Master of Education in School Counseling

This is an archived copy of the 2024-2025 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Grow your career and help students as you expand your role with a Master of Education in School Counseling.  The MEd in School Counseling at Sam Houston State University is a well-respected program in the field.  It is nationally accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), and is designed specifically for students who want to work toward certification as a school counselor in Texas.  It is a 60-hour program infused with a real-world, applicable curriculum designed to empower students to meet the demands of today's school counselor. 

The MEd program is designed to comply with existing Texas Education Agency standards for professional school counseling certification.  This program meets academic requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in Texas. Additionally, students interested in play therapy can add on a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy. All students must take the comprehensive examination during the Supervised Practicum (COUN 6376). Students must be enrolled in the university when taking the comprehensive examination and when applying for graduation.

Click here to learn about the value of selecting a CACREP accredited program

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Applications to the Master of Education in School Counseling are accepted for Fall semester. See program landing page for submission deadlines. Applicants must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

Spring 2025

  1. Graduate Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Pay the $35 Texas Education Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs Fee (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7) if seeking Texas School Counselor certification
  4. Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended
  5. Minimum GPA of a 3.0 in the most recent degree conferred, either overall or in the last 60 credit hours
  6. Two Reference Forms:
    1. one reference form provided by a former or current employer or professor
    2. one reference form provided by a professional acquaintance but cannot be a family member or the applicant's personal medical or behavioral health provider
  7. Personal Statement addressing prompts
  8. Current Resume
    1. A resume is required in order for the review committee to determine if an applicant is eligible for the Mental Health Grant.

 The Counselor Education master's admissions committee will consider all applications through a holistic review process.  After reviewing the pool of applicants, the master's admissions committee will recommend the top candidates for interview process.  Applicants invited for the interview will be given specific guidelines for the process. 

Fall 2024

  1. Graduate Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Pay the $35 Texas Education Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs Fee (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7) if seeking Texas School Counselor certification
  4. Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
  5. GPA of 2.75 in the most recent degree conferred or in the last 60 semester credit hours. 
  6. Official GRE General scores, if GPA in last 60 hours is below a 2.75 GPA.
  7. Three References:
    1. at least two reference forms provided by professors or former/current employers.
    2. one reference provided by a professional acquaintance (family members, medical or behavioral health provider are not eligible).
  8. Personal Statement addressing prompts.
  9. Teacher Service Record*
  10. Valid Teacher Certificate*

*Note: In the State of Texas, applicants must have two years of teaching experience as a certified teacher before they can be eligible for certification as a school counselor.  Effective September 1, 2023, teaching experience is no longer required for certification. 

The Counselor Education master's admissions committee will consider all applications through a holistic review process.  After reviewing the pool of applicants, the master's admissions committee will recommend the top candidates for interview process.  Applicants invited for the interview will be given specific guidelines for the process. 

Master of Education in School Counseling
Required Courses
COUN 5011Counseling Profession & Ethics3
COUN 5333School Counseling: Consulting, Coordinating ,Counseling3
COUN 5334Diagnostics and Intervention in Counseling3
COUN 5336Advanced Behavior Pharmacology3
COUN 5364Theories Of Counseling3
COUN 5370Career Counseling Across Lifespan3
COUN 5379Methods Of Research3
COUN 5385Pre-Practicum: Techniques Of Counseling3
COUN 5391Child & Adolescent Counseling 13
COUN 5392Cross Cultural Issues In Counseling3
COUN 5397Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan3
COUN 6332Theories: Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling3
COUN 6335School Counseling: Leadership, Advocacy, and Accountability3
COUN 6350Counselor Ethics: Management, Law, and Practice3
COUN 6363Assessment in Guidance and Counseling3
COUN 6364Counseling For Addictions3
COUN 6374Group Counseling3
COUN 6376Supervised Practice In Counseling3
COUN 6386Internship (First Semester) 23
or COUN 6387 School Counseling Internship
COUN 6386Internship (Second Consecutive Semester) 23
or COUN 6387 School Counseling Internship
Total Hours60
1

COUN 5399 Play Therapy Basics may be taken in place of COUN 5391 Child and Adolescent Counseling.

2

COUN 6386 or COUN 6387 is taken twice for a minimum of six hours.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The MEd in School Counseling is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Higher-order thinking.
  • Oral and written communication.
  • Professional conduct and ethical behavior.
  • Multicultural and diversity competencies.
  • Self-awareness of inter/intrapersonal relationships.
  • Ability to apply counseling and development knowledge to professional practice.