School Counseling Program

M.S. Degree

The purpose of the Master’s program is to assist selected graduate students to develop the necessary competencies to assume the major responsibilities of a counselor within pre K— secondary schools.  The program, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), will fulfill the licensure requirements for K-12 school counseling in Tennessee and in most states of the United States.  More specifically, the program is designed to develop students’ leadership ability to organize and coordinate a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program appropriate to the needs of their schools, to become competent in advocacy, and to develop skills for effective consultation and collaboration with teachers, parents, and other interested constituents.

Completion of the approved competencies (see curriculum), together with verified practical experience, meets the qualifications for licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee. Students need to complete the School Guidance and Counseling specialty area test of the National Teachers Examination (Praxis Series), as mandated by the Tennessee State Department of Education. Test requirements are subject to review and change from year to year; therefore, students are encouraged to check with the CEHHS Student Services, 332 BEC (Bailey Education Complex), before registering for any tests. Those applicants who have not had teaching experience will be required to complete additional classes.

Applicants for degrees in this field must present satisfactory evidence of academic ability, adequacy of personal characteristics and goals as determined by recommendations of employers, instructors, and colleagues, and by scores of the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination.

Updated 6/25/2009

Contact EPC

525 Jane & David Bailey Education Complex
1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3452

Phone: 865-974-8145
Fax: 865-974-0135