Frequently Asked Questions - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) & School Counseling (SCCO) Concentration

I have applied to the College of Graduate Studies and was notified that I have been accepted as a graduate student. Does this mean that I have been accepted into the Professional Counseling Program?

Admission to the program is a two-step process. First, prospective applicants apply to the College of Graduate Studies by completing an application and having their transcripts sent to that college. Once students have been accepted in the College of Graduate studies, the prospective applicants then apply for admission to the Professional Counseling Program, which involves completing and submitting the following to the College of Graduate Studies:

  • a supplemental application;
  • GRE or MAT scores, if a prospective applicant’s undergraduate GPA is below 3.00. Admissions test scores are not required if an applicant’s undergraduate GPA is 3.50 or above;
  • a vita; and
  • three (3) recommendation forms completed by individuals who are familiar with the prospective applicant (preferably at least two of whom know the applicant’s academic skills).

If the applicant is invited to the group interview in October or March, then they must attend and receive a positive recommendation from the Professional Counseling faculty for admission into the program. Prospective applicants should consult the handbook for additional information.

I noticed that February 10 and September 10 are the deadlines to submit my application materials for review by the Professional Counseling faculty to be considered for admission into the counseling program. What if I can't meet that deadline for some reason? May I still take classes?

Yes, however the Professional Counseling faculty do not necessarily recommend this (particularly if prospective applicants have not yet taken and obtained GRE or MAT scores for admission). Prospective applicants may take up to 6 hours of coursework during any one semester prior to admission into the program with the approval of the instructor. If a prospective student is not admitted during the semester they are taking those 3 or 6 hours, then they may not register for any additional coursework until they have been admitted into the program. Because admission is not guaranteed, classes should be selected carefully.

What are the pre-requisites, and must I complete these before being accepted into the program?

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

The pre-requisite is an abnormal psychology course (e.g., PSY 3230, Abnormal Psychology) with a minimum grade of B. Preferably, this course should be taken prior to applying to the CMHC program although it can also be taken during the first year of the program.

School Counseling Program

The pre-requisites are a course in exceptional children and either a teaching degree or COUN 5201, Directed Public School Experience for Non-Teachers. While a prospective applicant does not have to take these before applying, it is recommended that they do so as soon as possible such as during the first or second semester in the program. Your advisor will assist in ensuring you take the required classes.

Do I have to be a teacher to become a school counselor?

No. A school counselor in Tennessee does not have to have a classroom teaching license. However, if student does not have a teaching degree then they are required to take one additional pre-requisite at MTSU that teachers do not have to take: COUN 5201, Directed Public School Experience for Non-Teachers. While this can be taken prior to applying, it can also be taken in the first year of the program.

Some states require a teaching license prior to becoming a school counselor, so prospective applicants who plan to work in a state other than Tennessee are encouraged to investigate licensure standards for that state.

I am concerned about the GRE or MAT. What if I don't obtain the required minimum score? Will I still be eligible to be admitted into the CMHC program?

A Verbal Reasoning score of 146 or above on the GRE or a score of 385 or above on the MAT is required for unconditional admission into the program. In cases where scores fall below the minimums the Professional Counseling faculty will consider other data in applicants’ files as in some cases areas of strength (e.g., strong undergraduate GPA) offset weaker areas.

Can I take all of the classes online?

While a few of the classes are online and some are partially online (i.e., web-assisted), most classes are face-to-face.

When are the classes offered?

Prior to practicum and internship, the most frequent class meeting time is 4:30-7:30 p.m. one day per week (or not quite that often if the class is web-assisted). One or two web-assisted classes meet one Saturday per month. One is on-line. Some sections of classes also meet in the summer to give students another option as to when to schedule the classes.

During practicum, which is usually during the student's third or fourth semester, students must be available to provide counseling services and participate in related activities (e.g., individual and group supervision) in the MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services for 100 hours over the course of a semester, which is the equivalent of one full day per week.

Also, each program requires internships:

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling has an academic-year-long internship at the end of the program. Students must be available to work in a mental health-related setting for 600 hours over the course of two consecutive semesters (or approximately 3 days per week). While in internship, students must come to campus approximately one day per week for group supervision.
  • School Counseling has two full-semester internships at the end of the program. For these, students must select two of the three options (elementary, middle, or high school) for their internships, completing one per semester. While in internship, students must come to campus approximately one evening per week for individual and group supervision.

Can I work and take classes?

Most students work at least part-time until they begin practicum and/or internships, as they are able to arrange their work hours so that they do not conflict with class times or with the academic demands of graduate work. While most students do not to work while taking their internships, this is not always possible. Some manage to maintain part-time employment during internship. How well this works is dependent upon numerous factors such as the demands of the job and the individual's ability to cope with stressful situations.

How long will it take me to complete the program?

Students go through the program at different rates depending upon their individual circumstances. Students who are able to go "full-time" and take summer classes complete the program in three years. Some students choose to take fewer classes each semester because of other obligations or personal preference, so take longer to graduate. See the program Handbook for a sample schedule.

Is your program accredited?

Both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the School Counseling Programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (or "CACREP").

Do you train students to work with children and adults?

Students have the opportunity to take courses that are specific to counseling children, adolescents and adults.

Are there scholarships or assistantships available to help pay for my education?

Graduate assistantships (GAs) are limited and competitive. They are available for 10 or 20 hours per week although the 10-hour assistantship (which includes a small monthly stipend and the 50% tuition discount) is the norm. Graduate assistants assist faculty members with both teaching and research and perform a wide variety of other duties depending on the faculty needs and the assistant's skills and background. Information about student assistantships and a link to the application can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website.

In addition to applying for an assistantship with the program, students may want to apply for a GA position in non-academic offices across the university. A list of these departments that do not have students of their own from which to select GAs can be found by clicking on the "Non-Academic Offices Offering Graduate Assistantships" link on the College of Graduate Studies website.

Please see the program Handbook for scholarship information.

I know someone who got a job as a school counselor while still in the program. May I do this?

From time to time, students are able to do this if they are in the right place at the right time. Because in recent years there have been more school counseling jobs available (at least in rural areas) than there have been licensed applicants to fill them, the state has allowed students to work as school counselors under a "job-embedded license" while they are completing their master's in school counseling, if the program faculty agree to the arrangement. This is decided on a case-by-case basis. The MTSU Professional Counseling program policy permits students to do this only in the last year of the program, the internship year, and preferably in the final internship. If a school district is unable to find a fully-licensed school counseling applicant and offers a student a position, then they must send an "Intent To Hire" form to the school counseling coordinator who will discuss this with the student and will present it to the Professional Counseling faculty for consideration.

What are the job prospects for clinical mental health counselors/licensed professional counselors?

According to the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.

How likely am I to find a job when I complete the School Counseling program?

The job market for school counselors is excellent in Middle Tennessee. Almost all MTSU school counseling graduates secure a job by the end of the summer if they graduate in May and choose to stay in the area. Positions in some "prime" schools and counties are the most difficult to obtain right out of school, of course, as they have fewer openings for entry-level counselors. Some (but not all) students who finish in December, however, do not find a position until jobs are posted for the following school year. The best thing a student can do to ensure they will have a job by summer is to do well in the program and obtain good recommendations from the Professional Counseling faculty and from their internship supervisors.

The job market varies dramatically in different parts of the country. Students who plan on moving out of state following graduation should research the job market of their intended destination as well as licensure requirements.

I already have a master's degree and just need to complete a few courses to become eligible for licensure. Can I take courses at MTSU for this purpose?

Clinical Mental Health Counseling:

Possibly, but only if a prospective student is a graduate of the MTSU School Counseling program or a graduate of a non-MTSU CACREP-accredited program. Courses may only be taken with the approval of the Professional Counseling faculty on a case-by-case basis.

School Counseling:

Prospective students may apply to do so. The admissions requirements are the same as for those seeking the master's degree although the admissions test (i.e., GRE or MAT) score may be waived on a case-by-case basis.

The process is a little different. First, the prospective applicant should contact the school counseling coordinator and send her a copy of their undergraduate and graduate transcripts. She will let the prospective applicant know what courses they need in order to meet the Tennessee requirements for school counseling licensure. If the prospective applicant decides to pursue this coursework then they should apply online to the College of Graduate Studies and select, "Addition of School Counseling Classes to Previous Master's" from the pull-down box choices. The prospective applicant should subsequently follow the steps outlined in answer #1 above.

I have a master's degree in a related field such as community counseling or social work and have been offered a job as a school counselor if I can get an accredited school counseling program to endorse me. Will MTSU do this?

Perhaps. Prospective students should contact the school counseling coordinator for additional information.

Professional Counseling

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