Project School Mental Health is a five-year federal grant that will financially support 12 Clinical Mental Health (CLMH) graduate students to help fund their master's degree. Graduate students can be on the clinical mental health track or the school counseling track.

There will be three cohorts of four students, one CLMH, and three School Counseling.

  • Cohort 1 will be admitted during Fall 2023
  • Cohort 2 will be admitted during Fall 2024
  • Cohort 3 will be admitted during Fall 2025

This grant offers financial support for the graduate students by paying:

  • Tuition, fees, and necessary resources (textbooks)
  • A modest salary during internship and practicum
  • For transportation to and from Burkburnett Independent School District (BISD)
  • For childcare during the three-year program
  • Fees (background check and counseling test fees

This program is CACREP accredited:

CACREP stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and it is the premier accrediting body for determining the quality of a graduate counseling program. CACREP develops and maintains standards and procedures that ensure students in counseling programs receive high-quality, relevant education that prepares them for licensure and success in professional practice.

For inquiries about this opportunity, please contact Project Coordinator, Carley Johnston. Her email is carley.johnston@msutexas.edu.

Apply here, applications are due December 1, 2023.

How long is the program?

There is a 63-hour School Counselor track and a 60-hour Clinical Mental Health track, both will take three years for participants. During the first two years, students will be trained through online classes. During the third year, students will be expected to move near Burkburnett, Texas, to complete their practicum/internship in a high-need Burkburnett ISD school.

What courses will I be required to take for this degree?

Degree plans are available for you below:

Will I only be certified to be a school counselor?

After you graduate from the program, you can take your National Counselor exam and become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate. Then, under an LPC-Supervisor's monthly supervision, you would complete 3,000 hours to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Therefore, you have the opportunity to become both a certified school counselor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the future.

What GPA is required for the program?

An admission GPA of a 3.0 is required to be admitted to the program.

What should I be concerned about with this grant opportunity?

To be completely open and transparent, please keep in mind that you will not be able to work during the third year of this program due to the practicum internship requirements. This means that if you currently have a teaching job, this position will not be held for you. It also could mean that you will not have health insurance benefits for yourself, your dependents, and/or your spouse.

I am currently taking courses at another university for counseling, and I have completed 18 hours of coursework. Am I eligible for this program if I transfer to MSU Texas?

Participants will be chosen in cohorts of four students during each Fall. This program is designed for participants to take courses together as a cohort. Therefore, you would not be eligible for this program because you would already be ahead of your cohort.

Am I guaranteed a job in Burkburnett ISD after I complete the program?

No, candidates are not guaranteed a job in Burkburnett ISD after completing the program.