Future Master’s Students
Thank you so much for your interest in the Department of Counseling Master’s Programs!
Our program has a 40-year history of exceptional counselor training. As the need for counselors and mental health services grows nationally and statewide – your interest and desire in becoming a counselor is helping to bridge the existing gap.
At Tarleton, we believe graduate education should be accessible to all, especially those who are the first in their families to pursue an advanced degree. Our counseling programs are proud to support first-generation graduate students through a welcoming community, personalized faculty advising, and resources designed to make your transition to graduate school smooth and successful.
You’ll find mentorship, academic guidance, and a curriculum that values a spectrum of perspectives and lived experiences. Many of our students and faculty are first-generation graduates themselves—and they are here to support you every step of the way.
Whether you’re coming directly from an undergraduate program or returning to school while balancing work and family, Tarleton’s graduate counseling programs offer the flexibility, support, and opportunity you need to thrive.
To learn more about our Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Mental Health Counseling programs, you can view a virtual information session here:
The M.S. in School Mental Health Counseling degree also includes academic coursework that satisfies both core content areas and clinical experience requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and satisfies coursework and school field experiences requirements to be eligible to take the TExES school certification test. It is aligned with the 2024 CACREP accreditation standards for entry-level programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Admissions
The admissions process for both degrees is two-fold with the first part being an application to the College of Graduate Studies and the second being to the Department of Counseling. See the checklist here below for more information on this process.
Admissions Checklist
For College of Graduate Studies
• Graduate Admissions Application to Tarleton State University submitted online via Graduate Admissions Application
• $50.00 non-refundable application fee
• Official transcripts from ALL previous undergraduate and graduate work submitted to the College of Graduate Studies
• NO GRE score or recommendation letters required
For Department of Counseling
• Applicants must have minimum GPA of 3.00 on last 60 hours of course work
• Attend Interview (Individual Interview and Group Interview)
• If accepted into pre-admissions in the SMHC or CMHC Program, attend Mandatory Program Orientation
Priority Deadline for the Program has the application due December 1.
The Final Program Deadline is April 1.
Once students are accepted as pre-SMHC or pre-CMHC students, they go through the First Semester Review Process in which all students are evaluated by faculty at the end of the first semester. The purpose of evaluation is for faculty to look at student performance in terms of professionalism, competency, professional responsibility, integrity, and ethical standards.
Based on the results of the First Semester Review, admission status may be as follows: Fully Admitted, Continue with Conditions, or Not Admitted. Your advisor would communicate these results and next steps with you.
Resources
As you are making a decision here is some additional information linked below that will help you decide why Tarleton is the right choice for you!
