It's Not Just a Career. It's a Calling.

SMU is a leader in counseling education, and our students are often requested for internships and counseling positions. With SMU's Master of Science in Counseling, you'll gain more than a degree. You'll get an education, training, and credentials that will ensure that you stand out in the job market, and make an outstanding impact in the lives of clients you serve.

Careers that MS in Counseling graduates often pursue


  • ➤ Licensed Professional Counselor / LPC Associate
  • ➤ Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  • ➤ Elementary School Counselor / Secondary School Counselor
  • ➤ Education / Teaching (Elementary through University level)
  • ➤ Corporate Operations Leadership/ Business Administration
  • ➤ Psychotherapist: Counseling/Mental Health/Social Services, Counseling, Community
  • ➤ Healthcare Practitioner
  • ➤ Researcher
  • ➤ Case Manager
  • ➤ Contract Therapist
  • ➤ Group Therapist
  • ➤ Facilitator
  • ➤ Detention Dept. Counselor
  • ➤ PHP / IOP Clinic Coordinator / Residential Counselor
  • ➤ Owner
  • ➤ Behavior Therapist
  • ➤ Sales (Retail, Business to Business)

CACREP Accredited logoSMU’s CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Counseling program provides the skills and cultural knowledge necessary for students to become professional counselors who assist children, adults, and families with psychological growth and mental health concerns. SMU is ranked top 10 in the nation by Best Value Schools.

Where do professional counselors work?
Counselors work in community agencies, religious institutions, hospitals, private practice, and schools.

What do students study and learn in SMU’s M.S. in Counseling program?
Students acquire knowledge in the disciplines that underlie counseling including education, psychology, human development, learning, and social change. Students develop basic skills in counseling and assessment and become familiar with the legal and clinical considerations that confront practitioners. Students engage in repeated practice and role playing with feedback and strategic modification and complete a year-long Practicum and Internship experience.

What are students professionally equipped to do when they graduate?
The Counseling program provides the educational and clinical requirements necessary for certification, licensure, and actual counseling practice. 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 an elective concentration.