Master of Science in Education -
Counseling-School & Community
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Counseling—School or Community—is available to individuals who obtained a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Complete admission requirements are shown below.
The Counseling Program allows the candidate to complete all degree requirements online, with the exception of a required four-day residency at the beginning of the program.The residency for Fall Semester, 2008 is August 21-24. The residency for the Spring Semester, 2009 is January 8-11. The residency for the Summer Semester, 2009 is May 28-31. Candidates are admitted for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. The Counseling Program faculty can give you recommendations on dorms and/or lodging available near the campus once your application is received. This requirement affords you the opportunity to meet face-to-face with your professors and peers in the program.
UT Online Counseling Program classes start with the Fall Semester August 25, 2008.
Take a Virtual Tour of the UT Martin campus
Visit the UT Martin Library - Enrolled students have access to full-text databases for coursework and research.
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Conceptual Framework
The theme, "Professional Educators as Leaders and Enhancers of Human Development," is our goal in continuing the professional development of future educators. The advanced program's conceptual framework is depicted as four keys that the graduate faculty feels will unlock each candidate's potential. They are:
KEY 1 Knowledge, Skills and Application
KEY 2 Human Relations
KEY 3 Inquiry
KEY 4 Professional and Ethical Behavior
Inherent within each key component are outcomes that the candidate is expected to master upon completion of his/her individual program. These keys are linked together by a solid ring representing the faculty's commitment to diversity, technology and assessment.
Counseling Curriculum and Residency
For students seeking a Master’s Degree, the Counseling Program includes a graduate core 6 hours; counseling core 36 hours; culminating internship experience 6 hours. Total minimum hours required is 48. Typically, the online Counseling Program takes 2 to 2.5 years to complete. A student is permitted to take 9 hours of degree coursework each semester.
UT Martin’s online Counseling Program requires a school internship (600 hours total) and/or a community/mental health internship (600 hours total) for completion of the program. The internship is the experiential component of the counseling program and it may be completed at a site where the student works or resides. The internship experience is online. The university instructor must approve the site for the internship.
Students work closely with UT Martin counseling faculty and a supervising mentor counselor at the internship site to complete the requirements. Admission into the internship is not permitted until all required coursework has been successfully completed.
Master’s degree seeking students must successfully complete a Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) in the semester immediately preceding internship. The Counseling Program requires this examination. Students must have a 70th percentile pass rate. Students must achieve the 70th percentile cut-off score before being approved/admitted by the advisor to the school or community counseling internship course. Students should consult with their advisor in advance of this examination.
For certification/licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee, students are also required to pass the Praxis II-0420 School Guidance and Counseling test that is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Contact ETS for dates and test centers where you reside and have scores sent to UT Martin. Phone ETS 1-609-921-9000 http://www.ets.org/
For students seeking a school counselor endorsement only, not a degree, contact Jenny Hahn, College of Education Certification Officer, UT Martin 731-881-7126 for information.
Course Format
The Counseling Program coursework and course materials are accessible 24/7 using Blackboard Academic Suite. The Blackboard courses have discussion, email, chat, assignments, examinations, and web-conferencing capability. Students have access to free tech support through UT Martin’s Help Desk 731-881-7900 each day until 12 midnight cst.
Technology and Skills Requirement
Tuition
Online graduate tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year: in-state students ($359/credit hour) and out-of-state students ($391/credit hour). http://www.utm.edu/departments/finadmin/businessaffairs/bursar.php
Financial Aid
Students that may need to apply for financial aid should contact the UT Martin Financial Aid Office for information.
Faculty
Counseling Program faculty at UT Martin—Dr. Linda Blanding, Dr. Robert Erk, Dr. Suzanne Maniss—have experience in counseling and online teaching. They are available to students online, through email, and by telephone. http://www.utm.edu/departments/cebs/edgrad/faculty.php
Accreditation
UT Martin is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone 404-679-4501) to award bachelors and masters degrees. UT Martin’s education curriculum is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). http://www.utm.edu/departments/cebs/edgrad/index.php
Admission Requirements
Applicants in counseling may be admitted as degree seeking or endorsement. Degree seeking candidates must meet all university requirements as listed in the university catalog. The “Types of Admission” are listed here.
Overview (You Must Read The Link Above):
Unconditional Admission
Minimum GRE General scores – Verbal 450, Quantitative 530, and Writing 3.5
Minimum 2.7 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Conditional Admission – good for six credit hours
Minimum GRE General scores – Verbal 360, Quantitative 410, and Writing 3.5
Minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Unclassified Admission – Applicants for degree-seeking status who meet the minimum GPA requirements for conditional admission but cannot provide a satisfactory official qualifying exam score may be granted unclassified admission. Unclassified students may enroll for one semester only and for a maximum of two graduate courses. They must achieve a 3.00 Cumulative GPA.
How To Apply
Counseling program applicants must submit an Application for Admission and a Counseling Admissions Portfolio. When application is complete, the Counseling Admissions Board will consider it. All of these materials/documents must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office, 310 Administration Bldg., UT Martin, Martin, TN 38238
See Academic Calendar.
Application to the Graduate School includes the following:
1. Apply for admission by one of the following means:
Apply online (click here) and complete the credit card payment of $30 non-refundable application fee ($50 for international students)
Acquire an application form online (click here), complete the form and submit to the Graduate Office with a payment (check or money order) of $30 non-refundable application fee ($50 for international students). This from can also be faxed to 731-881-7499.
Apply in person at the Graduate Office and pay the $30 non-refundable application fee ($50 for international students)
2. Request the Registrars of all colleges and universities attended to send one official transcript to the Graduate Studies Office.
International students must also:
Acquire and submit an international student application from International Programs, 144 Gooch Hall, UT Martin, Martin, TN, 38237. Visit International Programs at http://www.utm.edu/departments/intprog/.
Acquire and submit an application for international graduate admissions from International Programs.
The Counseling Admission Portfolio for application to the Counseling Program must include:
1. A two-page essay that fully describes the candidate’s skills and experiences relevant to becoming a successful counselor. The candidate must also discuss the perceived abilities and attributes that will enable the counseling candidate to become a successful counselor.
2. Current resume. The resume needs to describe fully the candidate’s degrees, and importantly, the person’s occupational experiences, particularly any counseling experiences obtained.
3. Three letters of recommendation from school superintendents, principals, teachers, professors and/or employers. Letters of reference should be on letterhead, be signed, and be sent in by the reference.
Note: In some cases, an interview by the Counseling Admission Board will be conducted to clarify portfolio information.
4. A signed letter by the applicant stating that he/she will attend the four-day orientation that is mandatory for new students that enter the program. In the letter, the student shall also indicate the semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) that enrollment is planned.
Graduate Application: Print | Apply Online
Counseling EDPG Course Descriptions
Counseling Program Check Sheet
All UT Martin Course Listings/Counseling EDPG Coursework Schedule
Note: Course schedules are subject to change
Text books for Counseling Program classes are available on campus at the UT Martin Bookstore 731-881-7760 or online through MBS Direct.
Counseling Supervisor Stipend Form (for counseling internships only)
Click here to open the counseling supervisor stipend form.
American Counseling Association Code of Ethics
This is a required download for each student in the Counseling Program-Read and place in a folder or notebook for your reference - Click Here to Download
Online Counseling Program Course Rotation Schedule 2008-2009