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About

Accreditation

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.

Goals / Objectives / Outcomes

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.

Admission Requirements

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:

1. GPA Requirement: A minimum grade point average of 3.00 on the undergraduate level or a 3.00 average (with no grade lower than a B-) on a minimum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit is required.
2. Prerequisite Coursework: Students seeking a post-Master's certificate must have a previously completed Master's in Counseling.
3. TOEFL or Duolingo English Test: International students whose language of education is not English must submit their score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Duolingo English Test. A minimum score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL test or 120 on the Duolingo English Test is required for regular admission.
4. Resume: Applicants are to submit a professional resume.
5. Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation, including one academic and one professional, from recent sources.
6. Statement of Purpose: Candidates are to complete a written Statement of Purpose essay following the guidelines provided by the School of Education, Psychology, and Counseling.
7. Background Check: Applicants must submit the results of a background check completed via CastleBranch and affirm that they are not registered sex offenders. Legal declaration and waiver forms, along with instructions for completing a CastleBranch background check are available on the MS Professional Counseling page of the university's Graduate Studies website.
8. Personality Test: Results from the program-administered personality test must be on record, preferably prior to completion of faculty interview. Contact the School of Education and Psychology Graduate Enrollment Counselor to schedule testing.
9. Interview: An interview by Counseling area faculty to assess commitment to multiculturalism, attitudes, communication skills, compatibility of the candidate's values with the values of the counseling profession, and fitness to practice in the counseling field. This interview will be conducted after receipt of all other required items and prior to the candidate's regular admission.
10. Admission Approval: Applicants must receive admission approval from Counseling Program Council

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.

Program Specific Info

Progression

The program follows a cohort model, and Hybrid-Flexible (HyFlex) course delivery design. Students engage in live, interactive online and in-person classes as well as self-paced coursework.

Progression in the program may be inhibited by a variety of circumstances. Gatekeeping checkpoints are established at different times in the program where students are evaluated for personal and professional fitness. Student academic standing is also monitored regularly via course grades and GPA. Regular evaluations are conducted by the program faculty, Practicum/Internship supervisors, course instructors, assistantship supervisors, and/or others involved with students' training.

If a student is unable to achieve the "Expectation Met" rating on any item of the Student Semester Progress and Annual Review form at checkpoints or at any time during the program, this will trigger advisement and remediation procedures. Inability to demonstrate improvement following remediation procedures may be cause for dismissal from the program. Personal counseling is available free of charge to enrolled students via the university's Student Success Center. Students 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, Psychology, and Counseling reserves the right to deny or revoke admission should a candidate be deemed inappropriate for a professional counseling degree.

Field Experiences

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:

1. A minimum of a master's degree in professional counseling or a related profession with equivalent qualification, including appropriate certifications and/or licenses.
2. A minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience in the program area in which the student is enrolled.
3. Knowledge of the program's expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students.
4. Relevant training in professional counseling supervision.

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, Psychology, Counseling 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, Psychology, and Counseling 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.

Requirements

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from a Master of Science program in professional counseling, a candidate must complete all university and School of Education, Psychology, and Counseling graduation requirements. In addition, the candidate must complete the following requirements:

1. Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense: Pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) as dictated by the department policy. The CPCE is administered twice each year (once in Fall semester and again in Winter semester). Students must apply one month prior to the announced exam dates. Students completing COUN 599 Master's Thesis must also successfully present and defend their thesis.