Frequently Asked Questions

Courses are scheduled for a calendar year so that students can take nine hours in the fall semester, nine hours in the spring semester, and six hours in the summer semester (June through July).

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and the Marriage, Family, & Child Counseling Program are 60-hour programs which take two years and two semesters to complete if you are a full-time student. A full-time student is one who is taking nine hours per semester in fall and spring and six credits in the summer. However, you can take up to five years to complete this degree.

The Academic Specialization in Counseling Program, is a 30-hour program which takes approximately one-and-one-half years to complete. This program is designed for students who need an advanced degree to pursue further academic study or who need an advanced degree for professional development. This degree does not lead to licensure.

Yes. Our program is designed for people who work. All of the classes are in the evening, Monday through Thursday. More than two-thirds of our students work during the day.

Yes, but all degree requirements must be completed within five years.

Yes. Although we would still consider you as an applicant for our program, it is in your best interest to write the Texas Department of Health Services Board to make sure you are eligible for licensure. You may find out more about the state requirements for becoming a licensed LPC on the Texas Department of State and Health Services website. If you are applying for an MFT licensure, then please review the information on the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists.

The GRE is only required for applicants whose cumulative or final 60 hours GPA is below a 3.0. Applications will be accepted but not moved to the interview stage until an official GRE score is on file with the following requirements met:

A combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections and 3.5 on the analytical writing section. However, we take into account all of the information you have submitted (GRE scores, grade point average and letters of recommendation), and your interview presentation and responses in making our final decision regarding admission to the program. For example, if you make 270 on the GRE but have a high GPA, excellent recommendations, and a good interview, we will look at all of that information--not just the GRE score.

For regular admission, a cumulative or final 60 hours GPA of 3.0 is required. Probationary admission may be considered with the GRE score and a GPA of 2.85 to 3.0.

This depends on the university to which you will be transferring. There are some universities, particularly those that are CACREP accredited, that accept all of our courses in transfer, while others do not. You will need to contact the university where you plan to get your doctorate to be certain.

Yes, we encourage our students to do research; however, this is primarily a counseling-training program. Students who have a desire to do research are provided opportunities to work on their own research projects with faculty supervision. We will help any student who conducts research to get the study submitted for publication. Also, we encourage our students to present their research at professional conferences.

Our graduates live across the U.S. and work in a variety of capacities, such as community private practice, organizational consulting, community agencies and educational institutions.

Twenty-one percent of our graduates make over $40,000 per year, and fifty-eight percent earn $50,000 or more per year.