The Master of Science in Education with a major in Counseling has two specializations: school counseling (5042) and clinical mental health counseling (5041). The school counselor specialization will prepare counselors to support teachers and other school personnel as well as parents in addressing the needs of students related to academic, career preparation and personal growth and development. Students will be prepared to serve schools with grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. The major in Counseling is an approved preparation program for School Counseling Licensure through the Division of Teacher Education and Accreditation, Tennessee State Department of Education.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization will prepare counselors to address a wide variety of wellness, prevention, and mental health concerns within the clinical mental health counseling context.
Disclaimer
The College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences is required to follow the directives of the State Department of Education, which has the authority to make changes in certification standards. The university does not claim to prepare counselors for distinct specialties with its general-degree programs in counseling. Students should consult their adviser or the coordinator/designee to ascertain if their career goals require specialization in a certain area of counseling. Students who graduate from the counseling program and plan to enter private practice or need licensure for employment are responsible for meeting the licensure requirements in Tennessee for the Licensed Professional Counselor. Students are instructed to write the Tennessee Department of Health Related Boards, 283 Plus Park Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37247-1010 for the board’s licensure standards, which may exceed the university’s counseling degree program requirements.
Note:
In order to be recommended for licensure as a School Counselor, the State Department of Education stipulates that the candidates without teaching experience will have a semester-long orientation experience in a (preK-12) school as an early part of the preparation program. Students will meet this requirement by successful completion of Counseling 712 Learning Theories or other appropriate course identified by the counseling program Coordinator and 30 hours of observation (15 hours in Elementary K-6; 15 hours in Secondary 7-12 setting).
Admission to Candidacy
Students admitted to the Counseling programs are eligible to apply for admission to candidacy after they have enrolled in a minimum of 15 credit hours. Students must have satisfactorily completed COUN 620 , COUN 725 , and COUN 740 prior to completing application. To apply for Admission to Candidacy, students must:
- submit online application for “Admission for Counseling Residency and Candidacy.” The application is available on the Education Graduate Program website (www.utm.edu/departments/edgrad/forms. php). The Education Graduate Office will verify eligibility. The application must be submitted in order to participate in the three-day residency (held biannually). Students will be notified of session they will be required to attend (January or June).
- successfully complete a three-day residency which is required for full admission to candidacy and continuation in the Counseling program. Successful completion of residency and approval for candidacy requires favorable evaluation by faculty at the end of residency.
Students who are not admitted to candidacy may reapply for admission one additional time within one calendar year from date of notification. NOTE: Students may not complete more than 24 credit hours without successfully completing the three-day residency and admission to candidacy.
Residency
All counseling majors are required to attend a three-day residency (either January or June) in order to be admitted to candidacy and be allowed to continue in the counseling program. At the time of application to candidacy, students will register to attend the upcoming residential meeting. The program will be held on the Martin campus. The Residency is completed after taking a minimum of 15 credit hours, including COUN 620 , COUN 725 and COUN 740 , but before completion of 24 credit hours.
Practicum Requirement
Each student in the counseling program must complete a semester-long supervised practicum experience (COUN 785 ). The practicum requirement is available to students only upon the approval of the School Counseling Practicum and Internship Coordinator, or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum and Internship Coordinator, and must be taken prior to the internship. School Counseling Specialization (5042) candidates admission to practicum will be granted if passing scores for the required Praxis II exam for licensure in school counseling is submitted to the Education Preparation Program office in addition to the requirements stated above.
*The State Department of Education establishes passing scores for the CORE, Praxis II Subject Assessments, and Principles of Learning and Teaching exams. The scores are subject to change each year. In order to obtain the current passing scores when tests are taken, check with the Office of Education Preparation Program located in 205 Gooch Hall.
Students must complete a practicum application online the semester prior to enrollment. The application may be completed online at www.utm.edu/departments/edgrad/forms.php. The practicum requirements will be fulfilled at a site approved through the Education Graduate Office. A registration hold will be placed on student records to prevent registration for practicum before application is complete.
All prerequisites and core courses must be completed before the practicum has begun.
| Deadlines: |
September 30 |
application due for Spring internship |
| |
January 30 |
application due for Summer or Fall internships |
Internship Application
The internship is a field experience in which students are required to apply the knowledge and skill acquired in previous coursework to actual school/clinical mental health settings. Students must complete an internship application online the semester prior to enrollment. The application may be completed online at http://www.utm.edu/departments/edgrad/forms.php. The internship requirements will be fulfilled at a site approved through the Education Graduate Office. A registration hold will be placed on student records to prevent registration for internships before application is complete.
All prerequisites, core courses and the practicum requirement must be completed before the internship is begun.
| Deadlines: |
September 30 |
application due for Spring internship |
| |
January 30 |
application due for Summer or Fall internships |
Critical Paper
Each internship student must summarize and evaluate the internship experience in a critical synthesis paper.
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive written examination must be taken by all students pursuing the Master of Science degree with a major in Counseling. The examination will test a student’s competencies and knowledge in the chosen area of specialization. A student is eligible to take the comprehensive examination upon completion of the following eight core courses: COUN 620 , COUN 716 , COUN 721 , COUN 722 , COUN 725 , COUN 730 , COUN 740 , and COUN 760 . The comprehensive exam will be administered online through Canvas. A minimum score of 70% is required for successful completion.