The program in school counseling is designed to prepare beginning counselors to work within a school environment. Successful completion of the program results in a master’s degree in Professional School Counseling and fulfills the requirements to qualify for licensure as a school counselor.
Admission
Application to the Counseling Program is made in the spring for fall admission. The application deadline is March 1. To be officially admitted to the Counseling Program, applicants must first meet all general requirements for admission to the UTC Graduate School. All forms and materials should be submitted to the Graduate School. Provisional students will not be allowed to register for core Counseling Program courses. Prior to admission into the Counseling Program, provisional students may register for EPSY 5010 Methods of Educational Research, EDUC 4000 Survey of Exceptional Learners, or EDUC 4850 Orientation to Schools for Counselors. No applicant with conditional status will be eligible for admission to the Counseling Program. In addition to regular graduate admission requirements, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Submit a score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) within the last five years.
- Provide three professional and/or academic recommendations pertaining to the candidate’s potential as a counselor.
- Submit a résumé reflecting professional experience and volunteer work, related to the helping profession.
- Submit a two page typewritten biographical sketch indicating the motivation to become a counselor.
- The applicant must attend an admission workshop which includes a group interview with faculty and must successfully pass a writing proficiency test. After the interview and the writing test, candidates are notified in writing as to their acceptance into the program. No oral confirmation of admission status will be provided.
Admission to Candidacy
In addition to the University requirements for admissions to candidacy, non-teacher students admitted to the School Counseling Program must demonstrate knowledge of the school environment as well as classroom instruction. Any student who has not been the teacher of record of a class is required to enroll in EDUC 4000 Survey of Exceptional Learners and EDUC 4850 Orientation to Schools for Counselors (an observation experience of 100 clock hours in the school environment). Students may be required to provide evidence of a supervised experience in a school that includes observation, as well as participation in and analysis of classroom instruction.
Review of Students
During their course of studies, all counseling students are reviewed continuously by program faculty for purposes other than academic. This “professional fitness” review results in either one of three recommendations: continuation, continuation with conditions, or termination. Students are referred to the Student Handbook for explanation of professional fitness necessary for continuation in the program. All students are expected to abide by the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. All courses are competency based, and courses receiving a grade lower than B must be repeated.
Certification Eligibility
The minimum number of credit hours to obtain licensure as a school counselor (grades pre-kindergarten through 12) in the state of Tennessee is 48 semester hours. In addition, students are required to obtain appropriate scores on School Guidance and Counseling section (#20420) of the Praxis II. For more information regarding the Praxis II, visit www.ets.org.
Comprehensive Examination
Students will be required to pass comprehensive written and oral examinations. One written examination will consist of the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Additionally students will be required to pass an oral/written examination with the counseling faculty. More information about the comprehensive exam is provided in the Counseling Student Handbook.
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