Master of Education in School Counseling
The Master of Education in School Counseling (M.Ed.) in School Counseling at Sam Houston State University is a well-respected program in the field, which holds programmatic accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).
The MEd program is a 60-semester hour program with prescribed coursework, which includes real-world applicable curriculum designed to empower graduates to meet the demands for today's school counselors. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to continue in the program. Students are continuously evaluated on their knowledge, skills, and professional dispositional competencies, in addition to grades. Prior to working with the public in a fieldwork setting, students must earn a positive candidacy vote by the faculty, which considers the student's performance across competencies and coursework. All students must also earn a passing score on the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) and complete fieldwork training in actual school settings for three semesters, after completing foundational their didactic coursework. Students must be enrolled in the university when taking the comprehensive examination and when applying for graduation.
The program complies with Texas Education Agency standards for professional school counseling certification and the academic requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in Texas. Applicants interested in pursuing licensure/certification in a state other than Texas should contact the program coordinator for more information on how to investigate whether the requirements align with another state's licensure/certification process.
Additionally, students may enhance their degree by adding a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy; a Graduate Certificate in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling; and/or a Graduate Certificate in Trauma & Loss. All students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) and complete fieldwork training in actual school settings for three semesters, after most of the their didactic coursework. 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 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:
- Graduate Application
- Application fee
- 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
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the most recent degree conferred, either overall or in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Two References Forms:
- one reference form provided by a former or current employer or professor.
- one reference form provided by a professional acquaintance but cannot be a family member or the applicant's personal medical or behavioral health provider.
- Personal Statement addressing prompts.
- Current Resume
The Counselor Education master's admissions committee considers all applications through a holistic review process. After reviewing the pool of applicants, the master's admissions committee recommends the top candidates for interview process. Applicants invited for the interview are given specific guidelines for the process with the invitation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Education in School Counseling | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| COUN 5011 | Counseling Profession & Ethics | 3 |
| COUN 5333 | School Counseling: Consulting, Coordinating ,Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5334 | Diagnostics and Intervention in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5336 | Advanced Behavior Pharmacology | 3 |
| COUN 5364 | Theories Of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5370 | Career Counseling Across Lifespan | 3 |
| COUN 5379 | Methods Of Research | 3 |
| COUN 5385 | Pre-Practicum: Techniques Of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5391 | Child & Adolescent Counseling 1 | 3 |
| COUN 5392 | Cross Cultural Issues In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 5397 | Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| COUN 6332 | Theories: Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 6335 | School Counseling: Leadership, Advocacy, and Accountability | 3 |
| COUN 6350 | Counselor Ethics: Management, Law, and Practice | 3 |
| COUN 6363 | Assessment in Guidance and Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 6364 | Counseling For Addictions | 3 |
| COUN 6374 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 6376 | Supervised Practice In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 6386 | Internship (First Semester) 2 | 3 |
| or COUN 6387 | School Counseling Internship | |
| COUN 6386 | Internship (Second Consecutive Semester) 2 | 3 |
| or COUN 6387 | School Counseling Internship | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
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.
