Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application process?
The application process is described in the M.Ed. Prospective Student Handbook (pages 12 – 18). First, you must submit an application to the Texas Tech University Graduate School which you can do on-line. Then you need to submit your Graduate Records Exam (GRE) scores and official transcripts of all college work to the Graduate School. Submit the Program Application Form (from the Handbook), the Applicant Statement, and Acknowledgment forms to the Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Research at the College of Education. You will also need to supply three recommendations from professors and/or employers/supervisors. The form is provided in the Handbook, and should be returned by the person recommending you for the program.

How are applications reviewed by the faculty?
The review process is a holistic one, with no single aspect being more important than another. The faculty consider your academic aptitude (including GRE scores, college transcripts, and any previous coursework in Counselor Education and/or related areas), interest in counseling (as indicated by your applicant statement, knowledge of the profession and employment or volunteer experience), successful work experience or leadership activities (including recommendations and resume), interpersonal skills, and interest in a counseling area needed to balance the program or the profession.

Do I have to take the GRE?
You must provide the COE and the Counselor Education program with your scores on the GRE. If you have taken it with five (5) years of your application to the program, you probably will not have to take it again unless you wish to improve your scores. The GRE is one of the tools that the faculty uses in the review of applicants to the program.

When are applications reviewed?
Student applications are reviewed once each semester. Applications must be received in the College of Education by October 1, February 1, and June 1. Your completed application may take as much as four (4) weeks to travel through the admission channels. If your application is not completed by the admission deadlines, it will note be reviewed until the next semester.

How likely am I to be accepted to the program?
Admission to the program is competitive, and the best all-around students are most likely to be selected.

How long is the program? How many semesters does it take to finish?
The program is a 48 hour, non-thesis program. Most graduate students take no more than nine (9) hours during the long semesters (Fall and Spring) and six (6) hours during the Summer. However, you should recognize that not all classes are offered every semester, and some courses require prerequisites that may cause a delay in taking a course. Additionally, internship (EPCE 5094) requires that all class work be completed and is a two semester course. It would be wise to assume that the program will take approximately three years to complete.

When are classes offered during the semester?
During the long semester, Counselor Education classes are offered Monday through Thursday, from 4:30 to 5:50 pm and 6:00 to 8:50 pm. Occasionally, some classes are offered on weekends. Summer classes are offered during the day. To pursue a degree in Counselor Education, you must be available to attend classes at all of these times.

Is there an order in which classes must be taken?
Although there is not a rigid order in which classes must be taken, there are classes that require a prerequisite. You may find a listing of these classes in the Admitted Student Handbook for MED Program, Appendix A.

Can I transfer credits from another program?
You may transfer, with the approval of the faculty, up to nine (9) credit hours from another CACREP approved Counselor Education program. However, students may not transfer credit for the following courses: EPCE 5354 Group Techniques), EPCE 5357 (Techniques of Counseling), EPCE 5360 (Practicum), EPCE 5366 (Dysfunctional Behavior), EPCE, 5370 (Ethical & Legal Issues), and EPCE 5094 (Internship).

Are there on-line or distance classes?
At this time, there are no on-line or distance classes offered by the Counselor Education program.

May I take classes before I’m officially admitted to the program?
Students may enroll as a “Graduate Temporary” or GTMP student for one semester while awaiting test results and/or admission to the program. Be advised that the program faculty will not accept students into MED courses unless they have been admitted into the program which requires official GRE scores submitted to the Graduate School. If students enroll in courses in Counselor Education before they are officially admitted, the grades earned during the GTMP period may not apply towards credits earned in the program of study.

Who is my advisor?
Following admission to the Counselor Education program, an advisor is assigned from the faculty for each student. A student may send a request in writing to the Coordinator to be assigned to a specific faculty member. However, the student should not assume that the specific faculty member requested will be able to serve as an advisor. Decisions will be made based on several factors, including faculty members’ current advising loads, committee assignments, and special responsibilities.

What majors are offered in Counselor Ed.?
At the master’s level, there are two basic courses of study: community counseling and school counseling (MED or Certificate). Students may choose to have a dual focus on both community and school.

What is community counseling?
Community counseling provides the academic training for counselors to work in a variety of positions in community agencies, such as counseling centers, drug and substance abuse centers, career counseling centers, community mental health programs, employee assistance programs in business and industry, adult probation offices, MHMR agencies, corrections, and private counseling practice. Completion of the master’s degree in community counseling provides the academic coursework requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.

What is the difference between the master’s program in School Counseling and the certification program in School Counseling?
At the master’s level, school counseling prepares public and private school counselors to work at the elementary, intermediate, and secondary levels. Completion of a master’s degree qualifies graduates to apply for certification as school counselors in Texas provided they have a valid Texas teaching certificate, two years of teaching experience, and passing scores on the TExES examination. Final approval of the school counseling certificate is made by TEA not Texas Tech University or the Counselor Education program. Students who already have a master’s degree in an educational area who want to be certified in school counseling may apply for the Certificate program which requires a minimum of 48 graduate counseling hours and admission to the Counselor Education program. Students seeking certification must meet with the TTU Certification Officer after being admitted to the Counselor Education program. Certification students must be recommended to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for a Texas School Counselor Certificate provided that they have a valid teaching certificate, teaching experience, and a passing score on the TExES exam.

What is a dual focus?
It is possible to major in both community counseling and school counseling if the student has a valid teaching certificate. Students wishing to have a dual focus will be required to take a minimum of 15 additional semester hours to satisfy both majors. Students must complete the following courses: EPCE 5353 (Community Counseling), EPCE 5358 (Comprehensive School Counseling Programs) EPCE 5352 (Child Counseling), and EPCE 5366 (Dysfunctional Behavior). Additionally, students must complete two (2) separate classes in practica (EPCE 5360) – one practicum in a school setting and one practicum in a community agency setting, and four (4) internship (EPCE 5094) classes – two (2) classes in a school setting and two (2) classes in a community agency setting. Students may not enroll in more than three (3) hours of internship during any semester.

What is a degree plan, and when is it due?
The degree plan is the student’s course of study for his/her degree. It lists all of the courses that the student plans to take that apply to his/her degree program. The form may be found in the COE Office for Graduate Studies and Research (Educ. Bldg., Room 106) or on-line. The plan must be filed during the student’s first semester after admission to the Counselor Education program.

Where can I find a listing of the course requirements for Counselor Education?
A listing of the course requirements may be found in the Admitted Student Handbook. The requirements for community counseling are found in Figure 1, and the requirements for school counseling are found in Figure 2. A listing of the beginning courses for master’s students is found in Figure 3. Information about the courses may be found in the Texas Tech University Graduate Catalog.

What are prerequisites and co-requisites?
Prerequisites are courses that must be taken before another course may be taken. For example, in the community counseling program, EPCE 5353 (Community Counseling) and EPCE 5364 (Theories of Counseling) do not have any prerequisites which means that a beginning student may take either course. However, EPCE 5366 (Dysfunctional Behavior) requires that both of those courses be taken before a student can register for it. Thus, EPCE 5353 and EPCE 5364 are prerequisites for EPCE 5366.
Co-requisites are courses that may be taken at the same time as another course. The only course in the Counselor Education program that has co-requisites is EPCE 5360 (Practicum). In the school counseling program, for example, EPCE 5367 (Family Counseling), EPCE 5370 (Ethics), EPCE 5371 (Diverse Populations) and EPCE 5376 (Fundamentals of Assessment) are courses that may be taken at the same time as EPCE 5360. However, students may only enroll in a maximum of two (2) co-requisite courses when enrolling in EPCE 5360. Any other courses that are considered to be co-requisites must be completed before the student enrolls in EPCE 5360.

Why do I have to fill out a reservation form before registering for some classes?
Eligibility for enrollment in techniques (EPCE 5357), practicum (EPCE 5360), and internship (EPCE 5094) classes require admission to the Counselor Education program and the completion of all prerequisites for the individual course. The prerequisites for these courses are listed in the Admitted MED Student Handbook and on the Current Student Information Page of the website.
Additionally, enrollment in techniques, practicum, and internship is restricted. Students must obtain an override form from the Departmental Secretary in Room 106 in order to register. Because space in these courses is limited, students are encouraged to reserve space at least one semester before they wish to enroll.

Where do I find the reservation forms for practicum and/or internship registration?
You may find the reservation forms in the Handbook and on the Counseling Student Page of the website.

How do I find a site for practicum/internship?
In both the Community Counseling Field Experiences Handbook (Section 4) and the School Counseling Field Experiences Handbook (Section 4), the process of finding a practicum and/or internship site is discussed in detail. A Field Site Database is provided to help students find a practicum and/or internship site; a link to this database can be found on the Practicum/Internship Page on the website. You should remember that practicum and internship sites must be approved by the Clinical Coordinator (Dr. Bret Hendricks) if it is not on the database.

Why do I need insurance for some classes, and where do I get it?
Before you start working with clients, you must have professional liability insurance. This is to protect you. This insurance can be obtained from the American Counseling Association (ACA) or the Texas Counseling Association (TCA) among others. Check the Field Site Handbooks for more information about liability insurance.

What is the Master’s Comprehensive Examination?
All students enrolled in the Counselor Education program at the master’s level must pass a comprehensive examination prior to graduating. The “Comps” are typically taken in the last semester of coursework. The exam is offered once every semester, and students must be enrolled in a minimum of one semester hour to be eligible to sit for the exam. Because deadlines apply, students are encouraged to inquire about the procedures early in their last year of coursework. More information about the “Comps” can be found in the Admitted Student Handbook for master’s students

Who are the adjunct faculty and how are they used as instructors?
Adjunct faculty are professionals from the community who have been approved by the Graduate School to teach classes in the University. Generally, adjunct faculty teach overflow classes or those classes that would not otherwise be offered during a given semester.

Can I work full-time and attend classes full-time?
Because of the times of Fall and Spring schedule of classes (4:30 – 5:50 and 6:00 – 8:50) many students find it possible to work full-time while attending classes full-time. However, you will have to determine for yourself if this will work for you and your employer.

What is Chi Sigma Iota?
Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society for professional counselors, counselor educators, and students; it was established at Ohio University in 1985. The mission of CSI is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling. Dr. Aretha Marbley is the faculty advisor of the Tau Tau Upsilon Chapter at Texas Tech.

What is CACREP?
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is an accrediting body for counseling programs. It is an independent agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. CACREP accredited programs define quality for counselor preparation. CACREP is dedicated to (1) encouraging and promoting the continuing development and improvement of counselor preparation programs, and (2) preparing counseling and related professionals to provide service consistent with the ideal of optimal human development. More information can be found at www.cacrep.org.