Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Counseling Major, MS


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Counseling Major, (MS) - Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration

The focus of the clinical mental health counseling concentration is the preparation of excellent counselor practitioners and scholars to serve in agencies that provide counseling to adolescents, children, adults and families (such as outpatient and inpatient mental health treatment centers, programs serving troubled youth and families, hospitals, counseling and related service programs in colleges and universities, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and private practices). Our graduates are self-aware counselors and scholars whose lifelong learning continually informs their service, practice, and development. Many also choose to continue their graduate studies at the doctoral level. 

The clinical mental health counseling concentration at the University of Tennessee is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program of study includes a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practicum and internship counseling experiences in clinical settings. Each student’s plan of study is customized to support individual goals as well as to provide a common core of counselor preparation. Graduates will have completed the educational and graduate clinical preparation requirements for licensure as a professional counselor with mental health service provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee. CACREP accreditation helps ensure the portability of the degree. For example, the counselor licensure requirements of many states match the CACREP standards for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs. 

The faculty provides rigorous, experiential, practical education, aimed at maximizing the professional and personal-development of our graduates through this 60 credit hour, 2.5 year graduate program. It is important that our graduate students learn and develop in a challenging and supportive learning community.

The goal of the program is the preparation of future counselors as:

  • Strong, effective, self-aware counselors 
  • Persons ready to develop deeply healing therapeutic relationships 
  • Professionals well-skilled in the full range of task areas needed from mental health counselors 
  • Scholars with a solid background of understanding and a personal and professional curiosity to guide their ongoing, life-long study of counseling, mental health, and human development 
  • Persons and professionals ready to thrive in and embrace the increasingly diverse world in which we all live and work.

Requirements

  Credit Hours
COUN 480 , COUN 535 , COUN 551 , COUN 554 , COUN 555 , COUN 525 , COUN 545 , COUN 552 , COUN 540 , COUN 559  (9 credit hours across an academic or calendar year), COUN 556 , COUN 570   42
SCHP 690         3
EDPY 550  - Research course 3
Four electives or a thesis (COUN 500  for 6 credit hours and two electives)  12
Total credit hours required 60

 

 

Counseling Major, (MS) - Rehabilitation Counseling concentration

The purpose of the rehabilitation counseling concentration is to ensure that skilled personnel are available to serve the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities assisted through vocational rehabilitation (VR), supported employment, and independent living programs.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, graduate concentration in rehabilitation counseling is designed to prepare students for professional careers as clinicians in the field of rehabilitation counseling. The rehabilitation counseling concentration is service-oriented and includes practica and internship experiences. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education, Inc. (CORE).

Students may complete the 48 credit hour program in four academic semesters (two fall terms, one spring term, and one summer term). Students may be admitted to the program either full- or part-time. Full-time students admitted to the program follow a sequence of courses that facilitates degree completion in 16 months. The first (fall) and third (summer) semesters are didactic in nature, but the second semester adds an experiential component under RHCO 547 . The final (second fall) semester is experiential, with students working full-time to fulfill the 600-hour requirement of RHCO 549 . The internship is considered the culminating experience to the program and students must complete internship in the final term of study prior to graduation.

Upon completion of the 48 credit hour program students are eligible to participate in the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination, administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Upon successful completion of this examination students earn the credential of Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Students are also required to demonstrate satisfactory performance through written comprehensive examination as a requirement for graduation.

Requirements

Rehabilitation Counseling concentration is a 48 credit hour program of study. The following course sequence is recommended. All courses are three credit hours, except where indicated.

Fall 1
Spring 1
Summer 1
Fall 2

Students in the 48 credit hour concentration are required to demonstrate satisfactory performance in a written comprehensive examination as a requirement for graduation. Contact Dr. S. Wayne Mulkey for details (865) 974-5304 or by e-mail at smulkey@utk.edu.

Most rehabilitation counseling courses are offered only one semester per year. Students admitted to the program must communicate with an advisor each semester to plan their studies.
 

Distance Education

The rehabilitation counseling concentration offers instruction in the 48 credit hour track through distance delivery. Students interested in pursuing this option should contact the program coordinator (see below).

Students without employment experience in vocational rehabilitation or closely related fields must pursue the degree through the traditional residential program, described above, and must have permission of the rehabilitation counseling faculty to participate in courses delivered through distance education.

The course of study for the distance education rehabilitation counseling master’s degree is described below:

Fall 1
Spring 1
Summer 1
Fall 2
Spring 2
Summer 2

Students are admitted to the distance education program in cohorts in even years, and each cohort must contain at least nine students. Students are required to come to campus for one week in the first summer of the program for individual and group counseling skills training (COUN 554 ; RHCO 545 ). Practicum and internship supervision will require mailing of audio or videotapes of counseling sessions to the university faculty practicum or internship supervisor. Contact Dr. S. Wayne Mulkey for details (865) 974-5304 or by email at smulkey@utk.edu.

 

Counseling Major, (MS) - School Counseling concentration

The purpose of the school counseling concentration is to prepare students to become professional school counselors within preK-12 schools in Tennessee and most states. The school counseling concentration (60 credit hours) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Program goals are based on CACREP and American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Standards; we seek to prepare students in professional identity; knowledge, skills, and practice in the foundations of school counseling, and strong clinical instruction. We strive to foster professional school counselors who are open and self-aware, and who demonstrate commitment, respect, and integrity.

Applicants for degrees in this field must present satisfactory evidence of academic ability and adequacy of personal characteristics and goals as determined by professional recommendations, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, previous experience with children and youth, and responses to written and oral questions. Graduates will fulfill the license requirements for PreK-12 School Counseling in Tennessee and in most states of the United States although some states may have additional experience and testing requirements. Graduates can complete the program in two years and two summers.

The concentration requires 700-hours of fieldwork in a school site to prepare students for practice. Enrolled students complete a program that includes core courses, clinical courses, and electives. Those applicants who have not had teaching experience may be required to complete additional courses. The faculty provides a challenging and supportive learning community where students engage in a rigorous and highly experiential program of study.

Requirements

COUN 480 , COUN 525 , COUN 535 , COUN 545 , COUN 550 , COUN 551 , COUN 552 , COUN 554 , COUN 555 , COUN 558  (6 credit hours), COUN 565 , COUN 570  39
*SPED 570 , *SPED 556   6
SCHP 690  3
EDPY 550  3
Three electives as advised 9
Total credit hours required 60

 

* Individuals with teaching license can substitute an elective for this course.

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