Counseling Programs:
  MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  MS in Counseling &  Guidance

1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice

2. Social and Cultural Diversity

Students will demonstrate multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for competency in working with a diverse population.

3. Human Growth and Development

Students are able to demonstrate an understanding of development across the lifespan and the impact on normal and abnormal functioning.

4. Career Development

5. Counseling and Helping Relationships

6. Group Counseling and Group Work

Students demonstrate competency in preparing and facilitation of group counseling.

7. Assessment and Testing

8. Research and Program Evaluation

9. Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Foundations

Students will demonstrate an understanding of clinical mental health counseling foundations, including history, theory, and assessment in clinical mental health counseling.

10. Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Contextual Dimensions

11. Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Practice

This program will be housed in Rhode Hall of the Department of Educational Leadership and
Counseling on the TAMUK campus. The Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Faculty offices locate on the 1st floor of Rhode Hall room #100. The Master of Science Degree
in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) is a 60 credit hours degree to meet the licensure
requirements. This CMHC program provides the necessary courses and field experience to equip
students to earn a degree that meets the accreditation standards for CACREP, the nation’s
foremost Counseling Accreditation agency and to take the state examinations to obtain licensure
as a Licensed Professional Counselor or a certificate as a School Counselor. This CMHC
program prepares graduates to assume leadership roles and positions for the a) development and
advancement of mental health counseling services in local, state, and federal organizations, such
as private practice, state and federal prisons, Texas MHMR, and psychiatric hospitals and b) for
licensed school counselors serving in public and private schools.

The Department has the responsibility for preparation of students in the CMHC program. One
member of the department faculty is designated as the Department Chair, one member of the
program faculty is designated as the CMHC Program Coordinator, and one member of the
program faculty is designed as the School Counseling Emphasis Coordinator. The Department
has an internal Curriculum Review Committee through which curriculum and program changes
and proposals are processed.

Academic Standing Policy

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required in the approved degree plan for
the graduate program or graduate certificate. Grades of D or F do not apply toward a graduate
degree but are used to figure grade point averages. Courses may be repeated for credit, in which
case the last grade of the record is the official grade. Minimum grades required for stem work
(assigned prerequisites) are noted on the initial degree plan and/or certification plan. Courses
taken outside official program(s) are not subject to these grade requirements unless so specified
by the program adviser on the degree plan.

Comprehension Exam

Students must demonstrate proficiency in counseling knowledge by passing the Counselor
Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Students must complete and pass the CPCE
before applying for graduation. Students are required to register and take the CPCE exam during
the semester that they take practicum and will have two more attempts to pass the exam during
their internship I and II semesters. Registration instructions are sent out to all students taking
practicum and those who need to retake the exam during their internships. There is a $75.00 fee
to register for the CPCE exam paid to the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). The
examination covers the following eight content areas corresponding to the associated courses in
our program:

The CPCE is a 160-item multiple-choice examination, but only 136 items are used to determine
if the student meets the minimum passing (criterion) score. The other 24 items are undergoing
field testing, to determine suitability for future use (The student will not know which items are
being field-tested when taking the CPCE.). The maximum possible score on the CPCE is 136.
The CPCE is not scored on a “curve,” so the passing score is not influenced by other examinees’
results, but the counseling program determines a passing cut-score from comparing the score to
national results. More information about the CPCE including study materials can be found on
our program website. https://www.tamuk.edu/education/departments/counseling/testing.html

Course Longevity

A master’s degree student must complete all requirements for each specific graduate degree
within seven years of initial registration for that degree. Graduate credits older than those 9
stipulated are not applicable toward a graduate degree without written approval from the
Graduate Dean.

Repetition of a Course

If a student repeats a course that may not be taken for additional credit, it is the policy of the
university to count as part of a student's cumulative grade point average only the last grade
received in the course, whether passing or failing, other than a grade of Q. However, for
purposes of grade point average calculation on course work for graduation, grades stand as
recorded unless the same course is repeated at this university.
Students who have received their first bachelor’s degree from this institution cannot repeat
courses that were used to earn the first degree for purposes of grade point average calculation.
It is the responsibility of the student, after repeating a course, to file a special request form in the
Office of the Registrar, so that the adjustment in the grade point average, when applicable, can
be entered on the permanent record.

Grades

A grade point average of 3.00 or better on all graduate work on the approved degree plan, is
required for graduation. If a course is retaken, the last grade will be counted toward graduation
and computation of the overall grade point average. A course in which an “F” is received is
considered a course completed and the course must be retaken at the same institution.

When: Aug 13, 2025 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://tamuk-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/yBOlgOXRSQeCySQxhUx0IA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting

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The Counseling Program offers courses leading to certification as a school counselor and/or a master's degree in counseling. Students who complete the required 12 hours beyond the master's degree are eligible to pursue licensure as a professional counselor (LPC).

5310. Professional Development and Ethics. 3(3-0) 

This course is an introduction to the principles, practices, and philosophy of the field of Counseling and Guidance as well as an exploration of the various work settings where counselors are found. It provides an overview of the counseling field and explores historical development as well as professional orientation of counselors and their ethics and responsibilities.

5310 Syllabus

5311. Theories of Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course provides an in-depth review of selected theories of counseling and their implications on selected personality and developmental theories. Various theorists have developed theories to explain and to account for human development and human behavior and this course will provide a historical overview of those theories, their associated techniques, and their applications in counseling settings.

5311 Syllabus

5312. Counseling Techniques. 3(3-0)

This course is designed to combine the study of theory and philosophy of individual counseling with techniques and practices in the field. This is a "hands on" course where the student is taught through practice and observation, the dynamics of providing individual counseling services. Both classroom and laboratory experiences are offered in this course.

5312 Syllabus

5315. Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course is an advanced exploration of professional ethics in the counseling profession. Students will analyze the professional and ethical issues that most affect the practice of counseling and related professions. A number of viewpoints will be presented to stimulate discussion, exploration and reflection.

5315 Syllabus

5321. Abnormal Human Behavior. 3(3-0)

This course is an in-depth look at the varieties of psychopathology, its etiology, classification, and treatment. A look at the history and treatment of mental illness over the years with special attention to the various classification schemes and systems as they have evolved. The emphasis of this course will be to give the student skills to recognize the nature of the abnormal behavior and to determine what services, if any, the counselor might be able to provide. Proper referral services, methods, and procedures will be explored.

5321 Syllabus

5322. Substance Abuse Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course explores the nature of chemical dependency/addiction including alcohol and other legal and illegal substances. Attention will be given to related phenomena that produce and/or result in obsessive and compulsive behaviors as well as implications for education, prevention, treatment, and recovery.

5322 Syllabus

5323. Group Counseling Techniques. 3(3-0)

This course offers an introduction and overview to the practice of group guidance and group counseling.  Specific emphasis is on the major factors influencing the group process, stages of group development, plans for designing a group and getting a group underway.  Part of class time is spent in experiential learning where class members have the opportunity to participate in a group and to demonstrate group procedures. Attention will be given to the history and other aspects of group development, groups throughout the lifespan, and leading groups from various theoretical perspectives

5323 Syllabus

5324. Assessment. 3(3-0)

This course is a core course and meets state and professional licensing requirements. It is designed to increase counseling students’ knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Attention will be given to the relationship among the principles, procedures, ethics, cultural diversities, evaluations, and interpretations associated with assessments. Students will receive training in the use of both testing and non-testing approaches to assessment and appraisal.

5324 Syllabus

5329. Educational Research. 3(3-0)

This course provides the student with an overview of research methodology. Students will demonstrate ability to describe the research project, collect data, and select an assessment. Students will be expected to complete the IRB approval process and select as assessment with high Validity/Reliability ratings for the research in the field of counseling. This course is a prerequisite for EDCG 5305.

5329 Syllabus

EDCG 5339: Human Growth and Development. 3(3-0)

This course is designed to introduce counseling students to human development across the lifespan. It begins with prenatal development, infancy and toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood, and ends with the process of death, dying and bereavement. Each stage is examined from a physical and cognitive perspective, as well as an emotional and social perspective. The course looks at the study of human development from both a biological, as well as an environmental prospective.

5339 Syllabus

5341. Guidance: Advanced Topics. 3(3-0)

This is a specialized course focusing on problems of educational and vocational guidance including selection, orientation, personnel, training programs, placement and re-education. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of advanced education/counseling courses. May be repeated when the topic changes.

5341 Syllabus

EDCG 5343.  Basic Sandtray Therapy. 3(3-0)

This course offers an introduction to basic sandtray therapy and offers practical experience as a therapeutic intervention for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups. Students will learn and apply sandtray theories and techniques to assist clients in exploring awareness, expressing emotions, discovering meanings, addressing distortions, finding resolutions, facilitating motivational interviews, and coping with counseling issues.

5343 Syllabus

EDCG 5344.  Advanced Sandtray Therapy. 3(3-0)

This course is designed to equip students with advanced experience in sandtray therapy. Students will practice sandtray therapy with diverse client populations, such as children, adolescents, adults, elders, families, veterans, trauma victims, PTSD survivors, etc. Students will enhance competency in advanced sandtray therapy through group supervision and peer observation. Prerequisite: EDCG 5343.

5344 Syllabus

EDCG 5345: Diagnosis in Counseling. 3(3-0)

This is a required course meeting the Texas state LPC licensing requirements. This course is designed to serve students in gaining knowledge and strategies in diagnosis, case conceptualization, and treatment planning.

5345 Syllabus

5347. Counseling the Culturally Different. 3(3-0)

This course explores cross-cultural and pluralistic counseling, the dynamics of minority ethnic group lifestyles, and the uniqueness of multiethnic education.

5347 Syllabus

EDCG 5350: Marriage and Family Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course will introduce students to the study of marriage, couple, and family counseling. Students will gain knowledge and skills in personal and family development, family system dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and social roles and boundaries within marriage, couple, and family counseling. The course will include a variety of theories and techniques for marriage, couple, and family therapy with particular importance on multicultural sensitivity, as well as legal and ethical issues in the practice of marriage, couple, and family counseling.

5350 Syllabus

5354. Principles and Practices in Guidance and Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course provides philosophical, sociological and psychological principles and concepts related to guidance and counseling and the helping professions.

5354 Syllabus

5355. Materials and Techniques for Career, Vocational and Occupational Education.  3(3-0)

This course is a core course that meets state and professional licensing degree requirements for LPCs. It focuses on theories and techniques of developing, classifying, analyzing and disseminating vocational and career information. This graduate course prepares students to demonstrate professional knowledge and skills necessary to help individuals develop life-career plans with a focus on the interaction of work and life roles. The curriculum meets the CACREP standards and introduces students to theories and methods of career counseling. It also introduces and familiarizes students with career assessment instruments and provides opportunities for discussions of current issues in the field of career counseling.

5355 Syllabus

5357. Field Practicum for Counselors. 3(3-0)

This course provides supervised practice in the application of counseling strategies and techniques in environmental settings appropriate to the professional interests of the counselor trainee. May be repeated subsequent semester to a total of 9 semester hours. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours of graduate work in counseling.

5357 Syllabus

5358. School Counseling and Guidance and Techniques. 3(3-0)

This course is designed to give special attention to the particular personal, social and academic counseling needs of elementary age children.

5358 Syllabus

5360. Community/Rural Mental Health Counseling. 3(3-0)

This is a specialized online course designed to address the unique needs of counseling rural communities and populations. Attention will be given to the uniqueness of rural counseling and communities, ethical considerations, working with existing educational and community entities, multicultural issues and challenges, and the various roles of the rural community counselor.

5360 Syllabus

5362. Professional Counseling Leadership & Advocacy in Rural. 3(3-0)

This is a specialized online course designed to address the challenges of Counseling Leadership and Advocacy within a rural community context. Attention will be given to the changing role of the professional counselor (particularly within the rural settings). Key considerations of multicultural issues, ethical and legal practices, the uniqueness of rural clientele, and contemporary issues for Counseling Leadership and Advocacy will be covered in this course.

5362 Syllabus

5364. Crisis Counseling. 3(3-0)

This course will present crisis counseling approaches and effective techniques. Students will gain knowledge and skills on assessing crisis situations, facilitating crisis interventions, and providing coping strategies to stabilize clients. Critical issues related to disasters, family violence, and trauma will be explored and discussed to enhance students’ knowledge in dealing with crisis intervention.  

5364 Syllabus

5366. Internship I - Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 3(3-0)

This is the first of two courses designed to provide an internship experience to meet certification and licensing requirements. This internship must provide opportunities for direct counseling experiences. Supervision is provided to assist the student in managing cases, improving counseling skills, and dealing with professional issues. 

5366 Syllabus

5368. Internship II - Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 3(3-0)

This is the second of two courses designed to provide an internship experience to meet certification and licensing requirements. This internship must provide opportunities for direct counseling experiences. Supervision is provided to assist the student in managing cases, improving counseling skills, and dealing with professional issues. 

5368 Syllabus

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