Degree Programs at CHEC

Texas A&M-Commerce offers the following programs at the Collin Higher Education Center: 

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education)

The Elementary Education degree at Texas A&M-Commerce is one of the most popular programs at the university.  A&M-Commerce was originally founded as a teacher’s college in 1889 and continues to prepare students to enter the teaching field to this day.  Students are given a strong professional foundation and continue with extensive time in the school system before graduating with their Bachelors degree.  Early Childhood educators are certified by the State of Texas to teach in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade public school classrooms.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

This major prepares students for graduate study in psychology and for careers in psychology-related fields.  A graduate with a major in psychology should possess the following competencies: 1) knowledge of the scientific method, research design and statistics, and their application in the study of human behavior, and 2) understanding of basic psychological principles, critical thinking skills, and the nature of cognitive processing.

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish 

The Undergraduate Spanish Program is dedicated to the study of languages and literatures of Latin America, Spain and the United States. The Department of Spanish offers a wide range and variety of courses at the CHEC including advanced courses in Spanish Language and Culture as well as courses designed for heritage speakers and native speakers.

GRADUATE DEGREES

Masters of Science/Masters in Education in Counseling 

The Counseling Department offers two options in which a student may focus for the master's degree in counseling at the CHEC: School Counseling and Community Counseling.  Both degrees are 49-hour programs that are CACREP accredited.

Community Counseling - The Community Counseling Specialty prepares students for work in agency counseling settings (e.g., substance abuse centers, family counseling centers, mental health agencies) and provides academic preparation for becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Practicum and internship experiences (9 hours) for students in the Community Counseling Specialty occur in community or agency settings.

School Counseling - The School Counseling Specialty prepares students for work as professional school counselors for grades pre-K through 12. The program, with appropriately chosen electives, also provides academic preparation for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and certification as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Practicum and internship experiences (9 hours) for students in the School Counseling Specialty occur school settings, although in some cases the internship may include some work in community settings that provide counseling services for children.

Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction 

The MEd in Elementary Education is designed for two levels of teachers:

The curriculum for the MEd in Elementary Education consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours of study, 18 hours of which must include courses with an El Ed or EDCI prefix. There are three components to the program: common core (9 sh), support area (9 sh minimum), and electives to make up the remaining 39 Hours.

TRANSFERRING FROM COLLIN COLLEGE TO A&M-COMMERCE

Students are encouraged to finish all of their core courses before transferring into any of the undergraduate programs offered at the CHEC.  A student should consider applying to the school at least one semester prior to the start of their junior level classes.  Before a student can register for classes at the CHEC they must be fully admitted to Texas A&M-Commerce and must have met with an advisor.  For more information, please contact a representative at the CHEC.

For additional information about the Collin Higher Education Center, please visit www.collin.edu/chec.