Counseling Programs offered at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University is a leading institution that provides multiple paths toward counseling careers. Two distinct departments offer complete counseling education programs, each with their own specialized accreditations and unique offerings.
Students can find an APA-accredited doctoral program with a Major Area of Study in Counseling Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences. This program uses a scientist-practitioner training model that develops both research and clinical skills while encouraging appreciation of multicultural diversity. The program requires at least three years of didactic coursework with supervised clinical training and students must complete both thesis and dissertation requirements.
The Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership’s Counselor Education program prepares future school counselors, clinical mental health counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors. These programs help create and implement treatment plans that serve clients’, communities’, and agencies’ needs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has nationally accredited these counseling programs.
Texas Tech’s counseling programs are unique as they are the only CACREP-accredited programs between Dallas and Albuquerque. This regional difference makes them valuable resources especially when you have students in this area who want to pursue counseling careers.
Texas Tech’s master’s level education includes:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
Students seeking doctoral degrees can choose between:
- D. in Counseling Psychology (Department of Psychological Sciences)
- D. in Counselor Education (Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has a 6-year old Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. It was one of the first counselor education programs in the United States that trained practitioners in both clinical counseling skills and telehealth techniques. The program has CACREP accreditation and uses online education technology that helps students from Texas and beyond.
These programs’ guiding principles include counseling psychology identity, developmental approaches, preventive and strengths-based methodologies, multiculturalism, diversity and social justice, vocational development, and science-practice integration in health service psychology. Faculty members and students follow ethical standards set by major professional associations like the American Counseling Association and American School Counseling Association.
What counseling programs does Texas Tech University offer?
Texas Tech University has counseling programs spread across several departments that fit different career goals and educational needs.
Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences (CARS) with two concentration options. The Applied Relational Counseling concentration helps students learn about relationships and prepares them for counseling careers. Students interested in addiction counseling or prevention can choose the Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies concentration. These concentrations need specific courses but won’t extend your graduation timeline.
Texas Tech’s online Bachelor of Science in CARS works great for busy professionals who need scheduling flexibility. Students get the same quality education through an adaptable, interdisciplinary approach. The program also meets all academic requirements you’ll need to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC).
The graduate programs include:
- A 60-hour MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that prepares you for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification in Texas
- MEd in School Counseling
- PhD in Counselor Education
- PhD in Counseling Psychology with a scientist-practitioner model
CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) has accredited the university’s Counselor Education programs. The Counseling Psychology PhD program boasts a long history – it’s been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1964.
The university’s Health Sciences Center features a unique Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Students learn both clinical counseling skills and telehealth techniques. The 60 credit-hour curriculum combines core and specialty courses with 12 credit-hours of hands-on practicum and internship experience.
Students build their expertise in psychological theory, counseling techniques, assessment methods, research methodology, and professional ethics. Graduates find rewarding careers in private practice, community agencies, hospitals, universities, and correctional facilities.
Internships/Practicum at Texas Tech University
Practical training is the foundation of Texas Tech University’s counseling programs through structured practicum and internship experiences. Master’s students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling start with a three-semester clinical sequence. The sequence begins with a 100-hour practicum (EPCE 5360) that includes 40 hours of direct client contact. Students then advance to two consecutive internship semesters (EPCE 5094), each requiring 300 hours with 120 hours of direct client service.
The clinical rotation for doctoral students in Counselor Education consists of four main courses: Advanced Practicum in Counseling (EPCE 6360), Internship I & II (EPCE 6094), and Counselor Supervision (EPCE 6366). Doctoral internship at the Student Counseling Center follows a Practitioner-Scholar model where hands-on learning builds on scholarly research.
Students must complete counseling techniques coursework and accumulate 45 supervised direct clinical service hours before applying for practicum placement at the Student Counseling Center. The experience requires students to attend weekly one-hour group supervision and provide 5-9 hours of direct client contact. They must also participate in the Walk-in Clinic, receive 1.5 hours of individual supervision weekly, and spend one hour on administrative tasks.
The application process requires departmental approval and enrollment in a practicum course. Students must submit application forms, transcripts, a complete vita, supervisor recommendations, and proof of malpractice insurance.
The Psychology Department’s Psychology Clinic serves as a primary training facility. Students from counseling and clinical programs work with a variety of clients from the university and surrounding communities. The Student Counseling Center provides specialized training in personality assessment, ADHD assessment, and group therapy facilitation.
Doctoral students must complete a year-long predoctoral internship at APA-accredited sites to earn their doctorate. Students receive evaluations on nine competency areas outlined by APA’s Standards of Accreditation. They must achieve minimum ratings of “3” at 6 months and “4” at 12 months.
These well-structured field experiences prepare counseling students for professional roles throughout Texas and beyond.
What sets Texas Tech apart?
Texas Tech University’s counseling programs excel through several standout features and state-of-the-art practices. These programs hold prestigious CACREP accreditation that ensures quality education meeting rigorous industry standards.
Best Counseling Degrees ranks the university’s counseling psychology doctoral program as the second-best nationwide. The program shows remarkable results with a 100% EPPP pass rate and 95% licensure rate. Students finish this program in 6.2 years on average, showing steady progress through advanced study.
The programs stand out because of their excellent faculty members who take active roles in professional organizations at local, state, regional, and national levels. They foster an environment that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
TTUHSC Clinical Mental Health Counseling program leads as one of America’s first programs that combines clinical counseling skills with telehealth training. This advanced approach prepares counselors for modern service delivery methods that are gaining acceptance nationwide.
The program’s location within a medical university setting gives students unique chances to work with other health professionals and learn about interdisciplinary patient care.
Each program features a “Trademark Outcome” that defines key skills to boost graduate success. These skills range from implementing ASCA National Models in school counseling to creating detailed treatment plans for clinical mental health settings.
Next steps
The path to joining Texas Tech University’s counseling programs has several steps. The Graduate School won’t ask for GRE test scores in applications until at least Summer 2026. Your application will be reviewed based on other credentials.
You’ll need to set up an eRaider account first. The account details usually arrive within five to ten business days after you apply to the Graduate School. This electronic ID lets you access the College of Education’s application system.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program looks at applications as they come in. All the same, if you’re interested in doctoral programs in Counseling Psychology, you should submit by December 1, 2025, to be considered for full funding.
Dr. Paul Ingram, Dr. Brandy Pina-Watson, Dr. Craig Warlick, and Dr. Haram Kim are accepting PhD students for Fall 2026. You don’t need a psychology degree, but you must complete 18 credit hours of psychology courses and one statistics course.
The program lets you transfer up to 6 semester hours of master’s-level coursework. Some core courses can’t be transferred though. These include group, techniques, ethics, practicum, and internship courses.
Graduates can become Licensed Professional Counselors in many states. The job market looks promising, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects mental health counselor positions to grow by 19% through 2033.