Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
60 credit hours
Applicants pursuing a concentration in counseling have two choices: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (below) or School Counseling. The prerequisite for pursuing this degree is 12 hours of psychology or psychology related courses that can include courses like the following: introduction to psychology, human development, and psychopathology. If seeking a master's degree in counseling in either of these concentrations students must request admission to candidacy before completing nine hours of graduate course work.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares students to work in a variety of community agency settings and/or eventual private practice. Students completing this concentration will have met the educational requirements for licensure in Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider status.
The curriculum requirements include coursework, a 100-hour practicum experience, 600-hour internship and a comprehensive examination.
To learn about the course requirements for the Clinical Mental Health concentration, please see the Graduate Bulletin.
For more information please contact Dr. Kim Coggins.
Dual Track Option:
Students can be considered for a dual track option on a case-by-case situation based on performance to date. Students must submit a written letter to his/her academic advisor stating a rationale including career goals and a pathway to completing both programs. Consideration for dual track enrollment will be contingent upon space availability and goodness of fit determined by the program coordinator and counseling faculty.
When in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration seeking dual track in School Counseling the following additional courses (18 hours) are required:
- COUN 5150 Foundations of School Counseling (3)
- COUN 5210 School Culture for Counselors (3)
- COUN 5640 Practicum in School Counseling (3)
- COUN 5725 Internship in School Counseling (6)
- COUN 6015 Comprehensive School Counseling Program Design & Implementation (3)
Important Message about Dual Track Programming
- Graduate assistantships will not cover the additional semester(s) needed to complete a dual track program
- There may be limitations to what financial aid will cover and additional courses for a dual track program may not be covered by financial aid
- Your graduation date will be delayed until all additional credits to complete a dual track program are met
- Completing a dual track program does not afford you a second degree. It is only intended to provide you with the additional coursework needed to pursue additional state licensure. (clinical mental health and school counseling)