Counseling, M.S. CNS

Mario De La Garza, Program Director

The Master of Science in Counseling program prepares students for the counseling profession, which involves the application of the developmental and social sciences in assisting children and adults with psychological growth, relationship concerns, and social adjustment problems.

Students acquire knowledge in the disciplines that underlie counseling, including education, psychology, human development, learning and social change. They develop clinical skills in counseling and assessment and become familiar with the legal, ethical and clinical considerations confronting practitioners. Repeated practice and role-play with feedback and strategic modification are critical to mastery of the skills and are, consequently, an essential part of the program.

The Counseling program offers three accredited specialty areas of study including Clinical Mental Health; Marriage, Couple and Family; and School Counseling. In addition, students may pursue elective concentrations in Addiction, Child and Adolescent Counseling, trauma-informed Expressive Arts Therapies, and LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy.

A successful graduate can pursue state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and/or a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), as well as obtain the Certified School Counselor (CSC) credential, depending on the designated specialization and electives. Students who have completed the requisite coursework and clinical experience requirements may also pursue credentials as Registered Play Therapists or Registered Expressive Arts Therapists.

Admission Requirements

These are the admission requirements for the counseling program:

1. A completed online application.
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended.
4. Three letters of recommendation.
5. A two-page, double-spaced essay on why the applicant wants to study counseling, career aspirations, and aspects related to the applicant’s cultural background that might influence either one.
6. An acceptable GRE graduate school entry exam score for an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale). Acceptable GRE scores must meet the following minimum requirements: 156 - Verbal; 146 - Math and 3.5 in Writing.
7. Resume.
8. Applicant must also pay a non-refundable application fee.
9. If English is not the student’s native language or if the student attended school outside the US, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted via the online application. The minimum acceptable section scores are: Listening (26), Reading (26), Writing (24), and Speaking (24).

Applications are reviewed administratively and by faculty. Qualifying applicants who score the highest on the admissions requirements will be invited for a group interview and must submit a background check.