番茄社区

Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in our programs! We invite you to read the information related to the following topics that can help to guide you through the admission process. Please note that this information is most relevant to our Online Counseling programs, however, it can be helpful to campus applicants as well. Please contact gradadmissionsedu@lamar.edu if you have any additional questions.
  • What does the department review process entail?
    The departmental review criteria for the M.Ed. Counseling programs are based on multiple standards, including knowledge of the field, community outreach, understanding of diverse populations, GPA, professional disposition and academic writing. Your essay responses and other application components are evaluated by the admissions committee. Please see the timeline for review Q&A for more information.
  • What is the timeline for review of my application for the online programs?
    The department review process takes about 5-10 business days to be completed once we have received your applytexas.org application, transcripts, department application essay and reference form. Sometimes transcripts and other individual requirements prolong this process as we are unable to complete admissions review at the department level unless those requirements are completed.

    You may  of your transcripts. Specific questions about transcripts can be directed to luonlineadmissions@lamar.edu.

    You should receive a confirmation email for each of the department application requirements (essay and reference form) when they are received by us; if you receive those confirmation emails, you can disregard any reminders you may receive and you do not need to follow up to request the status of your application; we will review your application as quickly and efficiently as possible and you will receive an email with a decision. Thank you for your cooperation.
  • Can I take more than one course at a time to complete the program faster?

    Our online programs are highly structured, and you are not permitted to take courses outside of the course rotation schedule for your program.

    Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – School Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling – Course Schedule

     

  • Can I take extra undergrad courses to boost my GPA for admission?
    No. At this time, we are only able to consider your institutional bachelor’s degree GPA or cumulative GPA of completed degree programs (i.e. master’s degree GPA and bachelor’s degree GPA) for admission purposes.
  • What is the format of courses in the online program? What can I expect?

    Courses are offered in a five-week format and you will take one course per five-week term when you begin the program. After about midway through the program, you will take advanced rotation courses, which are in 12- and 15-week formats, and you will be permitted to simultaneously take up to two courses at the appropriate time (i.e. when you are enrolled in a 15-week internship course, you will take another course at the same time).

    Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – School Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling – Course Schedule

    In each course, you will participate in discussion board posts, watch either live or a recorded lecture and complete weekly writing assignments. Some courses have tests/quizzes, too. 

    Textbooks are available in a digital/online format, or you can order hardcopy textbooks as well. Textbook information is usually made available in the first day of class in the Blackboard course.

  • I am an out-of-state applicant for the School Counseling program, am I required to have teaching experience for admission?

    We require two years of teaching experience for Texas residents only at the time the application is submitted.

    It is the responsibility of the out-of-state applicant to confirm the requirements for certification and/or licensure in their home state. As an out-of-state student, you are not eligible to take the Texas certification exam or to apply for School Counseling Certification in Texas. 

    Some states require you to become certified in the state you complete the master’s program; you would not be able to do so in Texas because Texas requires practicum and internship hours to be completed at a TEA-approved campus in Texas. Please follow up with your state’s board of education to confirm requirements.

  • What is the residency course and how is it different from practicum/internship courses?

    Residency is an intensive skills-training course that is taken twice in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and once in the Counseling and Development programs. This is a five-week online course, however, during one of those weeks, you will be required to travel to our campus in Beaumont, Texas, for the face-to-face requirement of the course.

    More residency information is available.

    Practicum and internship are field experience courses where you will gain hours of supervised experience as a graduate level counseling intern at a program approved site. Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling students take one practicum course and two internship courses. School Counseling students take one practicum and one internship course.

    More practicum/internship information is available.

  • What are the practicum/internship requirements?
  • What are acceptable practicum/internship sites?

    Clinical Mental Health Counseling:

    You are encouraged to begin researching local community mental health resources for sites that offer graduate student counseling intern placements as early as possible. If you are seeking Licensed Professional Counseling licensure, examples of acceptable sites are local community counseling agencies, hospitals and addiction treatment centers.

    School Counseling:

    If you are a Texas resident seeking school counseling certification, your practicum and internship hours must be completed at a Texas Education Agency-approved campus in order to meet state certification requirements. You are encouraged to meet with your campus principal, or other administrators early in the program, to prepare for any necessary agreements/documentation required for completion of field experience hours by your campus.

    Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling:

    You are encouraged to begin researching local resources for sites that offer graduate student counseling intern placements as early as possible.

    If you are seeking Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy licensure, your practicum and internship hours must be completed at a site that specifically serves families and couples to meet state graduate field experience requirements for LMFT licensure.

    If you are seeking LPC licensure, examples of acceptable sites are local community counseling agencies, hospitals and addiction treatment centers.

    Once you are ready to take your practicum and internship courses toward the end of the program, you will submit information about your chosen site for approval. You can also work with your assigned Faculty Advisor once enrolled if you want to ask questions about sites early in your coursework.

  • I have been accepted to the online program 鈥 what are my next steps?

    You will receive orientation information via email once you are registered and enrolled in all of your courses by your Student Services Advisors. Questions about registration can be sent to luacademic@lamar.edu a week prior to your start date.

    After receiving your acceptance letter from University Admissions, you can access your 番茄社区 University email by going to lamar.edu and in the top left-hand corner, click “LU Connect." From there, click “Students” and then “LU Email” and follow the instructions to login. 

    You may also find this page helpful.

  • What is my anticipated graduation date?

    Please consult your program’s course schedule (below). If you still have questions or need assistance with understanding the schedule, please contact your faculty advisor.

    Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – School Counseling – Course Schedule

    Counseling and Development – Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling – Course Schedule
  • I am a current 番茄社区 student enrolled in a M.Ed. Counseling program 鈥 how can I contact my advisor?

    Your faculty advisor is your "go-to" person to help you understand some of the long-term components of the program content, such as residency in Beaumont, Texas, and requirements of the field experience for both in state and out-of-state students. In addition, the faculty advisor will help monitor some of the essential characteristics of your development, such as awareness of your communication with others and taking proactive steps for wellness.

    List of our faculty advisors

  • What other support roles are available to me as a student in the online Counseling programs?

    The role of the faculty advisor is different than the role of your student services graduate advisor. Faculty advisors do not address scheduling, payment or course add/drops. You should contact a student services graduate advisor for those types of requests at luacademic@lamar.edu.

  • May I take individual coursework as a non-degree seeking student?
    Candidates are not eligible for individual coursework unless requested by a school district as a cohort.
  • How long do I have to complete my master鈥檚 degree or certification program if it is a TEA regulated program?

    The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) mandates all courses and practicum requirements must be completed within 5 years of the start date of the program.

    The TAC language is as follows:

    §228.35. Preparation 番茄社区 Coursework and/or Training.

    (a) Coursework and/or training for candidates seeking initial certification in any certification class.

    (b) … was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years and is directly related to the certificate being sought.

    TEA interpretation of TAC language (from TEA Newsletter for Educator Preparation 番茄社区s – May 11, 2021):

    If the candidate is continuously enrolled in the EPP (listed as Other Enrolled from admission – present), the EPP could accept prior coursework if older than 5 years that was taken through the same EPP. If the candidate is no longer identified as Enrolled, then the EPP would only be able to accept coursework taken within the last 5 years (given that it is directly related to the certificate sought and provided by an approved EPP or accredited IHE).