Program Mission and Objectives

Our Counseling and Counselor Education programs promote optimal development and holistic wellness across the lifespan by advancing professional counseling through development of counselors and counselor educators, research, leadership, and advocacy. We strive to enhance deeply healing relationships and evidence-informed practices in ways that are community-engaged and culturally sustaining. Our MS in Counseling degree prepares counselor-advocate-scholars with a strong professional identity and skills for effective practice in diverse settings. 

Graduates of our MS in Counseling programs:

• Understand and apply foundational knowledge necessary for success as professional counselors
• Develop therapeutic relationships that are deeply healing, culturally sustaining, developmentally responsive, and ethical
• Develop advocacy competencies for addressing systemic barriers to optimal development and wellness facing diverse individuals, families, schools, and communities
• For CMHC: Enact specialized skills in clinical mental health counseling including client conceptualization, integration of evidence-informed practices, and program evaluation.
• For School Counseling: Enact specialized skills to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs that address the academic, career, and social-emotional development of preK-12 students
• Study in an inclusive, engaged learning community that maintains high standards among peers, faculty, and community partners
• Demonstrate professional counseling dispositions including Commitment, Humility, Openness, Respect, Integrity, and Self-Awareness.

Key Performance Indicators

As a CACREP-accredited program, we utilize a series of key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure every graduate leaves us with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in counseling practice. Our KPIs reflect our core values alongside what we know of evidence-informed practice. They are as follows:

• Apply an ethical decision-making model to counseling practice
• Cultivate multicultural and social justice counseling competencies relevant to practice in one’s work setting
• Conceptualize clients with attention to multiple systems impacting human development across the lifespan
• Apply career development theory to clients while attending to culture and mental health
• Conceptualize client experiences and counseling implications through the lens of an established counseling theory
• Demonstrate invitational, attending, and influencing skills in relationships with clients
• Design a culturally relevant group for implementation in a CMHC or School Counseling setting
• Demonstrate knowledge of statistical and assessment frameworks needed to administer and interpret counseling assessments
• Evaluate effectiveness of interventions in a CMHC or School Counseling setting
• For CMHC
  • Utilize relevant clinical information to justify decisions about levels of care and referrals in CMHC settings
• Enact specialized skills in a CMHC setting
• For School Counseling:
  • Use disaggregated data to formulate a Closing the Gap Action Plan
  • Enact specialized skills in a School Counseling setting

Core Faculty Members

Casey A. Barrio Minton
Professor and Head

Jeff L. Cochran
Professor

Jamian Coleman
Assistant Professor

Joel Diambra
Associate Professor

Melinda M. Gibbons
Professor and Counselor Education Unit Director

Hyunhee Kim
Assistant Professor

Jennifer Moralejo
Clinical Assistant Professor and CTC Director

Jordan B. Westcott
Assistant Professor

Admissions Criteria and Process

We are glad you are interested in our MS in Counseling programs! 

Admission Process

We admit students to begin our year-round program during the summer (June) semester only. Admission to our program is competitive. Given the volume of applications we receive, we use a two-step application process: written application and on-campus interview. 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.

The next round of applications is due December 1 to begin in June the following year. You can begin the process by submitting an online application to the Office of Graduate Admissions. International applicants should also follow instructions in the Admissions Guide for Graduate International Students. 

Written Application

Our written application includes materials beyond those that are required in the general graduate school application. The application portal will provide instructions for completing each component of the written application. Our customized application components include: 

• Resumé or Curriculum Vita
• Letter of Introduction
• Ethical Integration Statement
• Transcript(s) – You may simplify your admissions process by providing an electronic or unofficial version of your original transcript at the time of application. If you are admitted to the program, you have official copies of your transcripts sent directly to UT Graduate Admissions. For help with this process check out the Graduate School page on Transcripts or call Graduate Admissions at 865-974-3251.
• Three Completed References – Choose references who can assess your academic background and likely success in a rigorous program focused on interpersonal skills. If you are a recent graduate, you should include one or more faculty members who can attest to your work as a student. You may also select employers or volunteer supervisors who are familiar with your work. Family members and personal friends are not appropriate references. The application system will prompt your references to submit their forms directly. At least two of your references must be submitted by the application deadline. 
• Thinking about Counseling Exercise
• Please note: the GRE is not required, and we will not consider GRE scores in our process

On-Campus Interview

Following review of the written application, a review committee will invite some applicants for a half-day interview to be held on campus in January. We will notify all applicants of their interview status by mid-December.

Contact Us 

If you have questions regarding our program-specific admissions process, please contact us at counadmit@utk.edu. If you have questions regarding the Graduate School application process or the SLATE application portal, please Contact Graduate Admissions. To check on the status of your application to the UT Graduate School, please see information on the Graduate Admissions Application Status page or call (865) 974-3251.

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or eoa@utk.edu or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or investigations@utk.edu.

Degree Requirements & Courses

Our MS in Counseling requires 60 credit hours including core coursework, coursework specific to your specialized practice area (i.e., Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) or School Counseling), and professional practice field experience. All students complete a one-semester, 100-hour practicum where they develop individual counseling relationships. Students then complete a two-semester, 600-hour internship focused on developing counseling relationships and all assuming responsibilities of an entry-level professional counselor in their specialized practice area.

You can view a list of our courses and their descriptions by visiting the UT Graduate Catalog.

Dual Option

Students can complete all educational and professional practice experience requirements for concentrations in CMHC and School Counseling. Although the dual option does not require additional credit hours, the program must be completed over three full years to allow one year of internship in School Counseling and one year of internship in CMHC. Students indicate interest during the admissions process and apply for the dual option in their first semester of study.

Our Professional Dispositions 

Professional dispositions are “the commitments, characteristics, values, beliefs, and behaviors that influence the counselor’s professional growth and interactions with clients, faculty, supervisors, and peers, including working in a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations” (CACREP, 2024). All members of our community are expected to demonstrate these dispositions. The faculty is responsible for helping students identify strategies for building strong professional dispositions and providing feedback when dispositions may impact their effectiveness as counselors. We have identified the following dispositions associated with success for professional counselors. You will have opportunities to develop and demonstrate each of these dispositions throughout the program. 

The acronym CHORIS may help you remember them.

• Commitment – Demonstrates engagement in and dedication to the learning process, the counseling profession, and the development of counseling skills and knowledge. Completes tasks by scheduled deadlines, meets program and site expectations, and takes initiative in program and site activities. 
• Humility – Demonstrates commitment to self-critique regarding own counseling skills, ability, and knowledge with a recognition that professional growth is a life-long process. Embraces an attitude of curiosity and acceptance of others’ beliefs, identities, and values.
• Openness – Demonstrates an interest in learning, growing, and changing behavior. Receives and integrates feedback, alternate perspectives, and new ideas into thinking and behaviors. 
• Respect – Demonstrates an ability to collaborate with colleagues and supervisors in the pursuit of shared goals and understanding. Recognizes role and maintains core conditions when navigating challenging or conflictual situations. Communicates with colleagues and supervisors effectively and appropriately.
• Integrity – Demonstrates professional behavior with others, including maturity and honesty within all professional interactions. Takes responsibility for own professional behavior during challenging circumstances, including providing an accurate appraisal of the situation that is genuine and truthful regarding the events that transpired. Accepts mistakes and avoids placing blame on others. Adheres to professional and ethical guidelines for the counseling profession. 
• Self-Awareness – Demonstrates ability to recognize and manage own thoughts, feelings, and actions and how these impact relationships with others. Actively pursues learning about self in relationship to the world around them. Implements professional self-care strategies to optimize wellness, mitigate personal concerns, and prevent burnout that may impact clients and counselor competency.

Accreditation & Licensure

The CMHC concentration and School Counseling concentration are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

All states within the U.S. require a license to practice as a professional counselor. These licensure requirements feature the three Es: education, examination, and experience. The requirements for licensure differ by specialized practice area and state. 

Our CMHC program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor with mental health service provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in the state of Tennessee. CACREP accreditation helps ensure a smooth path to meeting the educational requirements for licensure in most other states. If you plan to practice in a state other than Tennessee, a faculty advisor will help you customize electives to meet educational requirements. All states require at least one standardized examination along with supervised experience after graduation (typically 2000-4000 hours) before you can be licensed to practice counseling independently. You can learn more about specific state licensure requirements on the American Counseling Association’s licensure requirements page. 

Our School Counseling program fulfills educational requirements for licensure for PreK-12 school counselors in Tennessee and in most states of the US. We are also approved to offer the Job-Embedded Practitioner (JEP) option for the TN Department of Education; this option allows students to be employed as school counselors while completing their internship and final coursework. If you plan to practice in a state other than Tennessee, a faculty advisor will help you customize electives to meet educational requirements. School Counseling candidates who earn a degree and pass a state-designated examination are ready for licensure upon graduation. The internships within our program meet the experience requirement for licensure. You can learn more about specific state licensure requirements on the American School Counselor Association certification requirements page. 

Vital Statistics and Annual Report

The quality of your education is important. As a CACREP-accredited program we monitor and report on performance indicators each year. Our master’s programs feature a 100% initial pass rate on credentialing examinations, high levels of degree completion, and strong employment or doctoral program placement rates. Learn more about our vital statistics and our overall program performance by reading our annual report.  

Costs & Financial Aid 

You can learn more about costs and funding by visiting the Graduate School’s website. This page will guide you to considering costs specific to your status as an in-state, out of state, or international student. When considering costs, please note that we offer our program on a year-round basis; you will need to plan funding for fall, spring, and summer terms. 

Although CHDFS is unable to provide graduate assistantships for MS in Counseling students at this time, assistantships are available on campus. These opportunities are frequently updated on Graduate School’s website. Once students are admitted to our program, we share information about campus assistantships as they come available. 

Given the national shortage of school counselors, we have two unique funding opportunities for students in this specialized practice area. First, we are approved as a Job-Embedded Practitioner (JEP) option for the Tennessee Department of Education; this option allows students to be employed as school counselors while completing their internship and final coursework. Second, UT is home to the Rural Appalachian Mental Health Partnership (RAMHP), a federally-funded program that provides two years of financial support at a value of $30,000 plus mileage reimbursement. You can read more about RAMHP below.

Rural Appalachian Mental Health Partnership (RAMHP)

RAMHP provides an evidence-based, culturally inclusive school counseling and school psychology service in high-need, rural Appalachian schools. Six school counseling or dual option scholars and six school psychology RAMHP scholars will be selected each year. This partnership provides two years of financial support.

Year 1 ($10,000 scholarship)

• Engage in monthly RAMHP professional development and cohort-building activities (working with rural youth, MTSS, universal screening, and evidence-based mental health interventions)
• Enroll in EDPY 580: course on evidence-based practices (School Counseling elective)
• Enroll in COUN 570: Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling (required course)

Year 2 ($10,000 scholarship, $10,000 internship stipend, mileage reimbursement

• Continue RAMHP supervision and professional development
• Complete internship placement in a high-need partner school in Cocke, Greene, Grainger, or Newport City district

Post-graduation Service Requirement

• Per Department of Education requirements, RAMHP scholars have a service obligation of two years working as a school counselor or school psychologist in a high-need school. A high-need school is defined as one or more of the following:
  • A low-income school (at least 20% of students are considered low-income in the district)
  • Rural school (SRSA or RLIS designation)
  • High student-to-counselor ratio
  • Significant student mental health needs