Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

  • Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education (Ph.D.)
  • Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling (GCERT)

The Counselor Education program offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counselor Education, both of which are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

All students taking courses in the Ph.D. in Counselor Education are expected and required to abide by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and applicable state and federal laws governing standards of practice for counseling.

Upon admission, students are assigned an initial advisor. They have the option of selecting an advisor of their choice as they progress in their program of studies.


Master of Arts in Counseling

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling is offered under Plan II (non-thesis) as described in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. The program includes areas of focus in either Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling.

The faculty seeks the most highly qualified and diverse applicants to serve the unique needs of New Mexico and the region. The M.A. program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework and is designed for students to develop the requisite competencies for a career as a professional counselor. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling area of focus meets the educational standards for eligibility as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New Mexico. The School Counseling area of focus meets the educational requirements for the State Board of Education license as a school counselor.

Admission

Admission to the M.A. program is based on ratings of several factors including scholarship, academic background (especially in behavioral science), work experience, volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement including multicultural experience. Admission is competitive, with more applicants than it is possible to admit. After the initial screening process, selected applicants are invited to interview with the faculty. Based on the results of both the initial screening and the interview, faculty selects candidates for admission to the program. Admission to the M.A. program in no way guarantees traverse, practicum, and/or internship placement; licensure; or employment. Additionally, fingerprinting and background checks may be required.

Application Deadlines:

Spring Admission: 
August 15
Fall Admission: 
January 15

Requirements

Core Courses
COUN 510 Professional Orientation and Ethics
COUN 513 Career Counseling
COUN 515 Testing and Assessment in Counseling
COUN 516 Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Counseling
COUN 517 Theories of Counseling and Human Behavior
COUN 518 Group Counseling Internship
COUN 519 Group Counseling Internship
COUN 522 Communication Skills in Counseling
COUN 576 Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
COUN 577 Substance Use and Abuse
COUN 584 Multicultural Issues in the Helping Professions
COUN 590 Practicum in Counseling
COUN 595 Internship (6 credit hours)
EDPY 500
-or-
EDPY 505
Survey of Research Methods in Education

Conducting Quantitative Educational Research
EDPY 502
-or-
EDPY 511
Survey of Statistics in Education

Introductory Educational Statistics
EDPY 503
-or-
FCS 503
Principles of Human Development

Seminar in Human Growth and Development

 

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Area of Focus
COUN 521 Clinical Mental Health Counseling
COUN 560 Family Counseling
COUN 581 Sexuality in Counseling and Psychotherapy

 

School Counseling Area of Focus
COUN 541 Counseling Children and Adolescents
COUN 545 School Counseling
COUN 581 Sexuality in Counseling and Psychotherapy

 


Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counselor Education program intends to enable qualifying master's-level counselors to extend their career opportunities. The program is designed to facilitate the development of requisite competencies for careers in academic and professional service settings. Coursework and research requirements prepare graduates to seek faculty positions in graduate-level counselor education programs and as educators, researchers, supervisors, and consultants in government, education, and community agency/school settings. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). 

Admission

Admission to the program is based on scholarship, academic background, work experience, letters of reference, a writing sample, a statement of intent, culturally diverse experience and scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Final selection of candidates is made after an interview of finalists.

For additional information on the program and application procedures, contact the Counselor Education Program. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed monthly by program faculty. Students are admitted to the program for the Fall or Spring semester. Admission Ph.D. program in no way guarantees placements (e.g., practica, internship), licensure, and/or employment. Additionally, fingerprinting and background checks may be required. 

Degree Requirements

Course requirements for the Ph.D. are listed below. At times, other relevant courses become available or students have unique educational needs or interests. All substitutions of courses must be approved by the Counseling Program faculty before a substitute course can be used to fulfill a requirement. A course potentially may be used to fulfill requirements in more than one area, but the student’s program of studies still must meet the Counseling Program doctoral degree requirement of 97 credit hours. 

Master's Program (15 credit hours required)

  • Group Counseling
  • Theories of Counseling
  • Multicultural Issues
  • Counseling Ethics
  • Research Design
Credit
Hours
Theories 3
COUN 621 Advanced Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy  
Supervision 3
COUN 626 Supervision of Counseling Services  
Instructional Theory and Methods in Counselor Education 3
COUN 625 Teaching in Counselor Education  
Multicultural and Diversity Studies 3
COUN 636 Advanced Multicultural Counseling  
Assessment Methods and Use of Data (select one of the following): 3
EDPY 515 Survey and Questionnaire Design and Analysis
EDPY 572 Classroom Assessment
EDPY 574 Introduction to Educational and Psychological Measurement
or other courses with program approval
Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselor Education and Supervision 3
COUN 615 Leadership, Advocacy and Professional Issues
Consultation and Evaluation 3
COUN 646 Consultation, Program Evaluation, and Research in Counselor Education
Clinical Experiences 15
COUN 630 Advanced Practicum in Counseling (Clinical)
COUN 650 Advanced Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
COUN 696 Internship (Clinical)
COUN 696 Internship (Supervision)
COUN 696 Internship (Teaching)


Supporting Area (24 credit hours required)

The 24 credit hour supporting area consists of 12 credit hours of quantitative and qualitative research (as defined below), and 12 credit hours in another discipline. Supporting area disciplines are typically selected from the following examples: Educational Administration, Educational Psychology, Family and Child Studies, Health Education, Management, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Health, Training and Learning Technologies, and Sociology. Students should note that some programs are very specific about the coursework required for a supporting area in that discipline. 

The following courses are required for the 12 credit hours of quantitative and qualitative research:

EDPY 603 Applied Statistical Design and Analysis
EDPY 604 Multiple Regression Techniques as Applied to Education
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research
either an additional quantitative or qualitative research course
Quantitative Options including:
EDPY 607 Structural Equation Modeling
EDPY 651 Advanced Seminar in Quantitative Educational Research
or other courses with program approval
Qualitative Options including:
LEAD/LLSS 605 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
LLSS 623 Ethnographic Research
or other courses with program approval


Additional Requirements

Dissertation Seminar (1 credit hour)
options including:
EDPY 650 Dissertation Seminar
LLSS 650 Dissertation Seminar
or other courses with program approval
Dissertation (18 credit hours)
COUN 699 Dissertation
Other program electives to reach 97 credit hours
COUN 516 Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Counseling
COUN 541 Counseling Children and Adolescents
COUN 560 Family Counseling
COUN 576 Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
COUN 577 Substance Use and Abuse
COUN 581 Sexuality in Counseling and Psychotherapy
or other courses with program approval

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling is designed to prepare individuals who are seeking an additional counseling specialization concurrently or following the completion of the requirements for a masters degree in Counseling (Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling).

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling is available to those who have earned or are in the process of earning a CACREP accredited Masters of Arts/Science in Counseling. The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling offers two options, each developed to meet professional standards and New Mexico licensure requirements. Students will work with their advisor to determine the appropriate course work and course sequencing. Students will complete a minimum of 12 credits with a GPA of at least 3.0, and no course grade lower than B-.

Option 1: School Counseling Specialization

  • 6 credits - COUN 595 Internship (placement in Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling area)
  • 3 credits – COUN 545 School Counseling
  • 3 credits – COUN 541 Counseling Children and Adolescents

Option 2: Mental Health Counseling Specialization

  • 6 credits - COUN 595 Internship (placement in Advanced Graduate Certificate in Counseling area)
  • 3 credits - COUN 521 Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • 3 credits – COUN 560 Family Counseling

Please note additional fees may be necessary for background checks or clearance information required for some candidates internship sites. Education program in no way guarantees placements (e.g., internship), licensure, and/or Admission into the Counselor employment.


Courses

COUN 1110. Introduction to Human Services. (3)



COUN 1120. Introduction to Helping Skills. (3)



COUN 2110. Introduction to Group Dynamics. (3)



COUN 2120. Life Designing and Career Development in Human Services. (3)



COUN 310. Harm Reduction and Crisis Intervention. (3)



COUN 320. Introduction to Veterans' Issues in Counseling. (3)



COUN 330. LGBTQ Issues in Education and Human Services. (3)



COUN 492 / 592. Workshop in Counseling. (1-4 to a maximum of 13 Δ)



COUN 493. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



COUN 510. Professional Orientation and Ethics. (3)



COUN 513. Career Counseling. (3)



COUN 515. Testing and Assessment in Counseling. (3)



COUN 516. Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Counseling. (3)



COUN 517. Theories of Counseling and Human Behavior. (3)



COUN 518. Group Counseling. (3)



COUN 519. Group Counseling Internship. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



COUN 521. Clinical Mental Health Counseling. (3)



COUN 522. Communication Skills in Counseling. (3)



COUN 541. Counseling Children and Adolescents. (3)



COUN 545. School Counseling. (3)



COUN 560. Family Counseling. (3)



COUN 576. Diagnosis of Mental Disorders. (3)



COUN 577. Substance Use and Abuse. (3)



COUN 581. Sexuality in Counseling and Psychotherapy. (3)



COUN 584. Multicultural Issues in the Helping Professions. (3)



COUN 590. Practicum in Counseling. (3)



COUN 591. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



COUN 592 / 492. Workshop in Counseling. (1-4 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



COUN 593. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



COUN 595. Internship. (2-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



COUN 615. Leadership, Advocacy and Professional Issues. (3)



COUN 620. Seminar in Counseling. (3)



COUN 621. Advanced Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy. (3)



COUN 625. Teaching in Counselor Education. (3)



COUN 626. Supervision of Counseling Services. (3)



COUN 630. Advanced Practicum in Counseling. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



COUN 636. Advanced Multicultural Counseling. (3)



COUN 646. Consultation, Program Evaluation, and Research in Counselor Education. (3)



COUN 650. Advanced Group Counseling and Psychotherapy. (3)



COUN 696. Internship. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



COUN 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



Course Search:




Keyword Search:

Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809