Counseling (MEd)
Counseling (MEd)
The mission of the Counseling M.Ed. program is to prepare highly competent professionals who can respond to the lifespan mental health needs of a multicultural community. The Master of Education in Counseling offers two specializations: school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Graduates of the UTRGV Counseling program are committed to advocacy and leadership in the communities they serve.
School Counseling Specialization
Upon completion, the professional school counselor is prepared to be an integral part of the academic services in P‐16 schools, trained to facilitate the growth and learning of students by providing services in guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning and systems support. The professional school counselor also provides direct services to students and coordinates services with programs and agencies within the school and in the community.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization
The clinical mental health counselor receives instruction in the required professional content areas, and practicum hours to apply for national and/or state Licensure. Upon licensure, the counselor is prepared to provide services across the lifespan in the areas of individual and group counseling in public, private, state and/or federal agencies. Once all program requirements are completed for the Counseling M.Ed., students are eligible to begin the application process for the Licensed Professional Counselor credential from the State of Texas. Information is available via the Texas Department of Health website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/.
LPC Deficiency
Students who graduated prior to 2015 with a Master of Education in Counseling may find they lack courses required by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors due to changes by the Board. Individuals in need of required courses for LPC should contact the department for advisement and complete the application for admission as a non-degree seeking student. This is an expedited application that only requires submission of undergraduate and graduate transcripts. The department allows non-degree seeking students to enroll in up to 12 credit hours to meet licensure requirements.
CACREP Accreditation
The UTRGV Counseling M.Ed. program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is the premier accrediting body for determining the quality of a graduate counseling program. CACREP develops and maintains standards and procedures that ensure students in counseling and related programs receive high-quality, relevant education that prepares them for licensure and success in professional practice.
Benefits of CACREP Accreditation
Three federal agencies have made graduation from a CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program a requirement for independent practice in counseling: The U.S. Veteran’s Administration, Tricare, and the Army Substance Abuse program. In addition, many doctoral programs require that applicants graduate from a CACREP-accredited master’s program.
- Ranked #79 among 300+ national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018
- Accredited, cutting edge degree program
- Experienced, dedicated faculty
- Affordable tuition (ranked #1 in net price among national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018 and #3 most affordable university in America 2018 by BestValueSchools.com)
- Demonstrated student success in research, professional certification and career advancement
Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply. There is no application fee.
Step #2: Request your official transcripts to be sent electronically to gradapps@utrgv.edu or mailed to:
Review and submit all Program Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. If applicant does not meet minimum undergraduate GPA criterion, GRE general test with minimum scores of 150 Verbal, 141 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical are required for conditional admission. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources, at least one must be from a former professor.
- Resume including educational background and work experience.
- Personal Interview (Upon completing application).
- Cleared Criminal Background Check
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. For additional information, visit the English Proficiency Exam section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
- Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For additional information, visit the Financial Documentation section of our website.
- Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport. For additional information, visit the Immigration Documents section of our website.
UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS FROM U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT:
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SEVP regulations prohibit the issuance of a Form I-20 based on conditional admission, effective July 13, 2016. University officials can only issue a Form I-20 when students have met all standards for admission for the program of study listed on the Form I-20. These standards for admission include any English proficiency requirements.
To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.
| Residency | Per 3-Credit Hour Course | Semester (9-Credit Hours) | Total Estimated Cost |
| Texas Resident | $1,481.39 | $3,894.17 | $29,627.80 |
| Non-Resident/International | $2,708.39 | $7,575.17 | $54,167.80 |
*We estimate that tuition and fees will closely approximate the rates shown above; however, rates are subject to change. Please note that the rates above are estimated for on-campus students and those enrolled in 16-week online programs. The rate is different for Accelerated Online Programs (AOP). Visit the tuition and fees page for detailed information.
Click here to view the program's course requirements from the current catalog.
