Department of Counseling
Nurturing Empathy, Fostering Growth
Gain the valuable knowledge you'll need as a clinician, school counselor, educator or practitioner in an ever-changing society.
A degree in counseling from A&M-Commerce will place you on the path to becoming an effective counselor and prepare you for licensure. Within our department, you can earn a M.S. or Ph.D. in counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or an M.Ed in College Student Affairs. We also offer a bachelor's degree in human services and a graduate certificate in chemical dependency counseling.
CACREP Accredited
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a CHEA-recognized accreditor of counseling programs in the United States. CACREP accredits more than 900 master's and doctoral degree programs in counseling and related specialties offered at 400+ colleges and universities across the country.
Yearly Outcome Data
Select a CACREP-accredited degree program below to view accreditation statistics.
Number of Graduates
32
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 94% of initially enrolled students persist through graduation, with most completing in 3-4 years, depending upon personal circumstances.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
93%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, we estimate that 80% of graduates who seek licensure as a licensed professional counselor earn that credential, with approximately 79% who seek employment in the counsel
Number of Graduates
24
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 95% of initially enrolled students persist through graduation, with most completing in 3-4 years, depending upon personal circumstances.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, we estimate that 95% of graduates who seek licensure as a licensed professional counselor earn that credential, with approximately 95% who seek employment in the counseling field gaining employment within six months of graduation.
Number of Graduates
34
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 95% of initially enrolled students persist through graduation, with most completing in 3-4 years.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
91-100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, 95% of graduates who sought employment in the counseling field gain employment within six months of graduation.
Number of Graduates
18
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 92% of initially enrolled students persist through graduation, with most completing in 3-4 years, depending upon personal circumstances.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, we estimate that approximately 50% who seek employment as professional school counselors are employed as such within six months of graduation.
Number of Graduates
1
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 92% of initially enrolled students persist through graduation, with most completing in 3-4 years, depending upon personal circumstances.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, we estimate that approximately 50% who seek employment as professional school counselors are employed as such within six months of graduation.
In 2022-23, the Counseling Faculty voted to relinquish the status of CACREP-accreditation for the School Counseling (MS in Counseling, 51-credit hours) program in response to changes in the Texas Administrative Code and identified needs of Texas communities.
Number of Graduates
17
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 80% of enrolled students persist through graduation within the maximum time limit permitted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (10 years). Our 6-year completion rate is approximately 60%, with approximately 40% of students graduating within 4.5 years.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, 100% of those who responded and who sought employment in the counseling field reported gaining such employment within six months of graduation.
Number of Graduates
9
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 95% of enrolled students persist through graduation within the maximum time limit permitted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (10 years). Our 6-year completion rate is approximately 70%, with approximately 30% of students graduating within 4.5 years.
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
100%
Job Placement Data
Based upon recent surveys of alumni, 100% of those who responded and who sought employment in the counseling field reported gaining such employment within six months of graduation.
Number of Graduates
7
Program Completion Rates
Approximately 68% of enrolled students persist through graduation within the maximum time limit permitted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (10 years).
License and Certification Exam Pass Rates
N/A
Job Placement Data
Based upon a recent survey of alumni respondents, 100% of graduates who sought employment in the counseling field gained employment within six months of graduation.
You may also download the full CACREP vital statistics for A&M-Commerce. If you experience accessibility issues with the document, you may contact Dr. Michael Schmit for assistance.
Explore Our Programs
Chemical Dependency Counseling Graduate Certificate
This certificate will prepare you with the necessary theories, assessments and modalities to counsel, prepare, and implement treatment plans for substance abuse clients, their families and co-workers.
Counseling (MED) Student Affairs Emphasis
Gain employment in the university setting through our student affairs track. A master’s degree in counseling provides the foundation needed to interact with college students on a daily basis.
Counseling (MS) Clinical Mental Health Counseling Emphasis
Our CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling track prepares you to serve as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. You'll serve clientele with different mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties as well as couples counseling.
Counseling (MS) School Counseling Emphasis
Our school counseling track prepares you to provide guidance and counseling to students of all ages. You must hold a valid teaching certificate and two years of full-time teaching experience to qualify for this program. When you graduate, you’ll be certified as a Professional School Counselor.
Counselor Education and Supervision (PHD)
The doctoral program in counselor education and supervision includes 69-72 hours of coursework in the classroom and online. This includes field experience, advanced courses, research tools and finally, a dissertation.
Human Services (BA/BS)
A bachelor's degree in human services from A&M-Commerce will put you on course for a wide range of occupations with foundations in counseling.
Department of Counseling Guide Pages
Find information and resources related to your degree’s clinical application requirements in the university guidebook.
News Spotlights
Pair of TAMUC Alumni Named to Quinlan ISD Hall of Fame
The Quinlan Independent School District in Quinlan, Texas recently announced their 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, which include a pair of Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni.
Sucked Into the Vortex: Social Media and Mental Health Q&A with a TAMUC Counselor
In a world obsessed with likes, comments and views, how can we find a little peace and quiet in our minds? Social media: we all know and love it. And, if you’re like me, maybe you love it a little too much. I can’t count how many times I have picked up my phone to […]
A&M-Commerce Alum Shares Tips for a Career in Health and Wellness
A&M-Commerce alum Angela P. Harper (‘09) recently sat for an interview featured in Authority Magazine. In the article, Harper shares five keys for building a successful career in health and wellness. She also emphasizes the importance of authenticity, self-care strategies and open communication in fostering strong client relationships. Harper is a licensed professional counselor associate […]
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Students Honored by International Association
Two A&M-Commerce doctoral students, Diana Rodriguez and Duc Huy, were recently named 2024 Emerging Leaders by the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC). IAMFC is a division of the American Counseling Association consisting of counselors, therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists focused specifically on couples and families. Every year, IAMFC names four emerging […]
“Winter Blues”: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tips to Fight It
Winter can be a beautiful season. The air gets colder; the holidays arrive, and a snow flurry might even appear. But for many, the feeling of “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” isn’t always pleasant. In fact, during the colder months, it isn’t uncommon for people to feel somewhat withdrawn, lonely and depressed. In other […]
A&M-Commerce Professors Team to Publish Book on Mental Health
Drs. Dimitra Smith and LaVelle Hendricks have published their latest book “Changing the Stigma of Mental Health Among African Americans: Moving from Denial to Acceptance.” Published through IGI Global, the book describes the history of mental health in the African American community and covers topics including bipolar disorder, dementia, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis and […]
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Earns Humanistic Teaching Award
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Ajitha Kumaran is the recipient of the 2023 Humanistic Educator/Supervisor of the Year award, presented by the Association for Humanistic Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association. The award honors a member who showcases a humanistic approach to teaching or supervision, which impacts the development of students and new professionals through […]
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Discusses Benefits of Master's Degree
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, professor and head of the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce, is featured in two Fortune.com articles discussing the merits of earning a master’s degree in counseling. In the article: “How much can you earn with a master’s degree in counseling,” Hendricks offers potential career tracks for those earning a master’s degree in […]
A&M-Commerce Professors Team Up for New Children's Book
Drs. Dimitra J. Smith and LaVelle Hendricks have teamed up again to co-author and illustrate their latest children’s book, “Domestic Violence: Smiling Faces Don’t Always Tell the Truth.” Released by First Service Publishers and available through Amazon, the book tells the fictional story of a respected doctor struggling with unresolved anger. Smith is a professor […]
A&M-Commerce Faculty Members Co-Author Book on Black Leadership in Higher Education
A&M-Commerce faculty members Dr. Dimitra Smith and Dr. LaVelle Hendricks are co-authors of the recently released book “The Future of Black Leadership in Higher Education: Firsthand Experiences and Global Impact.” Published through IGI Global, the book highlights the importance of having Black academic leaders in higher education institutions to better serve Black student populations. With […]
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Contact Us
- Department of Counseling
- 903.886.5637
- 903.886.5594
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011