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.
Note: Because the number of applicants may exceed the number of available spots, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Ranked #79 among 300+ national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018
- Ranked 4th best college in Texas 2018 by BestColleges.com
- 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:
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in counseling, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours. If applicant does not meet the minimum undergraduate GPA criterion of 3.0, GRE general test with minimum scores of 150 Verbal, 141 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical are required for conditional admission
- Three letters of recommendation at least one of which must be from a former professor.
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Resume including educational background and work experience.
- Personal interview (Upon completing application).
- Cleared Criminal background check
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline.
Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- For additional information, visit the International Admission page of our website.
To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.
| Fall 2021-Summer 2022 Rates Tuition and Mandatory Fees | ||||
| Graduate | ||||
| Resident | Non-Resident* | |||
| Number of graduate course(s) (hours per course) |
Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) | Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) |
| One graduate course (3 hours a semester) |
$1,584.89 | $1,437.79 | $2,808.89 | $2,661.79 |
| Two graduate courses (6 hours a semester) |
$2,875.58 | $2,728.48 | $5,323.58 | $5,176.48 |
| Three graduate courses (9 hours a semester) |
$4,166.27 | $4,019.17 | $7,838.27 | $7,691.17 |
Fees included above:
- University Services Fee - $38.10 per hour ($457.20 maximum)
- Student Services Fee - $5.83 per hour ($69.96 maximum)
- Intercollegiate Athletics Fee - $15.00 per hour ($180.00 maximum)
- Recreation Fee ‐ $75 per Fall or Spring; $37.50 per summer term
- Medical Services Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
- Student Union Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
All resident tuition and mandatory fees shown above remain the same for hours over 20. Add $408 nonresident tuition for each hour over 20.
*Includes nonresident statutory tuition charges set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and subject to annual change.
Total does not include Lab and Supplemental Instruction Fees which vary by course, or Differential Tuition. To view graduate tuition and fees rates, visit UTRGV’s U Central.
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