Department of Counseling and Special Populations

Location: 105 Education Building

Phone: (409) 880-8978

Department Chair: Rebecca Weinbaum

School Counseling Program Coordinator: Patricia Harris

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Coordinator: Wendy Greenidge

 

Graduate Faculty Counseling Campus and Online Programs

William R. Holmes, Associate Dean and Professor

Mohammad K. Hamza, Professor

Wendy Greenidge, Assistant Professor

Belinda Lopez, Assistant Professor

Kimberly McGough, Assistant Professor

Joy Snook, Assistant Professor

Rebecca Weinbaum, Associate Professor

Lisa Wines, Assistant Professor

Lauren Cogswell, Visiting Professor

Patricia Harris, Clinical Instructor

Sonja Hebert, Clinical Instructor

Graduate Faculty Online Counseling Program

Robert Carlisle, Distance Clinical Professor

Brande Flamez, Distance Clinical Professor

Robika Mylroie, Distance Clinical Professor

Counseling and Special Populations Degrees

Graduate Degrees 

  • Master of Education in School Counseling
  • Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Certificate: (16 hours) Counseling and Development (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)

Graduate Programs

The Counseling and Special Populations Department offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. For students who already hold a 48-hour master’s degree in counseling, the department offers a Certificate in Counseling and Development to meet the 60-hour licensure standard in Texas. 

Admissions to the Master’s Degree Programs

Admission to a master’s degree program is required of all students taking courses in the Counseling and Special Populations 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 ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ Graduate College

  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (institutional or last 60-hour count) or undergraduate GPA of 2.5-2.99 GPA (institutional or last 60 hours) or higher with corresponding GRE. Students who do not have a 3.0 GPA (institutional or last 60 hours) must have a qualifying GRE score within the first 9 credit hours. Admission score will be developed with the formula GPA x 50 + GRE (composite of Verbal and Quantitative)> or =428
  • Applicants who do not have a 3.0 GPA (cumulative or last 60 hours) must have a qualifying GRE score within the first 9 credit hours
    • For full admission, these candidates must apply for Admission to Degree Candidacy by completing applications with the department. Students are notified of full admission within 30 days after submitting the application.
  • Departmental Essay
  • Professional Reference

 

Step-by-Step Procedures for Admissions to the Master Degree Programs in Counseling and Special Populations

  • Complete the Application Form via ApplyTexas at 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 course work following the instructions given in the ApplyTexas.org Application.

Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (institutional or last 60-hour count) or undergraduate GPA of 2.5-2.99 GPA (institutional or last 60 hours) or higher with corresponding GRE. Students who do not have a 3.0 GPA (institutional or last 60 hours) must have a qualifying GRE score within the first 9 credit hours. Admission score will be developed with the formula GPA x 50 + GRE (composite of Verbal and Quantitative)> or =428

Applicants who do not have a 3.0 GPA (cumulative or last 60 hours) must have a qualifying GRE score within the first 9 credit hours

 

Additional Requirements for Application to Professional School Counseling and Special Education Programs

  • Applicants most 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 a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
    • Waivers of any experience or certification requirements will be initiated by ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ 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 admissions 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 and Special Population Admissions using the following email: cospadmission@lamar.edu

Program Descriptions and Coursework

 

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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 ROUP COUNSELING THEORIES & TECHNIQUES
  • CNDV 5320 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5322 PROFESSIONALISM, ETHICS, AND THE LAW
  • CNDV 5323 CAREER DEVELOPMENT
  • CNDV 5324 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5334 MEASUREMENT AND ASSESSMENT  
  • CNDV 5350 ABNORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR
  • • CNDV 5351 CONSULTATION (this course is pending curriculum council approval to be substituted with CNDV 5327 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BASIC PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
  • CNDV 5352 CRISIS PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
  • CNDV 5353 RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION
  • 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 5393 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)

School Counseling

 

The Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in 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 are required to complete 48 hours of coursework specifically related to school counseling..

The Master of Education in School Counseling degree is a 48-credit hour program consisting of the following courses:

  • CNDV 5301 HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT 
  • CNDV 5303 FOUNDATIONS OF SCHOOL 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 
  • CNDV 5330 DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5334 MEASUREMENT & ASSESSMENT 
  • CNDV 5352 CRISIS PREVENTION INTERVENTION 
  • CNDV 5353 RESEARCH & PROGRAM EVALUATION 
  • CNDV 5380 SEMINAR 1 (RESIDENCY REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE WEEK ON CAMPUS)
  • 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) This course (CNDV 5394D) is at university curriculum council to be approved to be substituted with CNDV 5324 Substance abuse. 

 

General Information Concerning Professional Certificates

The Professional Certificate is a specialized program of study intended to add to an individual’s professional expertise area and enhance the individual’s scope of practice.

 

Certificate in Counseling and Development

The Certificate in Counseling and Development is designed to extend coursework for a professional career and licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. This program has been designed to prepare professional counselors to practice in a broader range of settings including community agencies, hospitals, and other mental health related facilities and meet state licensure requirements for licensed professional counselor.

The Certificate in Counseling and Development is a 16-credit hour program consisting of the following courses:

  • CNDV 5302 FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5324 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5350 ABNORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR
  • CNDV 5381 MARRIAGE, COUPLE, AND FAMILY COUNSELING
  • CNDV 5393 PRACTICUM (3 CREDIT HOURS AND 300 FIELD HOURS)