Counseling (MS)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Emphasis
There’s a growing need for counselors in Texas and beyond. Turn your passion for helping others into a profession at A&M-Commerce.
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.
See Yourself Succeed With a Masters Degree in Counseling
Career Readiness
Participate in excellence-driven programs that empower you with knowledge of mental health, student affairs and therapeutic strategies.
Accomplished Faculty
Enjoy the opportunity to learn from home or at one of our campuses with the guidance and mentorship from world-class faculty.
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.
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
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
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023
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.
Featured Courses
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.
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
- 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.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
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:
- Email the letter to [email protected] or
- Send the form to yourself. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
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
- 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.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
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:
- Email the letters to [email protected] or
- Send the letter to yourself. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
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
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
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
- Department of Counseling
- 903.886.5637
- 903.886.5594
- P.O.Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011
