Overview
The mission of the Master of Education (MED) in Counseling program is to prepare highly competent professionals who can respond to the lifespan mental health needs of a multicultural community. Graduates of the UTRGV MED in Counseling program are committed to advocacy and leadership in the communities they serve. Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization receive instruction in the professional content areas and complete practicum hours that enable them to apply for national certification and/or state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). 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.
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 an applicant does not meet the minimum undergraduate GPA criterion of 3.0, the applicant will be evaluated holistically using evaluation criteria reflecting professional goals, undergraduate GPA, professional success from resume, and success on related prior course work. If a student is admitted with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0, they will be admitted with conditional admission. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their initial two courses in the counseling graduate program.
- Three letters of recommendation at least one of which must be from a former professor.
- Personal essay detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Resume including educational background and work experience.
- Personal interview (Upon invitation by department).
- Cleared Criminal background check.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Appeal Process for Students Denied Admission
Students who are denied admission for any reason may appeal to the Counseling Department Appeals Committee in the following manner:
- File a letter of appeal to the committee for consideration in the next regular semester.
- Provide an essay that details significant life events, with an emphasis on achievements and responsibilities that would indicate an ability to undertake graduate work and a probability for success in the field of counseling.
- Complete an interview with the Counseling Department Appeals committee. The Appeals committee may accept the appeal, deny the appeal or accept the appeal with conditions, e.g., additional academic work, personal counseling, and/or similar experiences.
Admitted Students
Admitted students are required to attend the mandatory Counseling Department Student Orientation. Once students begin their coursework, they are not allowed to switch to the School Counseling specialization. Students are expected to abide by all counseling-related ethical codes and legal statutes, including but not limited to those set forth by the American Counseling Association, Texas Education Agency (TEA), the American School Counseling Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, the Association for Specialists in Group Work, the Texas State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors, as well as any others associated with the type of counseling intervention being provided. Failure to comply with ethical standards will result in consequences deemed appropriate by the Counseling program faculty, including dismissal from the program. If a student is admitted with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0, they will be admitted with conditional admission. The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their initial two courses in the counseling graduate program.
Progression Requirements
A student must earn a ‘B’ or better in every course in the degree. In the event that a student does not meet the aforementioned requirement, the student must seek advisement to schedule the course repeat.
Students earning more than two Cs during the program may be exited from the program.
Counseling candidates must successfully complete four benchmarks to ensure progress through the program. Benchmarks include:
- A grade of ‘B’ or better on the theoretical orientation paper in COUN 6328.
- A grade of ‘B’ or better on counseling videos assessing counseling skills in COUN 6365.
- A satisfactory rating on fit to practice conducted each semester by faculty(students who receive unsatisfactory ratings may be placed on a growth plan with recommendations to successfully improve in the program; see the counseling student handbook and program website for this policy and the EPP exit policy).
- Successful completion of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) as determined by the national mean for their test administration.
Exit Requirements
- Completion of all course requirements with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
- Satisfactory completion of all benchmarks.