Mental Health Counseling Program
This program is primarily intended for those students who plan to work in community, agency and private practice settings that provide mental health services.
Admissions Requirements: A minimum 3.0 GPA on cumulative undergraduate record (or previous 60 hours completed as evaluated by the counseling admission committee) prior to admission.
Applicants are screened based on the quality of their application and potential for success in the program via the assessment of the counseling program admissions committee. Students must include the following in their application:
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Statement of intent*
- Statement on diversity*
- Statement on interpersonal relationships*
- Three professional letters of references
- Official undergraduate transcripts (from each of the colleges or universities the applicant previously attended)
*Statement of Intent: Write a statement clearly stating the reasons you would like to become a school or mental health counselor. Please make sure you write this statement in reference to the specific program you are applying to (i.e., school counseling; mental health counseling).
*Statement on Interpersonal Relationships: Briefly describe an experience in which you acted in a helping role. What qualities do you possess that you believe will make an effective mental health counselor or school counselor, and what skills do you think you need to develop in your ability to help others? Please make sure you address these questions in reference to the specific program you are applying to (i.e., school counseling; mental health counseling).
*Statement on Diversity: Appreciating diversity is an important value of our programs. Think about your experiences with various diverse groups and describe some of your experiences that show your commitment to diversity. How have these experiences helped you challenge various stereotypes? Address any personal assumptions, values or biases that could potentially provide difficulty for serving culturally diverse clients. Please make sure you address these questions in reference to the specific program you are applying to (i.e., school counseling; mental health counseling).
The above-required application materials will be evaluated to determine if the applicant’s knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude are appropriate for the counseling degree sought. Applicants will be specifically evaluated on (1) GPA, (2) Letters of Recommendation, (3) Purpose Statement, and (4) Responses to the Multicultural and interpersonal Skill questions. Students will receive a letter detailing rationales for their acceptance or non-acceptance into the program. Students must successfully pass a background check to complete the practicum/internship requirement.
Licensure Requirements: For licensure as a Professional Counselor in Texas, in addition to the 60-hour master's program, a student must have:
- Three thousand (3,000) clock hours of supervised experience; and
- Satisfactory completion of the National Counselor Exam (NCE).
The MHC Program is taught almost entirely in a traditional face to face format or hybrid format with a combination of face to face instruction and online assignments.
Mental Health Counseling Admission Deadlines:
Applying For: | Deadline: | Final Decision By: |
Fall Semester | May 1 | July 1 |
Spring Semester | November 1 | December 1 |
Applications missing any required document will be considered incomplete and will not undergo the review process.
Allowable Transfer of Graduate Credits: Transfer of graduate credit from a CACREP accredited program within a regionally accredited institution* is limited to 9 hours for the master's degree. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better, completed within the last six years, and approved by the Counseling program faculty and the University of Texas at El Paso. Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved by program faculty during the student's first semester. The course being transferred into a degree program should be a direct equivalent to the course within the certification/degree program. Students should work with their advisor to have courses evaluated for transfer. Transfer credit is not guaranteed and subject to Counseling faculty review and approval. Previous work experience is not accepted as transfer credit into the program.
*Recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Foundational Requirements (6 Courses, 21 Semester Hours)
Students are required to earn a B or above in all foundational classes.
EDPC |
5317 |
Human Growth and Development |
EDPC |
5320 |
Lifestyle and Career Development |
EDPC |
5322 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
EDPC |
5324 |
Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling |
EDPC |
5341 |
Theories of Counseling |
EDPC |
5346 |
Counseling Multicultural and Diverse Populations |
EDPC |
5310 |
Applied Research Design for Educators |
Advanced Requirements (6 Courses, 21 Semester Hours)
EDPC |
5333 |
Crisis Counseling (EDPC 5317, EDPC 5341) B or above |
EDPC |
5338 |
Group Counseling (EDPC 5317, EDPC 5339) B or above |
EDPC |
5339 |
Techniques of Counseling (EDPC 5341) B or above |
EDPC |
5345 |
Abnormal Human Development |
EDPC |
5347 |
Addictions Counseling (EDPC 5341, EDPC 5345) |
EDPC |
5360 |
Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy (EDPC 5341) |
EDPC |
5335 |
Principles of Appraisal and Assessment (EDPC 5317, EDPC 5341, EDPC 5345, EDPC 5346) |
Clinical Sequence (3 Courses, 9 Semester Hours)
*May Not Be Taken Concurrently
EDPC |
5371 |
Practicum (Completion of 36 credits including all foundational coursework and EDPC 5338) |
EDPC |
5372 |
Internship 1 (EDPC 5371) |
EDPC |
5373 |
Internship 2 (EDPC 5372) |
Specialization Electives (3 Courses, 9 Semester Hours)
*Requires Adviser Approval
EDPC |
5349 |
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (EDPC 5341) |
EDPC |
5362 |
Counseling Children, Adolescents and Their Families (EDPC 5317, EDPC 5341) |
EDPC |
5363 |
Couples Therapy (EDPC 5360) |
EDPC |
5364 |
Family Therapy (EDPC 5360) |
EDPC |
5368 |
Play Therapy (EDPC 5317, EDPC 5341, EDPC 5362) |
EDPC |
5365 |
Directed Individual Study |
EDPC |
5370 |
Special Topics in Educational Psychology and Counseling |
PSY |
5309 |
Seminar in Psychopathology as a Specialization Elective |
REHC |
5350 |
Psychiatric Rehabilitation as a Specialization Elective (EDPC 5345) |
EDPC |
5350 |
Neuroscience and Counseling as a Specialization Elective (EDPC 5339, EDPC 5341) |
Total: 60 semester hours
Comprehensive Examination: During EDPC 5371
*Prerequisites in ( )
* Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the program.
Course Rotation for the Counseling Program
MHC Fall Cohort Schedule of Classes
MHC Spring Cohort Schedule of Classes