Southern Methodist University Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Master of Science in Counseling
University Park, USA
MSc
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The Master of Science in Counseling trains students to apply developmental and social sciences to help children and adults with psychological growth and social adjustment. The program provides elements for certification, licensure, and clinical practice. Students study education, psychology, human development, sociology, learning, and social change; develop therapy and assessment skills; learn legal and clinical considerations; and gain repeated practice with feedback through a year-long practicum and internship. Graduates can pursue state licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), or school counselors, and can incorporate LCDC training in Texas.
Career Outcomes: School counselor, marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed professional counselor (LPC), chemical dependency counselor (LCDC), community mental health clinician, private clinician, hospital counselor.
The Master of Science in Counseling program prepares students for the counseling profession, which involves the application of the developmental and social sciences in assisting children and adults with psychological growth and social adjustment problems. Counselors work in schools, community agencies, churches, hospitals, and private practice.
The counseling program provides the elements necessary for certification, licensure, and actual counseling practice. Students acquire knowledge in the disciplines that underline counseling, including education, psychology, human development, sociology, learning, and social change. They develop the basic skills in therapy and assessment and become familiar with the legal and clinical considerations confronting practitioners. Repeated practice and role playing with feedback and strategic modification are critical to mastery of the skills, as is the completion of a year-long Practicum and Internship experience.
Successful graduates are able to pursue State Licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), or School Counselors. The opportunity to be licensed as a Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in the state of Texas can be incorporated in the LPC graduate plan as well.
