When can I start?
We offer cohort-style programs that begin in Summer (June) each year; summer is the only term students
may begin study. We must receive all application materials by December 1. To learn more about our
admissions requirements, visit https://epc.utk.edu/clinical-mental-health-counseling/cmhc-application-
requirements/ or https://epc.utk.edu/school-counseling/application-requirements/.
What is the delivery format of the program?
We believe in the power of human relationships for supporting optimal development. As such, our MS in
Counseling is offered in a traditional face-to-face, cohort-style environment in Knoxville. Although several
electives outside the program may be offered in online or hybrid formats, Counseling courses are
typically offered in person with each class meeting three hours once a week.
Is your program accredited?
Yes, we are proud to have longstanding accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of
Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). We were recently reaccredited with all
standards met through October 31, 2028. Specifically, our MS in Counseling concentrations are
accredited in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling; our doctoral program is
accredited in Counselor Education & Supervision. To learn more about CACREP, including the value of
attending an accredited program, visit https://www.cacrep.org/.
How long does it take to complete the program?
When students attend full-time, our 60-hour program may be completed in 2 years, including two
summers. Part-time students may complete the program in as little as 3 years, including summers;
however, some part-time students may take 4 years to complete the program. Officially, students have
up to 6 years to complete the MS degree.
Is the program full-time or part-time?
The majority of our students study full-time; however, some students study part-time in order to
accommodate employment schedules, caregiving commitments, and financial considerations. Our faculty
advisors work with students to develop a customized program of study that meets their needs, including
transitions between full-time and part-time status. It is important to understand that our courses are
offered Monday through Thursday, typically during the traditional business day.
MS in Counseling
2023 Admission FAQs
How do practicum and internship work?
Our accredited programs require that candidates complete field experience as part of study. Our faculty
matches students with local sites that fit their learning needs and career goals. Our CMHC concentration
is closely connected to our community with most site placements in Knoxville. Our School Counseling
concentration primarily places students in Knox County Schools, although students can request
placement in adjacent counties as well.
Typically taken in the first spring semester, Practicum involves a one-semester, 100-hour field placement
(about 8-9 hours/week) in which the student begins to develop counseling relationships with real clients.
Internship typically begins during fall of the second year and involves a two-semester, 600-hour field
placement (about 20-25 hours/week) in which the student takes on all professional roles of a counselor
in a CMHC or SC setting. During these experiences, students engage in supervision with an experienced
on-site counselor, group supervision with a faculty member and peers, and individual or triadic
supervision with a doctoral student supervisor.
What are you looking for in an applicant? How can I make my
application as strong as possible?
Application to our program is competitive, and we use a holistic application process to make admissions
decisions. Multiple factors go into these decisions including career goals, aptitude for graduate-level
study, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, respect for cultural differences, and
demonstration of professional dispositions (CHORIS – Commitment, Humility, Openness, Respect,
Integrity, and Self-Awareness).
We hope you will use your application to help us understand you as a unique person and developing
professional. Take time with the application and address all prompts. Select your references carefully to
ensure that they can speak to your unique strengths. If possible, at least two references should be
familiar with your academic work. If you have been out of school for some time, select those who can
speak to your professional qualities and potential. Highlight work, volunteer, academic, and personal
experiences that have influenced your development and professional goals. If you are invited to
interview, we have assessed your materials and believe that you have strong potential for academic
success. To the extent possible, relax and let us (and your peers) get to know you during the interview
process.
Is the GRE required? What are minimum scores for GRE?
Typically, we require the GRE as part of our holistic admission process. We have suspended this
requirement and are exploring discontinuing it altogether. If you submit GRE scores, we will not consider
them as part of the holistic review process. To learn more about our admissions requirements, visit
https://epc.utk.edu/clinical-mental-health-counseling/cmhc-application-requirements/ or
https://epc.utk.edu/school-counseling/application-requirements/.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement to apply for the program?
The Graduate School requires that all potential graduate students who are United States degree holders
earned a minimum of 2.7 out of 4.0 or a minimum of 3.0 during the senior year of undergraduate study;
individuals with previous graduate coursework must have earned a minimum of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0
GPA. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees must have earned a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a
B average) in undergraduate study or a minimum of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to a B+ average) in
graduate study.
We understand there are sometimes very good reasons applicants did not perform optimally during
previous study. If you do not meet the Graduate School’s minimum GPA requirement, you can request
that our faculty appeal the Graduate School GPA requirement so you may be considered for admission to
our program. Please contact [email protected] if you believe you will need an appeal to progress in the
admissions process. To learn more about the Graduate School’s admission requirements, visit
https://gradschool.utk.edu/admissions/.
Do you require an undergraduate major or specific
undergraduate coursework as prerequisites?
All candidates must complete a Bachelor’s degree, in any field, prior to their first semester of enrollment.
Many of our students have backgrounds in Psychology, Child and Family Studies, or Education. However,
some students come to us by way of various degrees (e.g., Music, English, Accounting, Engineering). This
diversity of background and life experiences enriches the program. Although some undergraduate
coursework in psychology may be a helpful foundation for students, we do not consider this coursework
as part of the admissions process or require specific undergraduate coursework as prerequisite to the
program or our courses.
Can I take some courses to see if I might be interested in applying
to the program?
Our professional program is designed to be intimate and focused on development of knowledge, clinical
skills, and professional dispositions. As such, most of our courses are restricted to counseling majors.
However, there are several courses that are appropriate for enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate-
level non-degree-seeking student. Specifically,
• COUN 480: Skills for Counseling
• COUN 460 or 560: Practicum in Grief Support
Only coursework taken at the graduate level may count toward the graduate degree. For more
information regarding taking courses as a non-degree-seeking student, visit
https://admissions.utk.edu/apply/other-applicants/non-degree-seeking-student/.
Do you accept transfer students and credits?
As a CACREP-accredited program, we are responsible for ensuring students have received comprehensive
coursework related to CACREP standards and assessing student growth and development at multiple
points in time. Prior to placement in practicum and internship, we must have direct evidence regarding
students’ development of counseling skills and professional dispositions. This limits the number and
nature of transfer coursework we can accept. In select cases, we can accept up to 12 credit hours of
coursework from a CACREP-accredited program. If you are considering transferring to the program,
please consult the transfer policy in the handbook and contact [email protected] to request a
discussion regarding your unique situation.
Do you offer assistantships or fellowships?
Because we are a graduate professional program in which the master’s degree is considered entry-level,
we are unable to offer assistantships for MS students. We encourage students to seek competitive
university-level assistantships across campus. For more information regarding costs, assistantships, and
fellowships, visit https://epc.utk.edu/financial-aid/.
When I graduate, will I be ready for licensure in my state?
Yes and no. All U.S. states and territories regulate the practice of counseling through licensure or
certification. Although the content and specifics of licensure laws vary by state, they all contain the 3-Es:
Education, Examination, and Experience.
• Education – master’s degree with a specific number of credit hours and specific
coursework
• Examination – credentialing examination, often offered by a national testing company
• Experience – certain number of supervised counseling hours during the program (for CMHC and
school counseling) and after graduation (CMHC only)
To practice counseling outside the public school or religious setting in Tennessee, one must be licensed as
a Professional Counselor. To practice as a school counselor in public or private schools in Tennessee, one
must hold a school services personnel license specific to school counselors. Definitions of counseling,
educational requirements for licensure, examination requirements for licensure, and experience
requirements for licensure vary from state to state.
UT’s CMHC concentration is aligned to educational requirements for the LPC-MHSP in Tennessee. As a
CACREP-accredited program, our curriculum meets educational requirements for most other states as
well. In addition, our program prepares students to take the most common licensure examination, the
National Counselor Examination (NCE) prior to graduation. Our graduates also take the National Clinical
Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) and Jurisprudence examination prior to licensure as an
LPC-MHSP. Finally, UT’s program meets the minimal number of field hours needed in a graduate
program. Once our students graduate, they are prepared to begin working under an approved
supervisor to accrue the 3000 post-graduate hours required to practice counseling independently as an
LPC-MHSP in Tennessee.
UT’s School Counseling concentration meets educational requirements for school counselor licensure in
Tennessee and most other states as well. The program also prepares students for the Praxis, the most
common examination for school counselor licensure in the United States. Finally, there is no additional
experience requirement for school counselors in Tennessee, and UT students who take the Praxis exam
before graduating or shortly afterwards can immediately apply for licensure. For more information on
current school counselor licensure requirements in Tennessee, please visit
https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing/educator-licensure/new-to-education.html
If you expect to practice outside the state of Tennessee, we urge you to investigate education,
experience, and examination requirements in states of interest. Your advisor will help you customize your
time in the program by choosing electives that fill any state-specific curricular requirements not already
included in our required coursework. To access a directory of state licensure boards or departments of
education, visit https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements (CMHC) or
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/State-Requirements-Programs/State-
Licensure-Requirements (SC).
Do your graduates get jobs? What do they do?
Yes! Our graduates have a strong track record of employment. In the most recent 5 years, 100% of our
CMHC and School Counseling alumni who wished to be employed in the field found employment within 6
months of graduation; many alumni secure their positions while still enrolled within the program. You
will find our graduates in:
• Major community mental health centers (e.g., Omni Community Health, Helen Ross McNabb)
• Non-profit organizations (e.g., Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee, Harmony Family Services)
• College counseling centers (e.g., Pellissippi State Community College, University of Tennessee
Student Counseling Center, Virginia Tech Counseling Center)
• School-Based Mental Health Programs
• Local private counseling practices
• Public & private elementary, middle, and high schools
How is Counseling similar to or different from related
professions such as Psychology and Social Work?
A variety of professionals provide mental health services in clinical settings. Many of the skills and work
functions overlap. Still, each profession has unique areas of emphasis, professional organizations,
licensure processes, and accrediting bodies. Professional Counseling has philosophical roots that include
attention to wellness, strengths, culture, human development, and prevention or early intervention. We
excel in promoting optimal human development with attention to strengths, relationship, and systemic
context. We are qualified to provide diagnosis and treatment for individuals who have a wide range of
mental disorders and/or provide a range of services reaching every K-12 student through a
comprehensive school counseling program. We bring a unique strength-based, relational focus to this
work.
If you are working to discern differences between professions and which degree is right for you, the
following chart might help you investigate your options.
Counseling
Psychology
Unique focus areas
Holistic,
developmental,
wellness, strengths-
orientation
Assessment, pathology
Degree required for
unsupervised practice
Master’s
Doctorate
Licensure
Licensed Professional
Counselor (LPC) /
Licensed Mental Health
Counseling (LMHC)
[names vary by state]
Or
Licensed School
Counselor
Licensed Psychology
Professional
Organization
American Counseling
Association
(www.counseling.org)
American
Psychological
Association
(www.apa.org)
Accrediting Body
Council for the
Accreditation of
Counseling & Related
Educational Programs
(www.cacrep.org)
American
Psychological
Association
(www.apa.org)
What is unique about the Counseling program at UT?
• Learning in small, intimate cohorts (e.g., about 15-17 CMHC and 8-10 School Counseling students
per year) focused on team environments and meaningful relationships
• Living out CHORIS (e.g., commitment, humility, openness, respect, integrity, and self-awareness)
dispositions together as a community committed to personal and professional development
• Cultivating self-awareness and role of self in the counseling relationship
• Engaging in a collaborative, open door environment
• Taking courses taught by core faculty members who are leaders and scholars in the field and who
work as a team to promote student development
• Engaging hands-on activities in an on-site Counselor Training Clinic from the very beginning
• Learning alongside Counselors for Inclusion (CoFI), a student-faculty diversity, equity, and
inclusion collaborative that provides ongoing professional development and opportunities for
conversation
• Working with award-winning chapter of Chi Sigma Iota for mentorship, community engagement,
professional development, and leadership opportunities
• Excellent program outcomes: 100% examination pass rates, 100% job placement rates
I still have more questions, what can I do?
For questions regarding residency, finances, and the application portal, please view the materials located
at Graduate Admissions. You may contact them with follow-up questions.
If you have additional questions regarding the program after reviewing our admissions materials,
program information, and FAQs, please RSVP for a program information session on our Application
Requirements page or reach out to us at [email protected]