Degrees Offered

The Master of Arts in Professional Counseling degree consists of 60 credit hours of coursework and a minimum of 350 hours of practicum experience. The courses and practicum hours meet eligibility requirements for application for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. The awarding of the degree does not, however, guarantee the granting of the license, which is under the control of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Current and prospective students seeking information concerning the mental health counseling graduate program should consult the Department of Education for all applicable policies.

The Master of Science in School Counseling consists of 48 semester credit hours of course work and a minimum of 160 hours of practicum experience. Some courses are offered during the day in the summer. Remaining courses are offered during the evenings and weekends throughout the year. Upon completion of the course work, practicum hours, and passing the TExES exam for school counseling, students are eligible to be employed as school counselors in the public or private school setting. In order to sit for the TExES certification exam, students in the Master of Science in School Counseling program must have a minimum of two years creditable full-time equivalent teaching service as defined by Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy degree consists of 60 hours of course work and a minimum of 500 hours of practicum experience. The courses and practicum hours meet eligibility requirements for application for the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential. The awarding of the degree does not, however, guarantee the granting of the license, which is under the control of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapy. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

Degrees offered by the Master’s Programs in Counseling are subject to change by state licensure requirements.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy (Ph.D.) provides master's level students with advanced studies leading to a doctoral degree. The program consists of 30 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of research courses, 16 hours of practica, 1 hour of comprehensive exam studies, and 9 hours of dissertation studies. The program is designed for candidates to successfully complete the 68 credit hour program on a part-time basis in a cohort model, in four years, with a time limit of ten years.