Make a Difference as a School Counselor

Make a difference in local schools through our school counseling track. Learn to provide guidance and counseling to students of all ages. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to become certified as a professional school counselor in the State of Texas.

You'll learn school counseling theories, techniques in guidance, child/adolescent development, and responsive services in the school setting. Students will apply their knowledge through an in-person practicum experience at a local school in their area that prepare them for a career in school counseling. We look forward to you becoming a part of this rewarding profession at East Texas A&M.

Woman counseling a young lady.

Is this Program a Good Fit for You?

  • Online Courses
  • 48-hour degree
  • Advisor-Advisee Mentorship

    Careers

    A master’s degree in counseling from East Texas A&M prepares you to work in a variety of counseling settings, including community agency, hospital, private practice, K-12 school, college/university, and much more. Our graduates are quick to transition when job opportunities present themselves. 

    Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries

    Marriage and Family Therapist
    $56,570
    Postsecondary Education Administrators
    $99,940
    School and Career Counselors
    $60,140
    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
    $49,710
    Rehabilitation Counselors
    $39,990

    US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022

    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.

    A heterosexual couple speaking with a male therapist.

    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.

    A group of students in a discussion at school.
    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.

    What you will learn

    A Master’s in Counseling with a specialization in School 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.

    Faculty Spotlight

    Woman's hands writing at a desk.

    Course Delivery

    Earning your degree just got easier at East Texas A&M.

    Designed for current educators and working professionals, our Master of Science in Counseling, School Counseling emphasis offers hybrid and online courses at our Commerce campus, the Dallas location, the Mesquite location and the Collin Higher Education Center.

    Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times. Locations and times are subject to change.

    TEXES School Counselor Practice Test

    School Counseling student are required to take the TExES School Counselor Practice Test in preparation for the TExES School Counselor Certification Exam. The TExES School Counselor Practice Test is completed one semester prior to graduation and is designed to assess students to determine if their level of knowledge and skills meets entry-level standards as a school counselor. There are four domains evaluated on this exam: (a) Domain I: Knowledge of Learners, (b) Domain II: The Comprehensive School Counseling Program, (c) Domain III: The Professional School Counselor, and (d) Domain IV: Analysis and Response.

    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

    Deadlines for Counseling (MS)

    Spring application and documents deadline: October 15th

    Fall application and documents deadline: June 15th

    Note: No summer admission

    Graduate Step 1 Part 1

    Submit Application

    • Create an account or login if you already have one
    • Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
    • Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M University
    • Choose the semester you wish to begin
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    • Select Counseling, MS as your “Program.”

    Domestic Application Fee 395064

    • 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.
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    Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.

    Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159

    Your Graduate Coordinator

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    Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.

    • 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.

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

    East Texas A&M University
    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 your graduate coordinator or more information.

    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:

    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.

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

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

    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.

    Admission to the Certification Office is required if you are seeking school counseling certification as part of your M.S. degree.

    After submitting a complete application to the Graduate School, immediately submit your School Counselor Certification Program Application using TK20. You must submit a TK20 application prior to your interview date with the Department of Counseling to avoid delays in processing admissions.

    If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

    You will need to have the following documents ready for upload in order to submit the application:

    • Certification fee receipt
    • TEA Assessment fee receipt
    • Official transcripts from the Graduate Office will be reviewed by the certification office.
      • Official transcripts from all institutions must be submitted to the Graduate School in order to satisfy TEA certification admission requirements.
      • Applicants must meet one of the following GPA requirements for certification admission:
        • Minimum 2.75 overall GPA; or
        • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a conferred master's degree; or
        • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours
      • Please note that certification admission requirements may differ from those of the Graduate School and are separate requirements.
    If applicable:
    • TEA Transfers
      • If you have previously been admitted to another educator preparation program for school counseling certification.
      • Request that a completed TEA transfer form be sent from your previous program to [email protected].
    • Transcripts from outside the United States
      • Contact [email protected] for any questions about TEA requirements for transcripts from outside the United States.
      • If your official transcripts are from institutions outside the United States and the country of origin is not exempt by TEA, send the following documentation to [email protected]:
        • A course-by-course evaluation from a TEA-approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Service
        • Minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Please note that TOEFL scores are only valid for a period of two years. Required minimum scores are 24 for Speaking, 22 for Listening, 22 for Reading and 21 for Writing.
          • As of 3/4/2022, a valid standard Texas educator certificate will be accepted in lieu of TOEFL iBT scores.

    • Go to tamuc.tk20.com
    • Scroll down and click “Admissions”
    • Select “Click here to create your account.”
    • Complete the “Create Applicant Account” form.
    • Note: You will be creating a password for this account.
    • Store the password you create in a secure location so you can refer to it later.
    • After completing the “Create Applicant Account” form, TK20 will provide your username.
    • Store your TK20 username and password in a secure location so you can refer to them later.
      • You will use the username to log in to review your admission application once submitted.

    • Log into your TK20 account
      • Click on the “back to login” link.
      • Enter your username and password.
      • Click the green “Log Into Your Account” button.
    • Click on the “Create New Application” button.
    • Select “School Counselor” application
    • Click the “Next” button.
    • Complete the application.

    • Upload documents by clicking on the “+ Select File(s)” button for the item you are uploading.
    • Once you have completed all fields in the application, click the “Submit” button.
    • Look for an email from TK20 confirming your submission.

    To check your application status:

    1. Log in to your TK20 Student Admissions account
    2. On the “Home” tab, locate your application under “Recent Messages”
    3. Click on the application.
    4. If you are admitted, the message will indicate your application was “Admitted”
    5. If you lack admission requirements, the message will indicate “Denied.”
      • Click on “Review Document” to view your deficiencies and reason(s) for denial.

    Once both the Graduate School and Certification Program Applications are complete, the Department of Counseling will reach out to schedule an interview. Interview days are typically scheduled on a monthly basis.

    Once accepted, please sign and return the “letter of invitation.”

    • 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.

    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.

    Graduate Enrollment Specialist Lydia Carrascosa 395115

    Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

    Back to menu

    Deadlines for Counseling (MS)

    Spring application and document deadline: March 15th

    Fall application and document deadline: June 15th

    Graduate Step 1 Part 1

    Submit Application

    • Create an account or login if you already have one
    • Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
    • Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M University
    • Choose the semester you wish to begin
    Back to menu
    • Select Counseling, MS as your “Program.”

    International Application Fee

    • 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.
    Back to menu

    Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.

    Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159

    Your Graduate Coordinator

    Back to menu

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

      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 your graduate coordinator or more information.

    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.

    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:

    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.

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

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

    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 East Texas A&M University:

    • 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.

    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 $33,601 USD which is less than six months old

    See the Office of International Program's “Confirmation of Financial Resource” for more details.

    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.

    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.

    Graduate Enrollment Specialist Lydia Carrascosa 395115

    Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

    Back to menu

    we are Here to help!

    Contact Us

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