School of Education
Master in Counseling

MS in Counseling Program Overview         

The graduate plan in Counseling leads to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree. Students seeking this degree in Counseling may, depending on their career goals, select degree plans that meet the academic qualifications for the School Counselor Standard certificate (EC-12) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

The combined master’s degree and School Counselor Standard certificate plan require a minimum of 51 hours. To be eligible at the time of certification recommendation, students must have a master’s degree, a valid Texas teaching certificate, a passing score on the state assessment and two years of successful full-time approved classroom teaching experience.

Students who already possess the master’s degree may elect to pursue school counselor certification only. School counselor certification requires a minimum of 42 hours, including all required counseling courses, plus some electives.

Students who wish to pursue LPC certification must complete the master’s degree plan with a minimum of 51 hours. To be eligible to receive the LPC, graduates must also document three years, or 3000 clock hours, of post-master’s supervised counseling experience and pass the state licensure examination.

The opportunity to complete the academic requirements for the LPC or the School Counselor Standard certificate through the counseling plan is restricted to students admitted to the counseling plan. Students who are not admitted to the counseling plan may enroll in counseling courses only with prior approval of the plan coordinator. In each case, students must meet the stated course prerequisites and space must be available in the course.

All counseling plan (COUN) courses are restricted to students who have been formally admitted to the counseling plan, unless otherwise approved.

Requirements for the School Counselor certificate include:

• Holding a master’s degree
• Holding a valid Texas teaching certificate
• Two years of successful, full-time, approved teaching experience
• Passing score on School Counselor state assessment (TExES) test

The School Counselor TExES can be attempted during the program with certification application made at completion of the program.

State requirements for the LPC certificate

• National testing,
• LPC internship licensing
• 3000 hour internship (to be pursued after program completion without university involvement)

State requirements for the LPC can be found at www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/lpc_apply.shtm.

Counseling Program Cohort System

The UHCL Counseling Program consists of 3 location cohorts. The 3 locations are UHCL campus, Pearland and Alief. All content courses are delivered in all 3 cohort locations.

The UHCL cohort meets on the UHCL campus at 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, Texas. Entry for this cohort is in the fall and spring semesters.

The Pearland Center cohort meets at 2319 North Grand Blvd., Pearland, Texas. Entry into this cohort is available in fall semesters only.

The Alief cohort meets at Taylor High School, located at 20700 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, Texas. Entry into this cohort is available in spring semesters only.