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: