M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Description | Admission | Degree RequirementsCourses


Program Description

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a CACREP-accredited program designed for students seeking the academic coursework needed in the State of Texas to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and or Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Licensed Professional Counselor – Students completing this degree will have the academic requirements and practical skills needed to apply for a temporary license as a Professional Counselor in the state of Texas.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Students wishing to specialize in Marriage and Family counseling may take electives in this area. The combined academic coursework and electives are designed to prepare students for employment in settings that focus on the family system. Typically, students graduating with their M.A. in clinical mental health counseling with the specialized electives secure employment in adoption and placement agencies, community agencies that specialize in counseling survivors of rape and sexual abuse, home-based family therapy programs in community mental health agencies, etc. Once graduated students may pursue Marriage and Family licensure with the state of Texas and work in private practice.

This degree is a CACREP accredited program. Students may opt to write a thesis as part of the requirements for the degree. This degree plan meets the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. Sixty semester credit hours are required to fulfill the requirements for this degree. A comprehensive examination will be taken during or after completion of COUN 6376. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken.


Admissions

Applicants seeking admission to the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

  1. Graduate Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcript from the baccalaureate degree granting institution
  4. Official GRE scores with writing section or MAT scores
  5. Three Reference Forms (Note: One from a current employer/supervisor; one from a former professor, certified school counselor or licensed counselor, marriage and family therapist, MSW, or psychologist; and one from someone other than a family member)
  6. Essay
  7. Face-to-Face interview

Degree Requirements

M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Regular Plan - Non-Thesis

Item
Requirement
Options
Hours
Required
1
Specified
Courses

Choose all from:
COUN 5111 <CNE 511> Counseling Program Orientation
COUN 5364 <CNE 564> Theories of Counseling
COUN 6363 <CNE 663> Assessment in Guidance and Counseling
COUN 5385 <CNE 585> Pre-Practicum Techniques of Counseling
COUN 5397 <CNE 597> Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
COUN 5379 <CNE 579> Methods of Research
COUN 5334 <CNE 534> Effective Human Behavior
COUN 6374 <CNE 674> Practicum in Group Counseling
COUN 5370 <CNE 570> Career Counseling Across the Lifespan
COUN 6364 Counseling for Addictions
COUN 5393 <CNE 593> Community Counseling
COUN 5392 <CNE 592> Cross Cultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 5391 <CNE 591> Child and Adolescent Counseling
COUN 6376 <CNE 676> Supervised Practice in Counseling
COUN 5312 <CNE 512> Ethics for Counselors
COUN 6332 <CNE 632> Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy
COUN 6386 <CNE 686> Internship1 (First Semester)
COUN 6386 <CNE 686> Internship (Second consecutive semester)

50
2
Restricted Elective
Choose one from:
COUN 5110 <CNE 510> Workshop in Counseling
COUN 5113 <CNE 513> Assessment in Marriage and Family Therapy
1
3 Restricted Electives Choose two from:
COUN 5399 <CNE 599> Play Therapy Basics
COUN 6331 <CNE 631> Advanced Play Therapy
COUN 6334 <CNE 634> Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling
COUN 6337 <CNE 637> Counseling for Sexual Concerns
COUN 6333 <CNE 633> Techniques of Marriage and Family Therapy
9
TOTAL
60
Notes:
1 COUN 6386 <CNE 686> Internship is taken twice for a minimum of six hours.


M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Regular Plan - Thesis

Item
Requirement
Options
Hours
Required
1
Specified
Courses

Choose all from:
COUN 5111 <CNE 511> Counseling Program Orientation
COUN 5364 <CNE 564> Theories of Counseling
COUN 6363 <CNE 663> Assessment in Guidance and Counseling
COUN 5385 <CNE 585> Pre-Practicum Techniques of Counseling
COUN 5397 <CNE 597> Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
COUN 5379 <CNE 579> Methods of Research
COUN 5334 <CNE 534> Effective Human Behavior
COUN 6374 <CNE 674> Practicum in Group Counseling
COUN 5370 <CNE 570> Career Counseling Across the Lifespan
COUN 5112 <CNE 512> Workshop:Ethical & Professional Issues in Counseling 
COUN 5110 <CNE 510> Workshop: Elective (Psychopharmacology or Advanced Appraisal Techniques)
COUN 5391 <CNE 591> Child and Adolescent Counseling
COUN 5393 <CNE 593> Community Counseling
COUN 6376 <CNE 676> Supervised Practice in Counseling
COUN 5392 <CNE 592> Cross Cultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 6332 <CNE 632> Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy
COUN 6386 <CNE 686> Internship
COUN 6386 <CNE 686> Internship 
COUN 6398 <CNE 698> Thesis I
COUN 6399 <CNE 699> Thesis II

57
2 Electives

Choose one from:
COUN 5399 <CNE 599> Play Therapy Basics
COUN 6331 <CNE 631> Advanced Play Therapy
COUN 6333 <CNE 633> Techniques of Marriage and Family Therapy
COUN 6334 <CNE 634> Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling
COUN 6337 <CNE 637> Counseling Clients with Sexual Concerns

3
TOTAL
60
Notes:
1 An additional elective may be substituted for COUN 5110 <CNE 510> and COUN 5112 <CNE 512>.

 

The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a CACREP-accredited program. This program provides specific coursework and practical information to help prepare students for employment in multiple settings. Students may choose electives that will provide them with more specific training about working with special populations (i.e. play therapy, marriage and family).  Typically, students graduating from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling secure employment in family service agencies, mental health centers, the prison system, community college counseling centers, treatment centers, etc. Once fully licensed, the graduates of this program may also work in private practice. 

 

 


Courses

Counseling (COUN)

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