There’s a growing need for counselors in Texas and beyond. Turn your passion for helping others into a profession.
Make a difference in local schools through our school counseling track. Learn to provide guidance and counseling to students of all ages. You must hold a valid teaching certificate and two years of full-time teaching experience to qualify for this program. When you graduate, you’ll be certified as a professional school counselor in addition to being a licensed professional in the state of Texas.
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 part of this rewarding profession at A&M-Commerce.
Where It Is Offered
Commerce, Dallas (Beginning Fall 2023), McKinney (CHEC)
Duration2.5 to 3 years
Foreign LanguageNo foreign language credits required
SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A master’s 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 Training
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 u003cstrongu003eMentor Centeru003c/strongu003e provides the information and support you need to reach your career goals
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
$48,250
Rehabilitation Counselors
$38,560
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023
Earning your degree just got easier at A&M-Commerce.
Designed for current educators and working professionals, our Master of Science in Counseling, School Counseling emphasis offers face-to-face and hybrid courses at the Commerce campus and the Collin Higher Education Center.
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.
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.
You will develop an effective philosophy of and approach to play therapy and an increased understanding of children and of children’s world views. You will learn to communicate with children at an affective level, to promote children’s self-exploration and understanding, and to increase children’s sympathy and acceptance of others.
Marriage and Family Counseling COUN 611
This course is a survey of the historical development and principal conceptualizations of marital and family counseling/therapy. Goals include an initial examination and comparison of various theories currently employed in the field with an emphasis on interview techniques. Subject areas to be covered include the various schools of family counseling/therapy, along with current trends and issues in marriage and family counseling/therapy.
School Counseling and DevelopmentCOUN 514
As the foundation course for those planning to enter school counseling, this course covers organization, planning, management, and evaluation of comprehensive school counseling programs. Appropriate roles and functions of school counselors at various school levels, coordination of professional services; and professional issues such as ethics and associations as they specifically relate to school counseling are included.
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.
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.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
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.
You will need to have the following documents ready for upload in order to submit the application:
Certification fee receipt
TEA Assessment fee receipt
Teaching service record
A minimum of one year of experience is required for admission to the master’s degree-seeking path for school counselor. If you are currently completing your first year of service, please submit a letter from your human resources department. The application will not submit if this required attachment is missing.
Standard Texas Teaching Certificate
Note: Candidates on emergency permits, intern or probationary certificates will not be admitted.
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.
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]:
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.
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.
Check Your Application Status
To check your application status:
Log in to your TK20 Student Admissions account
On the “Home” tab, locate your application under “Recent Messages”
Click on the application.
If you are admitted, the message will indicate your application was “Admitted”
If you lack admission requirements, the message will indicate “Denied.”
Click on “Review Document” to view your deficiencies and reason(s) for denial.
Interview
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.
Sign the Letter of Invitation
Once accepted, please sign and return the “letter of invitation.”
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.
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
Transcript Evaluation
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts 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 threereference forms, using our department form, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program.
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.
