Stephen F. Austin State University Counseling Programs
Stephen F. Austin State University is known for its Professional Counseling Program, which earned the #1 ranking as Texas’s top-value counseling master’s degree. The program achieved this recognition based on several significant metrics: program completion rate, job placement rate, licensing exam pass rate, accreditation length, research productivity, and tuition and fees.
The program builds on counseling foundations that are deeply rooted in social justice, wellness, and unconditional positive regard if you have specific needs. SFASU counseling education concentrates on three vital components: academic knowledge acquisition, demonstration of counseling skills, and personal growth. Students often find themselves growing personally as they develop professionally.
The Stephen F. Austin State University Counseling Programs shine through their unique size and approach. The program maintains enrollment between 65-80 students, creating an environment where faculty develop meaningful mentoring relationships with students. Students receive individualized support throughout their educational trip.
Students benefit from a program that meets the highest national standards for counseling education. This shows in their impressive certification and licensure testing results, excellent job placement rates, and positive feedback from both alumni and employers. Faculty members support student growth and encourage open dialog about concerns while guiding them through both exciting moments and challenges.
The program really prepares students for professional practice. Students receive strong clinical training, whatever their specialization. All but one of these concentration tracks (clinical mental health, clinical rehabilitation, and school counseling) lead to Licensed Professional Counselor credentials, giving graduates versatile career options.
The SFASU Counseling Clinic serves as a valuable training facility. Graduate students in Practicum and Internship portions provide services under licensed faculty supervision. The clinic offers various counseling services including individual, couples, family, and group counseling to children, adolescents, and adults who face personal difficulties.
Students who begin their trip toward becoming counselors at Stephen F. Austin State University join what faculty proudly call a “noble profession” – one that helps them make a real difference in others’ lives.
What counseling programs does Stephen F. Austin State University offer?
SFA’s Professional Counseling Program offers a detailed 60-hour master’s degree with three distinct concentration options that lead to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. Students can enjoy a mix of online and face-to-face courses that provide flexibility without compromising education quality.
Students start with a common core curriculum of 48 hours before choosing their specialty. This approach helps them explore all three counseling areas and ensures their development as well-rounded professionals. They then take 12 additional hours in their chosen specialization.
The three concentration options available are:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This specialization prepares you to work in clinical mental health settings. You’ll learn skills to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, handle addictions, provide psychoeducational prevention techniques, consult with individuals and groups, and research effective treatments. After graduating, you can apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
School Counseling: This path leads to becoming a professional counselor in school settings. Texas requires Certified School Counselors to be certified teachers with at least two years of classroom teaching experience as the teacher of record. You’ll get specialized knowledge and skills needed to deliver effective school counseling.
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling: This concentration is being phased out due to low enrollment, but current students can still complete their degree requirements within the CACREP accreditation cycle. This specialization helped students prepare for counseling in rehabilitation settings.
The program gives you a great chance to get dual credentials. Every specialization leads to Licensed Professional Counselor eligibility, and school counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling students also receive certification in their fields (Certified School Counselor or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor).
Most students complete the program in 24 months. The application costs $50.00, and annual tuition averages $29,220.00. Living expenses run about $12,200.00.
Students need general psychology as a background course and must complete it in their first year. The program only accepts post-baccalaureate courses after students complete or enroll in required background courses.
Students build a strong professional identity and learn to serve people from all backgrounds effectively across the state and nation.
Internships/Practicum at Stephen F. Austin
Hands-on experience is the foundation of counseling education at Stephen F. Austin State University. Students receive valuable practical training through structured practicum and internship opportunities. The SFASU Counseling Clinic serves as the main training facility for graduate students in the Professional Counseling Program.
Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised experience during practicum, which includes at least 40 hours of direct client service. The clinic blends therapeutic and community focus, offering students chances to work with clients from all backgrounds while receiving complete supervision. Students spend 8-10 hours weekly in the clinic, often exceeding the minimum required hours.
After completing practicum successfully, students advance to a 600-hour internship that requires at least 240 direct service hours. Students work in community, school, or rehabilitation settings based on their concentration. The placements happen in facilities of all types including private practices, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and state agencies.
Students benefit from a robust supervision structure. The Clinic Director provides one hour of individual supervision weekly during practicum, along with 1½ hours of group supervision. The supervision continues through internship with one hour weekly from site supervisors and 1½ hours of group supervision with university faculty.
Recording counseling sessions plays a vital role in training. Faculty members and fellow graduate students watch these sessions live and provide feedback that helps students learn. Everyone involved with the program follows the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and strict confidentiality requirements.
The program manages transitions between practicum semesters carefully. New Counselors-in-Training collaborate with graduating students and co-facilitate client sessions to maintain care quality. This approach shows the Stephen F. Austin counseling center’s steadfast dedication to student learning and client welfare.
Employers consistently praise SFA counseling students for their outstanding performance at internship sites. This success proves how well the program prepares skilled professionals for the counseling field.
What sets Stephen F. Austin apart?
Stephen F. Austin State University’s counseling program ranks #1 on some platforms as Texas’s best-value counseling master’s degree. The program earned this recognition based on vital metrics like completion rate, job placement, licensing exam results, accreditation history, research output, and costs.
The program stands out because of its small size. Faculty members build strong connections with their 65-80 students. Program director Dr. Le’Ann Solmonson puts it best: “We know our students and develop relationships with them. We love watching them grow as people and as professionals”.
Students can earn dual credentials, which makes this program unique. Those who complete the school counseling specialization can get both LPC and Certified School Counselor credentials. Many graduates from other universities come back specifically to get these additional credentials.
CACREP accreditation for all specializations shows the program’s steadfast dedication to national standards. The program delivers outstanding results through high certification and licensure test scores, strong job placement rates, and great employer feedback.
Graduate assistants run the on-campus Counseling Clinic professionally with interns and practicum students. The clinic helps the community by offering services on a sliding fee scale – clients pay between $5 and $20 per visit based on their family income.
Next steps
Stephen F. Austin State University shines as a top choice for future counseling professionals who want quality education at great value. Your time at SFASU will give you more than just academic knowledge. You’ll experience personal growth and professional development that shapes you into a Licensed Professional Counselor.
This program stands out in several ways. Small class sizes encourage deep connections between faculty and students. On top of that, all but one of these specialization tracks lead to LPC eligibility, and select concentrations offer dual credentials. You can tailor your education path based on your career goals.
Hands-on experience plays a vital role in your growth as a counselor at SFASU. The on-campus Counseling Clinic offers real-life application with careful supervision. This ensures you graduate ready and confident. SFASU graduates join a strong alumni network that excels in certification exams and professional practice.
Picking Stephen F. Austin State University means joining a program known for its excellent value, complete curriculum, and focus on students. Your passion might be clinical mental health, school counseling, or rehabilitation. Whatever you choose, SFASU gives you the skills, knowledge, and personal growth to help others as you start your career in this rewarding field.