Counseling

Master's Degree Programs

Graduate opportunities

The graduate Counseling program at the University of North Texas has frequently been ranked among the top counselor preparation programs in the nation and the best in Texas. Our Master of Science and Master of Education degree programs prepare you to work in a variety of counseling settings such as:

• Business or industry
• Community agency
• Church
• Private practice
• School or university

You can pursue program tracks in elementary school counseling, secondary school counseling, college and university counseling, and clinical mental health counseling. Each program meets academic specifications for state certification as a school counselor or licensure as a professional counselor.

Our programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (1001 North Fairfax St., Suite 510; Alexandria, Va. 22314; telephone 703-535-5990, www.cacrep.org). This accreditation means our programs meet or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in education.

Many of our faculty members are renowned experts in the field. They have earned recognitions from the American Counseling Association, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Texas Counseling Association, and Chi Sigma Iota international honor society. Their research interests include:

• Counseling methods and techniques
• Current issues within the discipline
• Measurement and evaluation
• Theoretical perspectives

More targeted research has been conducted on suicide prevention, mental health services for lowincome clients, counseling and play therapy in schools, near-death experiences, and spiritual transformation. We’ve also received the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision’s Outstanding Program Award and its Publication in Counselor Education and Supervision Award multiple times.

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 will become familiar with school counseling and guidance services, develop better self-understanding, and develop the competencies of professional school counselors.

College and university counseling

This track provides experiences in all areas of student life for counseling in community colleges and seniorlevel 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. This track gives you the opportunity to counsel a broad range of clients.

Admission requirements

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. This track gives you the opportunity to counsel a broad range of clients.

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 semester hours of course work
• Submitted GRE scores with no minimum required score (for holistic review and scholarship competition)
• 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. You will receive a letter regarding admission within one month of the orientation and interview. 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 (completed with a B or higher)
• 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 (completed with a B or higher)
• 600-hour internship (completed with a B or higher)
• Pass a comprehensive exam (written, oral or both)

Financial assistance

Our department funds several scholarships to help you pursue a graduate degree. For more information on scholarships, visit www.coe.unt.edu/che. Information about other financial assistance programs is available at gradschool.unt.edu or financialaid.unt.edu.

Counseling program services

Counseling and Human Development Center

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

Child and Family Resource Clinic

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

Center for Play Therapy

The center encourages the development and emotional growth of children through the process of play therapy, a dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child and a trained therapist. 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 mental health, well-being and development of adults, adolescents and children through positive human-animal interactions. Workshops and courses are offered throughout the year.

Continuing education opportunities

Each year, our program offers conferences where nationally known speakers present current perspectives on counseling issues. Licensed professional counselors, nationally certified counselors and licensed chemical dependency 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)