Students in the University of Houston-Victoria Master of Education in school counseling program can get a fast, affordable degree that meets the highest training standards.
Those reasons contributed to UHV’s No. 9 ranking in the College Values Online 2017 Top 15 Accelerated Online Master’s in School Counseling Programs.
School counselors work in public and private schools, community colleges and universities. UHV’s program satisfies requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor license.
“It’s gratifying to earn this recognition as one of the best institutions for students who want to work as a school counselor,” said Fred Litton, dean of the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development. “We designed this program to prepare students for licensure in a timely manner without breaking the bank. That approach has led to a great deal of success.”
While a school counseling master’s degree could take three or four years to complete, College Value Online ranked programs where it was possible to complete them in two years. Elsa Soto Leggett, a UHV associate professor of counseling education, said many students work full time while attending, so it typically takes students two and a half years to complete the program. Full-time students can complete the degree in two years or less.
The program is a 48-credit-hour hybrid, with half of the courses delivered online and other half taught in a classroom. Courses include “Counseling Techniques,” “Abnormal Human Behavior” and “Multicultural Counseling.”
“It’s a uniquely designed hybrid,” Leggett said. “In spring 2018, we are changing to a 60-credit- hour program to satisfy the latest requirements for state licensure and accrediting.”
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, the gold standard in training future counselors, accredits UHV’s school counseling program. UHV offers the only CACREP-accredited degrees in the Coastal Bend and Greater Houston.
“The fact that our program is CACREP accredited and that it makes students eligible for licensure propels students into the workforce with the highest quality education,” Leggett said. “Also, some of our faculty members are certified school counselors and have experience in the field. They offer a lot of insight in their teaching.”