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 to serve as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. You'll serve clientele with mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and provide couples counseling. With this track, you can also 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 A&M-Commerce.

Woman counseling a young lady.

See Yourself Succeed With a Masters Degree in Counseling

Two women sitting in counseling session.

Career Readiness

Participate in excellence-driven programs that empower you with knowledge of mental health, student affairs and therapeutic strategies.

Male faculty member speaking to class.

Accomplished Faculty

Enjoy the opportunity to learn from home or at one of our campuses with the guidance and mentorship from world-class faculty.

Counselor talking to a patient.

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.

Frank Young Education North building.

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.

Faculty Spotlight

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
Woman school counselor standing in front of lockers.

Careers

A master’s degree in counseling from A&M-Commerce 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

Marriage and Family Therapist
$50,090
Postsecondary Education Administrators
$96,910
School and Career Counselors
$60,510
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
$48,520
Rehabilitation Counselors
$38,560

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023

Woman's hands writing at a desk.

Course Delivery

Earning your degree just got easier at A&M-Commerce.

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.

Counselor ExamS

Learn about some of the exams you may encounter as part of your counseling preparation.

Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam(CPCE)

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.

National Counselor Exam(NCE)

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.

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Admission

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Domestic

Deadlines

MS in Counseling

Spring application and documents deadline: October 15th

Summer application and documents deadline: March 15th

Fall application and documents deadline: June 15th

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Step 1. Submit Application

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select Counseling, MS as your “Major.”
  • 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.

Step 2. Submit Documents

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Official Transcripts

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].

  • 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.

Postal Alternative

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
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 [email protected] for more information.

Three References

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:

Counseling Essay

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.

Resume or CV

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.

Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance

  • 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.

Step 4. Register for Classes

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.

International

Deadlines

MS in Counseling

Summer application and document deadline: March 15th

Spring application and document deadline: October 15th

Fall application and document deadline: June 15th

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Step 1. Submit Application

Submit Application

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select Counseling, MS as your “Major.”
  • 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.

Step 2. Submit Documents

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Official Transcripts

  • Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
    Texas A&M University-Commerce

    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 [email protected] for more information.

Transcript Evaluation

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.

Three References

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:

Counseling Essay

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.

Resume or CV

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Interview

The Department of Counseling will contact you to schedule your interview.

English Proficiency

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 Texas A&M University-Commerce:

  • 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.

Official Sponsor Documents

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 $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old

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.

Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance

Step 4. Register for Classes

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.

we are Here to help!

Contact Us

  • P.O.Box 3011
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3011

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