Dean: Tammy Overstreet
Director of MSEd programs: Michael Murdoch
Director of MAT program: Jasmine Johnson
Director of Graduate Studies in Professional Counseling: Ileanna Freeman
Graduate Programs Manager: Mikhaile Spence
Faculty: Krystal Bishop, Gary Bradley, Ileanna Freeman, Jasmine Johnson, Faith Laughlin, Colleen Mitchell, Michael Murdoch, Tami Navalon, Tammy Overstreet, Tron Wilder
Adjunct Faculty: Judy Anderson, Randall Burks, Ray Hazen, Nate Helweg, Jean Lomino, William Saunders, Carleton L. Swafford, Rose Thomas, Jim Wampler, Denise White
The mission of the School of Education and Psychology at Southern Adventist University is to prepare effective Christian professionals who demonstrate a commitment to the pursuit of truth, wholeness, and a life of service in a diverse society.
The School of Education and Psychology offers a Master of Science degree with two emphases in Professional Counseling, a Master of Science in Education degree with three emphases, and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
The Master of Arts in Teaching offers emphases in elementary education and secondary education, along with several secondary content areas. Additionally, students may opt to complete requirements for North American Division certification only, state certification only or both.
The Master of Science in Education emphases are:
Online courses for the North American Division Principal's Endorsement are available as part of the Instructional Leadership emphasis. Students with existing professional certification and a previous Master's may complete individual courses required to qualify as non-degree graduate students.
The emphases in Professional Counseling are:
Hybrid, post-Master's certificates designed to meet licensure requirements are available in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling for students with a previously earned Master's in Counseling.
The Master of Arts in Teaching is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Washington, DC (phone 202.223.0077) for Initial Preparation (ITP). The University is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers.
The Master of Science in Professional Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling emphases are accredit by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), cacrep.org (Alexandria, VA 22314, phone 703.535.5990).
See program-specific information for admission requirements for each program of study.
Students must maintain an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 (including no more than 2 classes with grades of C or lower) in order to remain enrolled.
To graduate from a Master of Arts in Teaching program, Master of Science in Education program, or MS Professional Counseling program, a candidate must complete all university, School of Education and Psychology, and program-specific requirements. See program-specific requirements for more information.
The goal of the Master of Arts in Teaching program is to provide a pathway for candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree to achieve initial teaching licensure.
This goal is realized by providing opportunities for candidates to become effective in the following roles: (a) a caring person, (b) an informed facilitator of learning, (c) a reflective decision-maker, and (d) a committed professional. These then lay the foundation for professional excellence and constitute the core objectives of the Master of Arts in Teaching program.
An applicant to the Master of Arts in Teaching program will comply with the following requirements in order to be admitted in regular standing:
Admission to Candidacy
MAT students cannot progress beyond the completion of 10 credit hours in their program requirements without being admitted to candidacy. MAT students must be admitted to candidacy in order to progress to the student teaching/job-embedded portion of their program. Students should refer to program-specific requirements for additional details. The School of Education and Psychology reserves the right to deny or revoke admission should a candidate be deemed inappropriate for a professional education degree.
Progression
The program follows student engagement in interactive, online live sessions as well as asynchronous coursework.
Progression in the program may be inhibited by a variety of circumstances. Regular evaluations of students' personal and professional fitness are conducted by the program faculty, Clinical Field Experience supervisors, course instructors, and/or others involved with students' training. Student academic standing is also monitored regularly via course grades and GPA.
Should any aspect of an evaluation indicate that a student needs improvement in a given area, the student is subject to advisement and consideration regarding program progression. Additional information regarding student evaluations and due process can be found in the MAT Student Handbook available from the School of Education and Psychology.
Academic and Non-Academic Standing
Academic standing is monitored regularly for incomplete, unsatisfactory, or low course grades and GPA. Students noted to have difficulties in any of these areas are subject to advisement and consideration regarding program progression. Failure to maintain academic and non-academic standards may result in termination from the MAT program. In general, the following rules apply to progression.
Gateway One: Permission to Begin Coursework
Prior to proceeding through gateway two, the following criteria must be met:
Foundational Coursework Must Include
Gateway Two: Admission to Candidacy
Prior to proceeding through gateway three, the following criteria must be met:
Gateway Three: Admission to Clinical Practice
Prior to proceeding through gateway four, all relevant Praxis exams must be passed and the following coursework must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0:
Student Teaching Pathway
Job-Embedded Pathway
Gateway Four: Culmination of Teacher Program
To graduate from a Master of Arts in Teaching program, a candidate must complete all university and School of Education and Psychology requirements. In addition, the candidate must provide evidence of the following:
To graduate from a Master of Arts in Teaching program, a candidate must complete all university and School of Education and Psychology requirements. In addition, the candidate must provide evidence of the following:
The goal of the Master of Science in Education program is to facilitate the comprehensive development of educators as servant leaders in their communities.
This goal is realized by providing opportunities for candidates to become effective in the following roles: (a) a caring person, (b) an informed facilitator of learning, (c) a reflective decision-maker, and (d) a committed professional. These then lay the foundation for professional excellence and constitute the core objectives of the Master of Science in Education program.
An applicant to the Master of Science in Education program will comply with the following requirements in order to be admitted in regular standing:
Regular admission may be granted with the applicant meets all admission requirements. Individuals who do not meet all requirements may be considered for provisional admission on a case-by-case basis. Individuals with an overall undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be considered for provisional admission if the GPA of their upper-division (typically 300- and 400- level) courses exceeds a 2.75.
Candidates in the MSEd programs are required to conduct research as a component of Clinical Practice. The proposal will typically be developed as part of the graduate research course. The results of the research study are to be made available as a resource for faculty and colleagues, and is managed at the Southern Adventist University institutional repository (KnowledgeExchange@southern.edu).
Candidates engaged in a MSEd clinical practice experience must document impact on student learning, typically evidenced through analysis and reflections on pre- and post-assessments results. Furthermore, all candidates involved in field experiences are to complete the Field Experience Diversity Form, available from the School of Education and Psychology.
To graduate from a Master of Science in Education program, a candidate must complete all university and School of Education and Psychology requirements. In addition, the candidate must provide evidence of the following:
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). The School Counseling program is aligned with the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) expectations for school counseling programs and is also approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education.
The mission of the Master of Science in Professional Counseling program is to facilitate the comprehensive development of counselors as servant leaders in their communities. Articulated in the language of the program's conceptual framework, the goal is to provide opportunities for candidates to become effective as caring persons, as informed facilitators, as reflective decision makers, and as committed professionals.
Within this framework, the objectives of the Master of Science in Professional Counseling program are to prepare graduates who demonstrate the following:
· Evidence of personal and professional fitness essential for counseling practice;
· Evidence of the knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to implement ACA and/or ASCA professional standards for counseling practice in a multicultural and pluralistic society;
· Evidence that they actively identify with the counseling profession and have knowledge of current developments in the counseling field.
A candidate for the Master of Science program with emphases in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling must comply with the following requirements in order to be admitted in regular standing:
Regular admission may be granted when the applicant meets all admission requirements. Individuals who lack a requirements may be considered for provisional admission on a case-by-case basis. Individuals with an overall undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be considered for provisional admission if the GPA of their upper division (typically 300- and 400-level) courses exceeds a 2.75. Provisional admission cannot be extended to international students due to federal guidelines.
The program follows a cohort model, and students engage in interactive, online live classes as well as self-paced coursework.
Progression in the program may be inhibited by a variety of circumstances. Regular evaluations of students' personal and professional fitness are conducted by the program faculty, Practicum/Internship supervisors, course instructors, assistantship supervisors, and/or others involved with students' training. Student academic standing is also monitored regularly via course grades and GPA.
Should any aspect of an evaluation indicate that a student needs improvement in a given area, the student is subject to advisement and consideration regarding program progression. Personal counseling is available free of charge to enrolled students via the university's Student Success Center. Student may call Counseling Services at 423.236.2782 for more information or for appointments. Additional information regarding student evaluations and due process can be found in the Counseling Student Handbook, available from the School of Education and Psychology. The School of Education and Psychology reserves the right to deny or revoke admission should a candidate be deemed inappropriate for a professional counseling degree.
Students will not be allowed to enroll in any of the field experience courses (COUN 580, 581, 585 and 586) unless they have passed their Professional Fitness Evaluation at the end of the semester prior to the enrollment in those courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 700 clock hours of supervised field experience. Clinical Mental Health students have the flexibility to complete these hours using secure telemental health software or on-campus/in person. All field experiences must be completed inside the US territory. Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Each student contracts to abide by the policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Students will be expected to provide their own transportation for individual field and practicum experiences.
To register for Internship, a minimum of 48 credits must be completed. No counseling student can accumulate Clinical Internship hours unless they have received approval from the Counseling Program Council, are registered for Internship, and have received corresponding approval from the faculty supervisor. Students must remain registered in 1 hour of Internship Continuation until they have completed all requirements, regardless of whether or not they have registered for the number of credits required for graduation. The student must register for Internship Continuation each semester until the course requirements are met and a grade has been issued.
A student who is seeking a double-emphasis degree must complete separate fieldwork (e.g., Practicum II and Internship) settings for each emphasis. External supervisors of Practicum or Internship must have the following qualifications:
The State of Tennessee and local school districts have laws and policies governing the safety of K-12 students in reference to accessibility to these students. To be in compliance with state and local laws, all School Counseling candidates must submit to fingerprinting conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Should a fingerprint report yield record of a criminal offense, established departmental protocol will be followed.
Per this policy, School Counseling candidates who have been convicted of a criminal offense or who are currently under investigation for a criminal offense will be considered for admission to Practicum II on a case-by-case basis to be decided by a committee that will include the Dean of the School of Education and Psychology as well as the Program Director.
Students admitted to Practicum II must become familiar with policies outlined in the School Counseling Field Experience Manual and/or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum II and Internship Manuals.
The School of Education and Psychology reserves the right to revise, add, and withdraw policies as necessary to ensure a quality program.
The program includes 60-64 semester hours of courses and field practice which meet the requirement for candidates wishing to take the state licensure (LPC) exam. Additional semester hours may be required for candidates who need to remove deficiencies or who have particular interests.
To graduate from a Master of Science program in professional counseling, a candidate must complete all university and School of Education and Psychology graduation requirements. In addition, the candidate must complete the following requirements:
Post-Master's certificates designed to meet licensure requirements are available in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling for students with a previously earned Master's in Counseling. Courses are taken in an interactive, online format and are not campus-based.
Admission to the post-master's certificate programs requires a previously earned Master's degree in Counseling, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program and completion of all requirements for admission to MS in Professional Counseling degree programs. Candidates must complete each course noted below with grades of B or better.
Students will not be allowed to enroll in any of the field experience courses (COUN 580, 581, 585 and 586) unless they have passed their Professional Fitness Evaluation at the end of the semester prior to the enrollment in those courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 700 clock hours of supervised field experience. Clinical Mental Health students have the flexibility to complete these hours using secure telemental health software or on-campus/in person. All field experiences must be completed inside the US territory. Students required to perform field or practicum experiences will accept personal responsibility for their learning and professional behavior. Each student contracts to abide by the policies of the School of Education and Psychology.
Students must remain registered in 1 hour of Practicum II until they have completed all requirements, regardless of whether or not they have registered for the number of credits required for graduation. The student must register for this credit each semester until the course requirements are met and a grade has been issued.
No counseling student can accumulate Clinical Internship hours unless they have received approval from the Counseling Programs Council, are registered for Internship, and have received corresponding approval from the faculty supervisor. Students must remain registered in 1 hour of Internship until they have completed all requirements, regardless of whether or not they have registered for the number of credits required for graduation. The student must register for this credit each semester until the course requirements are met and a grade has been issued.
External supervisors of Practicum or Internship must have the following qualifications:
The State of Tennessee and local school districts have laws and policies governing the safety of K-12 students in reference to accessibility to these students. To be in compliance with state and local laws, all School Counseling candidates must submit to fingerprinting conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Should a fingerprint report yield record of a criminal offense, established departmental protocol will be followed.
Per this policy, School Counseling candidates who have been convicted of a criminal offense or who are currently under investigation for a criminal offense will be considered for admission to Practicum II on a case-by-case basis to be decided by a committee that will include the Dean of the School of Education and Psychology as well as the Program Director.
Students admitted to Practicum II must become familiar with policies outlined in the School Counseling Field Experience Manual and/or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum II and Internship Manuals.
The School of Education and Psychology reserves the right to revise, add, and withdraw policies as necessary to ensure a quality program.
Upon completion, students may obtain official Southern transcripts Post-Master's Certificate completion; no diploma or degree is awarded. Post-Master's certificate candidates are not required to complete a comprehensive exam.