Lubbock Christian University

Graduate Behavioral Sciences

Graduate Behavioral Sciences

Graduate Behavioral Sciences

If you’re interested in pursuing a graduate degree that will help you change the lives of other people, you have come to the right place. In our graduate programs, we help equip you to strengthen families and marriages, resolve conflicts between people and groups, assist individuals in overcoming addictions and other destructive behaviors, and help clients deal with emotional and spiritual problems. 

At Lubbock Christian University, you will enjoy small classes taught by experienced professionals who are still involved in their professions. All of our faculty members hold doctorates and continue to work as counselors, diagnosticians, human service professionals, and consultants. Our professors will help you examine professional research and theory from a Christian worldview, while continuing to write and contribute to scholarly research.

In our graduate programs, we provide students with an online writing center with a doctorate level writing coach. Our programs will encourage you to implement cutting edge technology in your learning experience, so you will be able to implement technology effectively as a professional. We have student service coordinators who will check in with you to make help you manage the day-to-day challenges of graduate school. We also have an online chapel and a prayer room available to assist you with your spiritual growth and development.

Contact Us

Tara Donai

Administrative Director, Department of Behavioral Sciences
Tara.Donai@LCU.edu 
806.720.7842

Departmental Mission

The Department of Behavioral Sciences is committed to the idea that science and faith do not oppose each other, but in fact, complement one another. Our mission is to produce academicians, clinicians, practitioners, and scholars who are solidly grounded in the science of human behavior, the ethics of their chosen profession and the principles of their faith. The Department provides personal access to exemplary teaching, Christian mentorship, and challenges student centered academic progress. Opportunities will be provided to all students for professional, community-based experiences and development of scholarly contribution to their field of study. 

Additional Information

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in School Counseling programs have a two-phase process for admissions. The first phase is the standard application process for Graduate Studies and has the following requirements:

  • Undergraduate degree in phsychology or related field
  • Graduate Application
  • $60 application fee – if not submitted with the application, may be paid online, by calling 806-720-7599, or by mailing a check or money order made out to “LCU.”
  • Credit Agreement – Students may fax (toll-free: 1-866-784-5663)
  • Official undergraduate transcript(s), showing a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree awarded, and any previous post-baccalaureate or graduate work. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for unconditional admissions consideration.
    • To be considered official, all transcripts must arrive sealed in the university’s envelope, bearing official marks/seals. E-scripts are considered official only when sent directly from the university to GraduateAdmissons@lcu.edu.
    • Courses taken for the degree must include a minimum of 39 upper level hours. Hours awarded for life or work experience will not satisfy upper level requirements. Vocational courses will not be counted toward the 120 academic hour requirement. Evidence of grade point averages, degrees, and test scores must be on official transcripts or official score reports. Students on probation or suspension at other institutions are not eligible for admission.
  • Three letters of reference are required. See admissions coordinator for details regarding reference requirements. Applicants will personally complete the first section of the electronic form.
    • Academic Reference
    • Personal Reference
    • Professional Reference
  • Proof of meningitis vaccination. Applicants who will be 22 years old or older by the first day of the start of the semester are exempt from this requirement. Please see Meningitis Vaccine Requirements for more information.

Application items should be submitted no later than four weeks prior to the beginning of a session. Any items that need to be mailed should be submitted to Lubbock Christian University, Attn: Marcia Crabtree, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Graduate Programs, 5601 19th Street, Lubbock, TX 79407.

Approved applicants proceed to the departmental interview phase of the admissions process. This second phase has the following requirements: 

  • Personality assessment and $35 testing fee. Applicants can pay online and forward the receipt to the admissions coordinator, who will set up the personality assessment and send completion instructions.
  • Two short counseling essays. Questions provided upon approval to move onto the departmental interview phase.
  • Professional résumé.
  • 20-minute interview with graduate faculty panel.

After both phases of the admissions process are completed, applicants will be notified of their admission status. Applicants are not accepted until an official letter of acceptance is issued. For further information regarding the application process, please contact us at 806-720-7823.

Future Students Considering Our Programs

  • Program Requirements or Program Admissions — Contact Tara Donai

CMHC Practicum, Internships, Sites or Supervision 

Department of Behavioral Sciences 

Profile Photo of Carlos Perez

Dr. Perez received his PhD from Texas Tech University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Research interests and areas of preference include couple interaction and dynamics in therapy, post-affair relationship maintenance, emotional intelligence in relationships, and influence of religious faith in marital forgiveness. Dr. Perez is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate. Currently, Dr. Perez is an assistant professor of Family Studies in the Behavioral Science department of LCU.

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Profile Photo of Kaylene Brown

Dr. Brown is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and Assistant Professor in the Graduate Behavioral Sciences Program. It is her passion to work with counselor-trainees in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program as they complete their degree and move toward becoming licensed counselors. She believes it is important for graduates to be competent counselors as they work in the community in various settings while at the same time balancing their faith against the profession which is often contrary to Christianity.

Dr. Brown has a private practice where she sees clients with depression, grief, chronic pain, end-of-life/life review, domestic violence, and trauma victims. 

She taught online counseling courses for seven years for Liberty University. She has worked with victims of domestic violence at the Women's Protective Services. As a contract specialist, she worked with persons with intellectual disabilities at MHMR. 

She has been a member of the Green Lawn Church of Christ for the past 20 years. Dr. Brown has been married to her high school sweetheart for 46 years. They have two grown children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

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Profile Photo of Joshuah Ellis

Dr. Joshuah Ellis is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of a private counseling practice in Lubbock, TX. He has also been in ministry since 2004 and has spent several years working to normalize mental health in the church. Dr. Ellis received his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University where he researched gender impacts on help-seeking behavior and men’s issues in mental health. He is passionate about cultivating a love for psychology and counseling in his students and nurturing emerging counselors as they prepare for their careers.

Dr. Ellis has lived in Lubbock since 2016 and works with the Hub City church of Christ. Dr. Ellis has a deep love for this community and the counseling profession, serving on the board of the Texas Association of Adult Development and Aging and the West Texas Counseling Association. He has been married to his high-school sweetheart since 2004 and they have three boys.

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Profile Photo of Macy Williamson

Dr. Williamson is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Lubbock Christian University teaching graduate counseling courses. Publications and conference presentations include topics on stress; counseling across generations; career; cyberbullying; adolescents and leadership; grief; human trafficking; addiction; military; and ethics.  

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Dr. Williamson has a passion for developing strong leaders in the community. She is a member of local, state, and national counseling associations. As a counselor she specializes in working with children, teenagers, college students, teachers, and women. She has worked for a medical clinic, school district, and counseling center. She is passionate about counseling college students (undergraduate and graduate), teachers, and women.

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Profile Photo of Tara Donai