Counselor Education
Department of Educational Psychology
Designed For
The Counselor Education M.Ed. program is designed for students who are interested in developing strong foundations in counseling, psychology and educational settings, including those who:
- Aspire to careers in higher education, community mental health or integrated health settings, and private practice.
- Are interested in future doctoral training in counseling, psychology or related fields.
Career Objective
Graduates of the program are prepared to pursue a range of professional and academic pathways, including:
- Licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.
- Employment in higher education as academic advisors or career counselors and other counseling adjacent roles.
- Practice in community mental health clinics, integrated behavioral health settings, group practices or private practice.
- Doctoral study in counseling or related fields.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall
Deadline to Apply:
January 10
Length of Program: 24 months
Schedule: Full-time strongly encouraged
Program Location: On campus
GRE Required? No
Counselor Education for Real‑World Practice
Grounded in the professional and ethical standards of the American Counseling Association, the Counselor Education program provides rigorous, evidence‑based preparation for counseling careers in educational, health and community settings, preparing students to meet the growing demand for skilled, culturally responsive counselors.
The program’s primary goal is to develop counselors who are prepared to deliver effective assessment, prevention, intervention and support services within academic, community and clinical environments. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students build a strong professional identity while gaining the knowledge, skills and ethical grounding necessary for contemporary counseling practice.
Additionally, the program prepares graduates to:
- Develop a professional counselor identity grounded in ethical and legal standards.
- Demonstrate multicultural awareness, knowledge and skills for counseling and program development.
- Apply developmental and evidence‑based approaches to prevention and intervention.
- Integrate career development and assessment models that connect education and the world of work.
- Utilize counseling, consultation and wellness models at individual, group and systems levels.
- Facilitate group counseling to promote student success and social‑emotional learning.
- Understand and apply assessment principles in educational and clinical settings.
- Use research and program evaluation to inform evidence‑based practice.
Program Director
Arna Erega
Program Overview
Application Requirements
All prospective graduate students are required to apply and submit all documents via the Graduate School website by January 10. Selected applicants are typically invited to participate in online interviews between mid‑February and early March.
Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of each application, including undergraduate academic performance, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, alignment between applicant goals and program objectives, and evidence of intellectual curiosity.
Learn more on our How to Apply page.
Program Requirements
This is a full-time rigorous academic program that prepares students for professional practice. Many of our students work part-time, but full-time work during the time of enrollment is likely to interfere with the successful completion of the program.
Students should expect the program to take two years of full-time coursework, including both summer semesters (six to nine hours).
While research is not required, students who want to strengthen their resumes, explore scholarly interests or prepare for doctoral study are encouraged to connect with faculty about ongoing projects and ways to get involved. Students considering advanced graduate training may apply to the department’s Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program after completing the M.Ed. Admission to the Ph.D. is competitive and requires a separate application.
Core Counseling Coursework (42 credit hours)
Core Counseling Coursework (42 credit hours)
- EDP 383C.12 Assessment in Counseling
- EDP 384C.2 Theories in Counseling
- EDP 385C.5 Professional Orientation & Ethics in Counseling
- EDP 385C.6 Advanced Ethics & Professional Issues in Counseling
- EDP 384C.8 Helping and Counseling Skills
- EDP 384D Group Counseling
- EDP 381C.4 Research Methodology for Practitioners
- EDP 384C.18 Multicultural Counseling
- EDP 382F.12 Dysfunction in Human Behavior and Social Organizations
- EDP 384C.6 Career Development
- EDP 382F.3 Life Span Development
- EDP 383C.30 Developmental Psychopathology
- EDP 384C Family & Couples Interventions
- EDP 384C.14 Addiction Counseling
Supporting Coursework (9 credit hours)
Supporting Coursework (9 credit hours)
Supporting coursework includes EDP 385C.12 Seminar in Higher Education plus two additional courses related to professional counseling.
Practica and Internship (9 credit hours)
Practica and Internship (9 credit hours)
- EDP 384Q Practicum in Counseling
- EDP 394E Internship in Counseling (2 semesters, for a minimum of 6 credit hours)
Practicum Requirements
- A minimum of 100 total hours spent on site for at least 10 hours per week.
- At minimum of 40 hours must be direct client contact, averaging 2–3 direct contact hours per week.
Internship Requirements
- A minimum of 300 total hours spent on site for at least 20 hours per week.
- At minimum of 120 hours must be direct client contact, averaging 8–10 direct contact hours per week.
Students are commonly placed in university and community settings.
Training Goals
The program prepares students for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. While aligned with nationally accepted counselor training standards, the program is not accredited by CACREP. Students intending to practice in other states are encouraged to review licensure requirements in advance. The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates (NBCC) maintains a list of licensing boards that students should reference.
The primary goal of the program is to develop competent, ethical clinicians with a strong professional counseling identity. Through rigorous academic coursework, supervised clinical training, and ongoing professional reflection, students develop the knowledge, counseling skills and clinical judgment necessary to provide effective mental health services.
Training emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge, evidence-based counseling skills, ethical decision-making and professional identity development. Students are prepared to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds across a variety of clinical settings.
Multicultural competence and cultural humility are foundational components of counselor preparation. Students are supported in developing self-awareness, understanding systemic and contextual factors affecting client well-being, and building the skills necessary to provide culturally responsive and inclusive counseling services.
- Emphasizes the development of core counseling skills, case conceptualization and clinical decision-making.
- Supports the formation of a strong professional counseling identity grounded in the values of the counseling profession.
- Provides supervised clinical training experiences that prepare students for real-world counseling practice.
- Upholds the ACA Code of Ethics, including a commitment to nondiscrimination and client welfare.
- Encourages critical engagement with social, cultural and systemic factors that impact mental health and access to care.
- Emphasizes cultural humility and responsiveness as ongoing professional responsibilities.
Faculty
Explores the intersection of psychology and culture through such topics as the psychological experience of immigration, ethnic conflicts and the impact of violence within communities, and the relationship between individual and collective identity. ...
Accepting new students
Research interests include mental health public policy, college student mental health and suicide prevention, collaborative care models of behavioral health in primary care, and the intersection of mental health and academic success.
Accepting new students
My Coping and Stress in Education Lab conducts research at the intersection of health, psychology, and education. The focus of our work generally is on promoting wellness and optimal functioning in educational settings. Current work includes studie...
Accepting new students
Focuses on suicide prevention, healthcare access, mental health service use, and aging
Accepting new students
Additional Information
International Applicants
Once admitted to the program, students are encouraged to inquire about graduate assistantship and teaching assistant opportunities, which can offer financial support and hands-on academic experience.
Let us know what your academic interests are within the College of Education and we’ll be in touch.
