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Counseling Psychology M.S. Degree Plan

(60 credit hours)

Students may take up to 12 credit hours during each long semester and six credit hours per summer session.

Course to be Completed in the First Long Semester

(Only for students with less than 18 hours of psychology coursework prior to admission)

6302: Core Concepts in Psychological Science

Required Courses

  • 6306 Advanced Abnormal Psychology
  • 6307 Psychopathology
  • 6309 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • 6314 Research Methods
  • 6315 Marriage and Family Psychotherapy
  • 6322 Psychological Assessment
  • 6323 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • 6324 Group Psychotherapy
  • 6325 Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods and Techniques
  • 6326 Multicultural Counseling and Psychology
  • 6328 Ethics and Law in Counseling Psychology
  • 6329 Professional Orientation to Counseling Psychology
  • 6344 Addictions Counseling
  • 6347 Developmental Psychology
  • 6351 A Survey of Vocational Psychology
  • 6371 (twice) or 6671 Practicum in Counseling Psychology, 6399 (Thesis) twice or 6699 (Thesis), and three credit hours of electives approved by the program director

Practicum

Students may com­plete up to nine credit hours of supervised practical experience in applying the techniques of psychological appraisal and counseling. Each three credit hours requires 150 clock hours in a supervised practicum setting. (Psy­chology 6371 may be repeated twice, but the total practicum credits may not exceed nine.)

Prior to enrolling in practicum, students must have completed 24 credit hours of graduate-level psychology courses, 21 hours of which must include Psychology 6306, 6307, 6309, 6323, 6324, 6325, and 6329.

Elective Courses

Thesis Option: three credit hours of electives approved by the program director.

Non-Thesis Option: 9 credit hours of electives, six of which must be in psychology, approved by the program director.

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

Thesis Option:  The student must complete a minimum  of 60 SCHs of graduate-level work in psychology and courses must include 6306, 6307, 6309, 6314, 6315, 6322, 6323, 6324, 6325, 6326, 6328, 6329, 6344, 6347, 6351, 6371 twice or 6671, 6399 (Thesis) twice or 6699 (Thesis), and three credit hours of electives approved by the program director.

Non-Thesis Option:  The student must complete a minimum of 60 SCHs of graduate-level work in psychology, and courses must include 6306, 6307, 6309, 6314, 6315, 6322, 6323, 6324, 6325, 6326, 6328, 6329, 6344, 6347, 6351, 6371 twice or 6671, and nine credit hours of electives (six of which must be in psychology) approved by the program director.

Completion of the degree requirements satisfies the academic requirements for the Texas State Board of Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists for Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA). However, those seeking the LPA should complete nine credit hours of practicum rather than the required six credit hours. For additional information about other requirements for LPC or LPA licensure, students should contact the state boards.