MS in Counseling Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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 for an extended period once a week.
Do you offer an online program?
No. Our program is completely face-to-face. At times, students may complete elective coursework from other programs online.
Is your program accredited?
Yes, we are proud to have longstanding accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Our MS in Counseling concentrations are accredited in CMHC 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?
Most students study full-time; however, some students study part-time to accommodate employment schedules, caregiving commitments, and financial considerations. Our faculty advisors work with students to develop customized plans of study that meet 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.
How do practicum and internship work?
Our accredited programs and all state licensure statutes require that candidates engage in professional practice. 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 or within a 30-minute radius. Our School Counseling concentration primarily places students in Knox County Schools or RAMHP partner schools, although students can request placement in adjacent counties.
Typically taken in the first spring semester, Practicum involves a 100-hour placement (about one day or two half-days each week) in which students begin to develop counseling relationships with real clients. We offer an elective summer advanced practicum bridge to internship. Internship typically begins the second year and involves a two-semester, 600-hour field placement (about 20-25 hours/week) in which students take on all professional roles of a counselor in a CMHC or School Counseling setting. During practice 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?
We use a holistic admissions process that includes careful consideration of each applicant’s career goals, aptitude for graduate-level study, and potential success in forming effective counseling relationships with diverse populations.
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 references 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 get to know you during the interview process.
Is the GRE required? What are minimum scores for GRE?
We no longer require or consider the GRE for admission to our programs.
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. Please contact counadmit@utk.edu 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, before their first semester of the program. Most of our students have undergraduate majors in psychology, human development and family science, or education. Some students find themselves exploring counseling as a profession after studying music, English, accounting, or engineering. This diversity of background and experiences enriches the program.
Although some undergraduate coursework in human development and family science or psychology may be a helpful foundation, we do not consider this coursework in the admissions process. We do not require specific undergraduate coursework as prerequisite to our program or 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. Most of our courses are restricted to counseling majors. However, there applicants have found it helpful to enroll in COUN 480 or 580 as an introduction to counseling skills.
Do you accept transfer students and credits?
Sometimes, yes! As a CACREP-accredited program, we must ensure students have completed coursework needed for licensure and developed the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions they need to be effective. Prior to placement in practicum and internship, we must have evidence of 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. Of those 12 hours, only 6 may be practicum prerequisites. If you are considering transferring to the program, please consult the transfer policy in the handbook and contact counadmit@utk.edu to discuss your unique situation. We will need actual syllabi for the courses you completed (semester and instructor) to evaluate equivalency.
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 in Counseling students. We encourage students to seek competitive university-level assistantships across campus.
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 students 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 | Social Work | Psychology | |
| Unique focus areas | Holistic, developmental, wellness, strengths-orientation | Systems, advocacy | Assessment, pathology |
| Degree required for unsupervised practice | Master’s | Master’s | Doctorate |
| Licensure | Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) / Licensed Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) [names vary by state] Or Licensed School Counselor | Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Licensed Psychology |
| Professional Organization | American Counseling Association (www.counseling.org) | National Association of Social Workers (www.socialworkers.org/) | American Psychological Association (www.apa.org) |
| Accrediting Body | Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (www.cacrep.org) | Council on Social Work Accreditation (www.cswe.org) | American Psychological Association (www.apa.org) |
What is unique about the Counseling program at UT?
- Learning in intimate cohorts (e.g., about 16-18 CMHC and 10-12 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
- Studying 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
- Working with our award-winning chapter of Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society
- Excellent program outcomes: 100% examination pass rates, 100% job placement rates
What is life like on campus and in Knoxville?
Check out this slideshow with some features about life on campus and in Knoxville.