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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

In addition to Southern and School of Education and Psychology admission requirements for graduate study, 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. Prerequisite Coursework: The completion of a minimum of six credits in psychology or behavioral sciences on the upper-division undergraduate or graduate level with a grade of B or better. [Note: If taken at the graduate level, these courses will not be counted as part of the graduate program.] Students seeking a post-Master's certificate must have a previously completed Master's in Counseling.
2. Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation, including one academic and one professional, from recent sources.
3. 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 the Statement of Purpose and prior to the candidate's regular admission.
4. 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.

Program Specific Info

Progression

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.

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 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.

Requirements

Graduation Requirements

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:

1. Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense: Pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) as dictated by the department policy. The CPCE is administered in September and February of each year. 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.