Counseling

Master's Degree Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The counseling program at the University of North Texas offers professional training at the master's level that prepares you to work in a variety of counseling settings such as:

• business or industry
• community agency
• church
• private practice
• school or university

We offer program tracks in elementary school counseling, secondary school counseling, college and university counseling, and clinical mental health counseling while pursuing a Master of Science or Master of Education degree. Each program meets academic specifications for Texas certification as a school counselor and/or licensure as a professional counselor and is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510, Alexandria,Va. 22314, 703-535-5990, www.cacrep.org). This accreditation means the programs have passed strict academic standards for excellence in education.

Many of our faculty members are recognized as experts in their field. They have earned regional and national recognition from organizations such as the American Counseling Association, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Texas Counseling Association, and Chi Sigma Iota International. Their research interests focus primarily on:

• counseling methods and techniques
• counseling with at-risk and diverse populations
• current issues within the discipline
• theoretical perspectives

More targeted research has been conducted on suicide prevention, mental health services for low-income clients, counseling and play therapy in schools, near-death experiences, and spiritual transformation. Our counseling program has earned the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision's Outstanding Program Award and its Publication in Counselor Education and Supervision Award multiple times.

The College of Education is one of the top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors, health professionals and other school professionals in Texas.

Program tracks

Elementary school counseling and secondary school counseling

These tracks prepare you to become a school counselor for children in preschool through 12th grade. You become familiar with school counseling and guidance services, develop better self understanding, and develop the competencies of professional school counselors. The tracks vary in some course requirements to reflect the different functions of counselors at the two school levels. The curriculum qualifies you for certification in Texas as a school counselor.

College and university counseling

This track provides experiences in all areas of student life for counseling in community colleges and senior-level colleges and universities.

Clinical mental health counseling

This track prepares you for counseling positions in mental health centers, private counseling agencies, drug abuse centers, centers for counseling the elderly, child protective services, child counseling clinics, family counseling centers, pastoral counseling settings, and business and industry. The track provides the opportunity to counsel a broad range of clientele.

Admission requirements

You will need to meet admission requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School and the counseling program's specific requirements. Admission requirements for the graduate school are available at catalog.unt.edu or tsgs.unt.edu. You must apply and be accepted to the graduate school at least one month prior to the counseling program deadlines. Contact the Department of Counseling and Higher Education for specific deadlines.

Program admission is competitive. Provisional admission requirements are:

• completed program admission application
• undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 overall or 3.0 for the last 60 hours
• GRE verbal, quantitative and analytical writing scores submitted at least one month prior to the counseling program deadline
• three reference evaluation forms provided by the program
• one-page, typed writing sample

After attending the orientation meeting and completing a group interview, the Master's Admissions Committee conducts a holistic review of all applicants.Within one month of the orientation and interview, you will receive a letter regarding your provisional admission. If you are granted provisional admission, you should contact the counseling program for academic advising before registration.

Degree requirements

M.Ed. degree

• 33 semester hours of required counseling course work
• 15 semester hours of course work in the program track
• 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship (completed with a B or higher)

M.S. degree

• 33 semester hours of required counseling course work
• 27 semester hours of course work in the program track
• 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship (completed with a B or higher)
• passing score on a comprehensive exam

Financial assistance

Our department funds several scholarships to help you pursue a graduate degree. Scholarship amounts vary each year. For more information on these scholarships, visit www.coe.unt.edu/che. Go to graduateschool.unt.edu or financialaid.unt.edu for information about other financial assistance opportunities.

Counseling program services

Counseling and Human Development Center

The center offers individual counseling for clients of all ages as well as couple, family and group counseling. Low-cost counseling services are provided by counselors-in-training under the supervision of counseling program faculty members using the latest in audiovisual technology.

Child and Family Resource Clinic

The clinic provides diagnostic and remedial services to children, adolescents, adults and families experiencing difficulties at home or school. Graduate students acquire valuable field experience by providing the clinic's low-cost services under the supervision of counseling program faculty members.

Center for Play Therapy

The center encourages children's development and emotional growth through play therapy, a dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child and a therapist trained in play therapy procedures. To fulfill its objectives, the center provides training, research, publications, counseling services and scholarships, and it acts as a clearinghouse for literature in the field.

Center for Animal-Assisted Therapy

The center trains professionals and volunteers to work with their pets to facilitate the development of students in kindergarten through 12th grade. These pet-assisted educational programs enhance people's emotional well-being through positive human-animal interactions. Workshops and courses are offered for national certification training to people wishing to perform animal-assisted volunteer service or provide professional animal-assisted therapy.

Continuing education opportunities

Each year, our program offers conferences featuring nationally known speakers who present current perspectives on counseling issues. Licensed professional counselors, nationally certified counselors and Texas Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse counselors may earn continuing education credit by attending these conferences:

• Animal-assisted therapy training workshops (September and April)
• Play Therapy Conference (October)
• Summer Play Therapy Institute ( July)
• Institute in Counselor Supervision ( January or February)