Counseling (MS)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Emphasis
There’s a growing need for counselors in Texas and beyond. Turn your passion for helping others into a profession at East Texas A&M.
Guide and Serve as a Counselor
Do you want to work in a hospital or private practice? Guide others to better lives with our CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling track. Our program prepares you for eligibility to write the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and prepare to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. You'll serve clientele with mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and provide couples counseling. The MS program offers courses making you eligible to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
You'll learn clinical theories, techniques in therapy and characteristics of mental health. Apply your knowledge through internships and practicums that prepare you for the road ahead. Mental health matters, and so do our counselors. Become a part of this rewarding profession at East Texas A&M.
Careers
A master’s degree in counseling from East Texas A&M prepares you to work in community agencies, schools, student affairs and much more. Our graduates are quick to transition when job opportunities present themselves.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022
See Yourself Succeed With a Master’s Degree in Counseling
Career Readiness
Participate in excellence-driven programs that empower you with knowledge of mental health, student affairs and therapeutic strategies.
Accomplished Faculty
Enjoy the opportunity to learn from home or at one of our campuses with the guidance and mentorship from world-class faculty.
Education Success
Join the ranks of our graduates who have gone on to become school counselors, licensed professional counselors and members of student services at universities.
Hands-on Research
Whether it's a full year in the classroom, practicum or internships, you’ll engage in real-world learning experiences that builds your confidence and skills.
Guidance You Need
Located in the Frank Young Education North Building, our Mentor Center provides the information and support you need to reach your career goals.
What you will learn
A master’s degree in counseling offers the opportunity to:
- Develop a strong understanding of the benefits and importance of counseling
- Learn how you can better counsel across demographics
- Communicate skills to help patients successfully reach and resolve issues
- Conduct assessments and collaborate with individuals and their families to develop treatment plans
Faculty Spotlight
Clinical applications
Find information and resources related to your degree’s clinical application requirements in the university guidebook.
Course Delivery
Earning your degree just got easier at East Texas A&M.
Designed for current educators and working professionals, our Master of Science in Counseling offers face-to-face and hybrid courses at our Commerce campus, the Dallas location, the Mesquite location and the Collin Higher Education Center.
Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times. Locations and times are subject to change.
Counselor Exams
Learn about some of the exams you may encounter as part of your counseling preparation.
The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is a standardized exit exam designed to review the main core counseling concepts. All school and clinical mental health students must pass the CPCE. The exam is a computer-based exam (CBT) administered by the Testing Center.
The National Counselor Exam is a standardized test used to assess knowledge, skills and abilities determined to be important for providing effective counseling services. The NCE is an optional exam that is not needed to graduate. However, it is a requirement for counselor licensure in many states, including the state of Texas, and for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification.
Graduate Program Cost
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.
Admission
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Deadlines
MS in Counseling
Spring application and documents deadline: October 15
Fall application and documents deadline: June 15
No Summer Admission
Graduate Step 1 Part 1
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select Texas A&M University-Commerce
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select Counseling, MS as your “Program.”
Domestic Application Fee 395064
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Request three reference forms, using our department form, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program.
Those individuals should:
- Email the letter to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the form to yourself. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
Submit a statement of self-exploration and personal and professional self-development.
Explain why these qualities are especially important for counselors-in-training and what you would do, if admitted to our master's degree program, to facilitate your own openness in these areas. Reference your answer to your own specific career goals.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Graduate Enrollment Specialist Lydia Carrascosa 395115
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Deadlines
MS in Counseling
Spring application and document deadline: October 15
Fall application and document deadline: June 15
No Summer admission
Graduate Step 1 Part 1
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select Texas A&M University-Commerce
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select Counseling, MS as your “Program.”
International Application Fee
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159
Your Graduate Coordinator
- Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Request three reference forms, using our department form, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program.
Those individuals should:
- Email the letters to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the letter to yourself. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
Submit a statement of self-exploration and personal and professional self-development.
Explain why these qualities are especially important for counselors-in-training and what you would do, if admitted to our master's degree program, to facilitate your own openness in these areas. Reference your answer to your own specific career goals.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
The Department of Counseling will contact you to schedule your interview.
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to East Texas A&M University:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $33,601 USD which is less than six months old
See the Office of International Program's “Confirmation of Financial Resource” for more details.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Graduate Enrollment Specialist Lydia Carrascosa 395115
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Featured Courses
we are Here to help!
Contact Us
- Department of Counseling
- 903.886.5637
- 903.886.5594
- P.O.Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011
