Counselor Education

Aaron Rochlen, Program Director
List of Counselor Education Faculty

The objective of the Counselor Education Master's degree program is to provide each student the greatest possible opportunity to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that characterize a Master's degree-level professional counselor.

Although we do not admit or educate students for these purposes, both specializations may allow students to meet the requirements of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists for certification as a psychological associate and the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors for licensure as a professional counselor.

The Counselor Education degree program is interdisciplinary and builds on the student's prior education and experience. The curriculum is intended to enable students to understand the social and/or institutional context of their intended work environment, as well as to expand their knowledge of the individual psychology and development of the population with whom they will work. In addition, students will master fundamental skills in guidance, counseling, and psychological assessment. The curriculum totals approximately 51 semester hours, and a Master's Report or Thesis is required.

Practicum experiences in campus and community settings augment classroom learning. Students in previous years have completed practica in such settings as elementary and secondary public schools, community college counseling centers. University career guidance centers, and university student services programs. Furthermore, a systematic schedule of shared self-appraisals, threaded throughout the program, allows students to monitor their progress toward professional goals Students are encouraged to fit this understanding with knowledge from classes and seminars, observation of faculty, and practicum experiences to develop a professional identity as counselor educators.

Want to learn more about this program?  See this list of frequently asked questions.

The specialization offers two concentrations. School Counseling and Community College and Higher Education Counseling.

School Counseling

Certification as a school counselor by the State of Texas requires two years of teaching experience.  The individual must work as the instructor of record for two years full-time to meet this requirement.

Teaching experience is NOT required for admission, or completion, of the School Counseling program.  Some students work as teachers while completing the program, for example, and others complete this requirement after finishing the program.  Some graduates of our program may not plan to gain teaching experience at all because they plan to work in settings that do not require teaching experience, such as some private schools or some states.

It is recommended that applicants clearly indicate in their Statement of Purpose the type of setting in which they plan to work. If experience as a teacher will be necessary and the applicant does not have teaching experience, the Statement of Purpose should clearly indicate how the applicant plans to acquire that experience.

Applicants seeking further clarification of the state requirements for teaching experience for school counselors are encouraged to consult the Texas State Board for Educator Certification website at  www.sbec.state.tx.us.   Follow the link “Certification Rules” and you will eventually end up at the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 239, Subchapter A, which details state requirements for certifying school counselors.  Another resource is the Texas Education Agency Information and Support number at 1-888-863-5880.

MEd School Counseling Sample Program

Semester/Year	Course
Fall/First Year	EDP 381 Counseling Theory and Procedure (Monday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Seminar In Guidance (Tuesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Ethics in Counseling and Psychotherapy (Wednesday 4:30-7:30)
Spring/First Year	EDP 381 Career Development (Monday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 380P Advanced Psychoeducational Assessment (Tuesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Multicultural Counseling (Wednesday 4:30-7:30pm)
Summer/First Year	EDP 385 Child and Adolescent Cognitive Dev *
	EDP 381 Psychotherapeutic Counseling
Fall/Second Year	EDP 381 Group Counseling (Wednesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Practicum in Counseling: MEd (Thursday 4:30-8:30pm)
	Elective Course I: EDA 386N Adlerian Theory and Diagnostics * (Monday 4:00-7:00pm)
Spring/Second Year	EDP 381 Practicum in Counseling: MEd (Thursday 4:30-8:30pm)
	EDP 398R: Master's Report
	Context of Education Course I: SW 360K Dynamic of Chemical Dependence * (Tuesday 5:30-8:30pm)
	Context of Education Course II: EDA 395E Class, Gender & Race in Schools * (Wednesday 4:00-7:00pm)
Summer/Second Year	Elective Course II: EDP 397 Crisis Intervention in Schools *
	Elective Course III: EDP 397 Child Psychopathology *

* Denotes one of several possible courses students are eligible to take.

NOTE: The above program of work is only intended as a demonstration; actual programs of work will vary considerably depending on students' interests and course availability.

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Community College and Higher Education Counseling

The Community College and Higher Education Counseling concentration prepares graduates for work in institutions of higher learning, such as career guidance counselors, academic advisers, supervisors of resident advisers, and administrators of student services programs.

MEd Higher Education Counseling Sample Program

Semester/Year	Course
Prerequisites	EDP 371 Introduction to Statistics EDP 380P Measurement & Evaluation
Fall/First Year	EDP 381 Counseling Theory and Procedure (Monday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Seminar In Guidance (Tuesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	Elective I: EDP 397 Psychopathology * (Thursday 9:00-12noon)
Spring/First Year	EDP 381 Career Development (Monday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 380P Advanced Psychoeducational Assessment (Tuesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Multicultural Counseling (Wednesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 385 Individual Through the Life Cycle * (Tuesday 1:00-4:00pm)
Summer/Frist Year	EDP 381 Psychotherapeutic Counseling *
	Elective II: EDP 381 Short-term Psychotherapy *
Fall/Second Year	EDP 381 Group Counseling (Wednesday 4:30-7:30pm)
	EDP 381 Practicum in Counseling: MEd (Thursday 4:30-8:30pm)
	Context of Education Course I: EDA 391P College Student Personnel Admin. * (Monday 4:00-7:00pm)
Spring/Second Year	EDP 381 Practicum in Counseling: MEd (Thursday 4:30-8:30pm)
	EDP 398R: Master's Report
	Context of Education Course II: EDA 391K Problems of College Teaching * (Monday 4:00-7:00pm)
	Elective III: EDP 381 Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy (Wednesday 1:00-4:00pm)

* Denotes one of several possible courses students are eligible to take.

NOTE: The above program of work is only intended as a demonstration; actual programs of work will vary considerably depending on students' interests and course availability.

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MEd Counselor Education Curriculum

Hours	Course
Prerequisites	EDP 371 Introduction to Statistics EDP 380P Measurement & Evaluation
I: Required Core Counseling Courses (30 hours)
3	EDP 381 Counseling Theories & Procedure
3	EDP 381 Psychotherapeutic Counseling
3	EDP 381 Seminar in Guidance
3	EDP 381 Career Development
3	EDP 381 Group Counseling
3	EDP 381 Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy
3	EDP 381 Multicultural Counseling
3	EDP 380 Advanced Psychoeducational Assessment
6	EDP 381 Practicum (2 semesters, at least 1 semester in school/higher education setting)
II: Human Development (3 hours)
3	EDP 385 Individual Through the Life Cycle or EDP 385 Child and Adolescent Social and Cognitive Dev.
III: Research (3-6 hours)
3-6	EDP 398 R: Master's Report or EDP 698A and 698B: Thesis
IV: Elective Counseling Courses (6 hours)
6	EDP 397 Psychopathology*
	EDP 381 Child Psychopathology**
	EDP 381 Substance Abuse Counseling and Theory
	EDP 386 Adlerian Theory and Diagnostics
	EDP 386N Object Relations Theory
	EDP 381 Short-term Psychotherapy
	EDP 381 Family Therapy
	EDP 381 Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy
V: Context of Education (6 hours out-of-department)
	Recommended for School Counseling Track
3	SED F393 Law and Disabilities
3	EDA 395 Class, Gender, and Race in Schools
3	SW 360K Varying Topics (e.g. Chemical Dependence, Service to Abused/Neglected Child)
	Recommended for Higher Education Counseling Track
3	EDA 391E The College Student
3	EDA 391P College Student Personnel Administration
3	EDA 391R Organization and Administration of Higher Education
3	EDA 380G Structure & Organization of Public Education
3	EDA 391K Problems of College Teaching
51^	Total hours

* Recommended for Higher Education Track

** Recommended for School Counseling Track

^ An additional 6 hours are added to the program if prerequisite courses are taken.

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