School Counseling in Texas
Do you have a passion for guiding young individuals through their educational journey and helping them overcome life’s obstacles? If so, an online school counseling program in Texas may be the perfect route to equip you with the vital skills needed to make a positive impact on students’ lives.
These programs are tailored to fit your hectic schedule while delivering the necessary knowledge and practical experience to excel in your profession.
Whether you are an experienced educator looking for a career change or a recent graduate eager to make a lasting impression on young lives, this article will furnish you with the fundamental information to take the initial step towards a fulfilling career in school counseling.
So, get ready and delve into the realm of online school counseling programs in Texas – your future students eagerly await your guidance!
Accredited Online School Counseling Programs in Texas – 2023
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online school counseling programs in Texas:
- University of Texas at Tyler
- Texas A&M International University
- Capella University
- Texas Woman’s University
- Grand Canyon University
- Angelo State University
- Lamar University
University of Texas at Tyler
Established in 1971, the University of Texas at Tyler is a public academic institution. The university has an undergraduate student population exceeding 7,000 and is situated within an urban environment, spanning 320 acres. The academic schedule follows a semester-based structure.
Comprised of six professional colleges and a traditional college dedicated to arts and sciences, UT Tyler provides over 90 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The institution’s accreditation is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In addition to the bachelor’s degree programs, UT Tyler extends doctoral studies in the fields of nursing, pharmacy, and human resource development. The university also features a competitive four-year honors program, available to exceptional undergraduate students across all disciplines.
School Counseling MA Degree – Online
Acquiring a Master of Arts in School Counseling from The University of Texas at Tyler provides an outstanding basis for starting a professional journey within school counseling environments.
The school counseling master’s program at UT Tyler boasts a remarkable 100% success rate for the TExES Professional School Counselor Certification Examination, thereby positioning its graduates among the most proficient in the state of Texas.
Alumni from the UT Tyler school counseling master’s program have secured positions as counselors in educational institutions throughout East Texas and beyond.
The curriculum emphasizes the following elements:
- Cultivating a solid comprehension of essential counseling techniques while encouraging innovative and culturally sensitive applications.
- Undertaking a supervised practicum within an educational context, allowing for the acquisition of invaluable practical experience in student counseling.
- Incorporating contemporary educational and psychological research findings into school counseling practices.
- Gaining student membership within the American School Counselor Association for networking opportunities and staying informed on the latest advancements within the counseling profession.
- Preparing students for school counselor certification in Texas.
Students benefit from the guidance of experienced counseling professors who are dedicated to assisting in their educational and career-related decisions. Furthermore, online courses are facilitated by esteemed experts and researchers in the field of school counseling, who regularly present their findings at professional conferences.
Throughout the program, students participate in a supervised experience within either a public or private educational institution, specifically tailored for advanced school counseling students. This internship offers the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge, skills, and concepts acquired during the graduate program. The internship entails 200 hours of on-site counseling experience and one hour of weekly on-site supervision.
Texas A&M International University
Established in 1970, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a public academic institution located in Laredo, Texas, USA. Initially, it operated under the name Texas A&I University at Laredo.
As a regional higher education institution, the university is particularly recognized for the opportunities it presents to minority students. It provides more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as a PhD program in International Business Administration.
Situated on a 300-acre campus, TAMIU houses The Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium, which offers both students and the public the chance to engage in astronomy, watch presentations, and participate in field trips, facilitated by digital projections and a surround sound system.
The institution also boasts over 100 student organizations and sports offerings that include baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
With a total student population of around 7,000, the university hosts international students from 30 countries, comprising over five percent of the student body. A significant portion of the student population is of Mexican-American descent, contributing to a distinct bilingual border culture.
Small class sizes, favorable student-to-faculty ratios, and opportunities for active community engagement combine to create a personalized and interactive educational experience.
Online Master of Science in School Counseling
Move forward in your career with help from TAMIU’s strong connections to school districts across Texas. TAMIU is known for producing excellent educators, and the TAMIU name will give you extra credibility among school leaders, which can lead to new opportunities.
The online Master of Science in School Counseling program lets you change your career from teaching students to assisting them with school, behavior, social, and family issues. You will learn about counseling ideas and methods to help students and their families during their time in school.
This master’s program prepares you to be a skilled and culturally aware counselor for K-12 schools in Texas. It gives you the knowledge and qualifications to take the TExES School Counselor exam with confidence. Also, this degree helps you meet the requirements of the Texas Education Agency for state certification.
You will study a range of counseling topics, such as social, cultural, and family issues, as well as crisis intervention and addiction. You don’t need to write a thesis to graduate. The online format allows you to study and work, attending classes when it suits you and finishing the hands-on teaching experience at your workplace.
In the online M.S. in School Counseling program, you will learn how to:
- Use counseling methods that are suitable for people of different ages and backgrounds.
- Adapt various counseling ideas and techniques to work well in different cultures.
- Follow professional, ethical, and legal rules when working with others, like parents, teachers, and professionals.
- Make a difference in school and other counseling programs by using leadership and advocacy skills to create, put into action, and assess counseling plans in many places.
- Be an active member of professional counseling groups.
To apply for admission, you need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Valid Texas Teaching Certificate
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours
- Two years of work experience
Capella University
Capella University is a private, for-profit, online educational institution with its main office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Capella University. Established in 1993, the university focuses on delivering flexible, career-oriented online degree programs to assist working adults in progressing professionally.
Capella provides 52 degree programs encompassing over 1,900 online classes. Nearly 38,000 students are registered from all 50 states in the United States and 61 other nations, with 23 percent participating in doctoral programs, 47 percent in master’s programs, and 27 percent in bachelor’s programs.
Online Master of Science in School Counseling
An online Master of Science in School Counseling from Capella University is a flexible program that is part of a CAEP-accredited Education Preparation Provider (EPP) unit. This program combines learning from coursework and real-life experiences to help you get ready for state licensure as a school counselor after you graduate.
The program teaches you the knowledge and practical skills you need to stand out in your field. You will study topics like counseling theories for kids and teenagers, group counseling, preparing students for college and careers, and understanding mental health problems in children and adolescents.
To get this degree, you need to earn a total of 72 credits. This includes completing six main courses, seven specialized courses, two in-person learning sessions, and two internships.
The goal of this program is to help you use counseling and child development ideas and research in school settings. You will learn to offer caring counseling services to different types of students. When you graduate, you will be expected to follow ethical guidelines from professional counseling organizations and follow the best practices for school counseling.
After finishing this program, you should be able to:
- Use counseling theories, research, and proven practices in schools
- Use assessment skills to guide school counseling services
- Offer counseling services to diverse groups of students
- Follow ethical and legal rules
- Help students plan for college and careers
- Create and offer school counseling services based on best practices
- Communicate well with others, being sensitive, understanding, respectful, and professional
To apply for the Master of Science in School Counseling program, you need to provide:
- A bachelor’s degree from a recognized school
- Official transcripts showing a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Transcripts from all schools you have attended, including any graduate or professional coursework
- Two letters of recommendation from people who can assess your ability to succeed in graduate education
- A resume or CV
- A 3-6 page essay
- A valid photo ID
You don’t need to take the GRE or GMAT for admission.
Texas Woman’s University
Established in 1901, Texas Woman’s University (TWU) is a public educational institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of over 10,000 students. The university is situated in an urban setting, and its campus spans 270 acres. TWU follows a semester-based academic calendar.
The university operates two health science center-focused campuses in Dallas and Houston. Though it became fully co-educational in 1994, TWU remains the largest state-funded university primarily for women in the United States. It is part of the Texas Woman’s University System and provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs across six colleges, covering 60 fields of study.
TWU’s research emphasis is on preventing and treating childhood obesity, osteoporosis, stroke, and diabetes, with some investigations taking place at the Dallas and Houston health science centers.
For those interested in sports, TWU participates in NCAA Division II competitions in various sports, including volleyball, soccer, softball, gymnastics, and basketball.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling
Texas Woman’s University offers a Master of Education in school counseling program that requires 50 semester credit hours to complete. After finishing the program, graduates can work as certified school counselors for grades K-12 in Texas public schools. They can also be mental health or career counselors in public, private, and charter schools across the state.
This master’s degree prepares students for a school counseling career in Texas and can be completed 100% online. It is designed to fulfill the educational requirements set by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification for School Counselors.
Throughout the program, students will work on a school counseling portfolio that leads to a final project in their last internship class. A committee of three Counseling and Development faculty members, who must all have Graduate Faculty status, will review the project and decide the outcome.
Some of the courses that you will take during the program include:
- Counseling Theory and Practice
- Psychological Appraisal of the Individual
- Counseling Children and Adolescents
- Counseling for Career Development
- Applied Skills in School Counseling
- Group Counseling Procedures