | Social, Cultural, and Family Issues | 3 |
| COUN 545 | Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling | 3 |
| Plus an elective from the College of Education & Human Services. | 3 | |
| (12 semester hours): 501 & 510 MUST be completed in 1st semester; | ||
| COUN 501 | Orientation to the Counseling Profession * | 3 |
| COUN 510 | Counseling Theories and Techniques * | 3 |
| COUN 516 | Basic Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| COUN 528 | Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures * | 3 |
| Core Courses (6 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 595 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
| COUN 548 | Advanced Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| Specialty Courses (18 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 530 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 540 | Diagnosis & Treatment Planning for Clinical Mental Health Counselors | 3 |
| COUN 535 | Psychopharmacology in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 564 | Individual and Family Crisis and Resources | 3 |
| COUN 581 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 611 | Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy | 3 |
| or COUN 513 | Communication In Marriage | |
| Clinical Field Experience Courses (9 semester hours; Written degree plan on file) | ||
| COUN 551 | Practicum | 3 |
| COUN 552 | Internship (6 semester hours required) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
*Student pursuing the MS Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis must take COUN 501 and COUN 510 together in their first semester
*Students pursuing the MS in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis must earn a grade of A or B in: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, & 548.
Note: Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.
