Master of Arts in Counseling

The Master of Arts in Counseling, both non-licensure and licensure programs, are designed to prepare students to be wise and effective in counseling individuals, couples, and families, and to do so from a Christian worldview. These distinctively different programs emphasize the development of research-based skills and the study of psychology and counseling theories while encouraging students to grow in their Christian faith and maturity. Students are prepared to serve in Christian and secular settings such as the local church, Christian counseling ministries, colleges, private practices, psychiatric hospitals, and other mental health agencies and organizations. Graduates from the licensure program are eligible to apply as Licensed Professional Counselors in the state of Texas after passing the National Counselor Exam, Texas Jurisprudence Exam, and completing a 3,000-hour supervised internship.

Non-licensure Requirements (36 Hours)

Prerequisites*

• BIB 105 Hermeneutics
• EMS 101 Personal Evangelism
• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• PSY 102 Dynamics Marriage and Family
• THS 101 Spiritual Foundations
• THS 203 Systematic Theology I
• THS 301 Systematic Theology II

Non-Licensure Core Curriculum (18 Hours)

• CSL 505 Counseling Theories
• CSL 510 Social, Cultural, and Family Issues
• CSL 515 Counseling Methods and Techniques
• CSL 601 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques
• CSL 620 Pre-Practicum
• CSL 630 Practicum I

Non-Licensure Electives (18 Hours)

• CSL 540 Conflict Management
• CSL 545 Educational Psychology
• CSL ____ Counseling Elective
• ____ ____ Open Elective
• ____ ____ Open Elective
• ____ ____ Open Elective

Non-Licensure Applied Studies

Non-credit courses:

• AMP 500 Applied Ministry Project (Required each semester)
• RES 601 Library Research (Required)

Licensure Requirements (48 Hours)

Prerequisites*

• BIB 105 Hermeneutics
• EMS 101 Personal Evangelism
• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• PSY 102 Dynamics Marriage and Family
• THS 101 Spiritual Foundations
• THS 203 Systematic Theology I
• THS 301 Systematic Theology II

Licensure Core Curriculum (39 Hours)

• CSL 505 Counseling Theories
• CSL 510 Social, Cultural, and Family Issues
• CSL 515 Counseling Methods and Techniques
• CSL 520 Human Growth and Development
• CSL 525 Abnormal Human Behavior
• CSL 530 Lifestyle and Career Development
• CSL 601 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques
• CSL 605 Research
• CSL 615 Group
• CSL 620 Pre-Practicum
• CSL 630 Practicum I
• CSL 640 Practicum II
• CSL 650 Professional Orientation

Licensure Counseling Electives (9 Hours)

Three of the following:

• CSL 535 Marriage and Family Counseling
• CSL 540 Conflict Management
• CSL 545 Educational Psychology
• CSL 550 Addiction Counseling
• CSL 610 Topics in Counseling
• CSL 612 Psychopharmacology and Mental Illness

Licensure Applied Studies

Non-credit courses:

• AMP 500 Applied Ministry Project (Required each semester)
• RES 601 Library Research (Required)

*Graduate students need only take the degree prerequisites listed above, not the prerequisites for those classes listed in the undergraduate course descriptions. All degree prerequisites must be completed within the first 50% of coursework for the degree. Until degree prerequisites are satisfied, a prerequisite must be taken each semester in which a student is enrolled.