Code of Ethics for Master’s Programs in Counseling

LPC and LMFT

The Graduate Counseling Program accepts and adopts the American Counseling Associations’ Code of Ethics as its department code of ethics for the Masters of Professional Counseling and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics for its Masters and Doctoral programs in Marriage and Family Therapy. All students will be required to read and sign an acknowledgement of receiving the code of ethics and agreement to be bound by the ethical standards during and after the Graduate Counseling Program. Failure to abide by these standards may result in dismissal from the program.

School Counseling

The Graduate School Counseling Program accepts and adopts both the American School Counselor Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors and the Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 247, Rule § 247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators as its department code of ethics. All students will be required to read and sign an acknowledgement of receiving the code of ethics and agreement to be bound by the ethical standards during and after the Graduate Counseling Program. Failure to abide by these standards may result in dismissal from the program.

Dismissal

A counseling student may be dismissed from the graduate program for failure to abide by the department and professional code of ethics. A counseling student is subject to dismissal at any time her/his conduct is documented as “severely unbecoming of a professional.” A student who is suspended from the University will be notified in writing. The program may terminate a counseling student with flagrant or repeated violations of rules, regulations, policies, or procedures.

Appeal

Appeal of probation or dismissal as a result of violations of the code of ethics may be made within 30 days of issuance of the sanction. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the School of Health Professions, with a copy to the Director of the Master’s Programs in Counseling.

Students retain the right to file a written student complaint with the Provost Office according to the procedure provided in the University Catalog. However, the Provost Office cannot make any determination regarding competency or clinical performance.

All other student related matters are governed by the University’s Student Handbook and Catalog.