Department of Counseling

Program Coordinators

Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Dr. Shannon McFarlin

Counseling and Development: Professional School Counseling - Dr. Kimberly McGough

Counseling and Development: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling: 

Graduate Faculty

Rebecca Weinbaum, Associate Dean and Associate Professor

Mehmet Akkurt, Assistant Professor

Lauren Cogswell, Clinical Instructor

Patricia Harris, Clinical Instructor

Mohammad K. Hamza, Professor

Wendy Greenidge, Associate Professor

Belinda Lopez, Interim Chair and Associate Professor

Shannon McFarlin, Assistant Professor

Kimberly McGough, Assistant Professor

Anna Nguyen, Clinical Instructor

Joy Snook, Assistant Professor

Lisa Wines, Associate Professor

Graduate Faculty Online Programs

Robert Carlisle, Distance Clinical Professor

Brande Flamez, Distance Clinical Professor

Robika Mylroie, Distance Clinical Professor

Admissions to the Master's Degree Programs

Admission to a master’s degree program is required of all students taking courses in the Counseling graduate-level programs. For on-campus applicants, transferred hours from another university must be approved in the department before registering for courses. For online applicants, transfer hours from other universities are not accepted.

Admissions Requirements to Lamar University Graduate College

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (institutional or last 60-hour count) or undergraduate GPA of: 2.75 for the School Counseling Program; GPA of 3.0 for the Marriage Couples and Family program; GPA of 3.0 for the Clinical Mental Health program; and GPA of 3.0 for the Certificate in Mental Health program.
• Departmental Essay
• Professional Reference

Step-by-Step Procedures for Admissions to the Masters Degree Programs in Counseling

• Complete the Application Form here through ApplyTexas and pay a one-time application fee of $25.
• Complete and submit the Departmental Essay and Informed Consent following the instructions provided via ApplyTexas.org.
• Applicants must provide the name of a professional reference, who will receive a Professional Reference Form from the department. This form must be submitted by the professional reference for the applicant to be admitted.
• Send official transcripts of all college and university coursework following the instructions given in the ApplyTexas.org Application.
• Upon notification of acceptance, return the agreement letter to the address provided.

Additional Requirements for Application to Professional School Counseling Programs

• Applicants must hold a valid state-issued teaching certificate upon enrolling in the program.
• Applicants must have at least two years of teaching experience in a K-12 setting and be US Citizens or Permanent Residents.
  • Waivers of any experience or certification requirements will be initiated by Lamar University Admissions staff as necessary in instances such as applications from states that do not require certification for professional practice.
  • Incomplete department applications will not be reviewed or considered for admission. Applicants who do not complete all application components within a one-semester term must reapply to the program. 
  • Upon admission to the selected master’s-level program, candidates will be required to sign a formal acceptance of the invitation before or within their first course.

** Out-of-state applicants must determine whether the program will meet state credentialing requirements by contacting their respective state Department of Education.

General admissions questions can be directed to Counseling Admissions using the following email: cospadmissions@lamar.edu

The Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare professionals to provide clinical counseling services to a broad population of clients in a range of professional settings (e.g., clinics, hospitals, school-based mental health programs, and private practice) and to be eligible to seek professional licensure. 

The Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is a 60-credit hour program consisting of the following courses:

• CNDV 5301 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
• CNDV 5302 FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
• CNDV 5310 COUNSELING SKILLS
• CNDV 5311 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING THEORIES & TECHNIQUES
• CNDV 5312 GROUP COUNSELING THEORIES & TECHNIQUES
• CNDV 5320 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING
• CNDV 5322 PROFESSIONALISM, ETHICS, AND THE LAW
• CNDV 5323 CAREER DEVELOPMENT
• CNDV 5326 ADDICTION COUNSELING
• CNDV 5334 MEASUREMENT AND ASSESSMENT  
• CNDV 5350 ABNORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR
• CNDV 5327 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BASIC PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
• CNDV 5352 CRISIS PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
• CNDV 5380 SEMINAR 1 RESIDENCY (REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE WEEK ON CAMPUS)
• CNDV 5380 SEMINAR 2 RESIDENCY (REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE WEEK ON CAMPUS)
• CNDV 5381 MARRIAGE, COUPLE, AND FAMILY COUNSELING
• CNDV 5392 PRACTICUM (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 100 FIELD HOURS)
• CNDV 5394A INTERNSHIP 1 (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• CNDV 5394B INTERNSHIP 2 (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• PEDG 5307 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

The Master’s Degree in Education in Counseling and Development with a concentration in Professional School Counseling is designed to prepare educators to provide professional school counseling services. This master’s degree program is specifically for certified teachers who possess at least a bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming part of a school’s professional support services team. This non-thesis program is designed to prepare educators to meet the requirements of School Counselor credentialing articulated by national and state standards and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification standards. Students complete 60 hours of coursework that leads to school counseling certification and licensure (LPC) in Texas. Out-of-state students are responsible to verify state requirements for each of these credentials.

The Master of Education in Counseling and Development in School Counseling degree is a 60-credit hour program consisting of the following courses:

• CNDV 5301 HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT 
• CNDV 5304 FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
• CNDV 5305 COUNSELING SKILLS/INTERVENTION
• CNDV 5307 CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SCHOOLS
• CNDV 5306 CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING
• CNDV 5311 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING THEORY/TECHNIQUES 
• CNDV 5312 GROUP COUNSELING THEORIES/TECHNIQUES
• CNDV 5320 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 
• CNDV 5322 PROFESSIONALISM ETHICS & LAW 
• CNDV 5326 ADDICTIONS COUNSELING
• CNDV 5327 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BASIC PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
• CNDV 5330 DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
• CNDV 5334 MEASUREMENT & ASSESSMENT 
• CNDV 5352 CRISIS PREVENTION INTERVENTION 
• CNDV 5380 SEMINAR 1 (RESIDENCY REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE WEEK ON CAMPUS)
• CNDV 5381 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
• CNDV 5390 SCHOOL COUNSELING PRACTICUM (3 CREDIT HOURS)
• CNDV 5394C INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• CNDV 5394D INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• CNDV 5350 ABNORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR
• PEDG 5307 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

The Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling is designed to prepare professionals to provide clinical counseling services using a systems approach in a range of professional settings (e.g., clinics, hospitals, school-based mental health programs, and private practice) and to be eligible to seek professional licensure. 

The Master of Education in Counseling and Development in Marriage, Couple and Family degree is a 60-credit hour program consisting of the following courses:

• CNDV 5301 HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
• CNDV 5304 FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
• CNDV 5310 COUNSELING SKILLS
• CNDV 5311 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING THEORY/TECHNIQUES 
• CNDV 5312 GROUP COUNSELING THEORIES/TECHNIQUES
• CNDV 5320 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 
• CNDV 5322 PROFESSIONALISM ETHICS & LAW 
• CNDV 5323 CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOLS
• CNDV 5326 ADDICTIONS COUNSELING
• CNDV 5327 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BASIC PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
• CNDV 5329 ASSESSMENT IN MARRIAGE, COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
• CNDV 5334 MEASUREMENT & ASSESSMENT 
• CNDV 5333 HUMAN SEXUALITY AND COUNSELING APPLICATIONS
• CNDV 5350 ABNORMAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
• CNDV 5380 SEMINAR 1 (RESIDENCY REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE WEEK ON CAMPUS)
• CNDV 5381 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
• CNDV 5393 COMMUNITY COUNSELING PRACTICUM (3 CREDIT HOURS)
• CNDV 5394C INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• CNDV 5394D INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)
• PEDG 5307 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH