General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Fiona Goodyear; goodyear@etsu.edu; (423) 439-6148
Rebekah Byrd, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Graduate Coordinator
324 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70701
(423) 439-7521
e-mail: byrdrj@etsu.edu
Faculty: James Bitter; Rebekah Byrd; Graham Disque; Emily Donald; Rebecca Milner; Clifton Mitchell; Brent Morrow; Cassandra Pusateri; Janna Scarborough.
The counseling program is designed for the advanced preparation of personnel to serve children, adults, and families in various school and community agency settings. The counseling program offers four (4) concentrations: clinical mental health counseling, college counseling/student affairs, couples and family counseling, and elementary/secondary school counseling. Emphasis is placed upon assisting students to develop a broad range of counseling skills that are applicable in a variety of professional settings. Students are admitted into the counseling program once a year in the fall or summer semesters. To be considered for summer or fall enrollment, the early admission application deadline is January 31. Applications that are not complete by the early deadline risk denial of admission due to no remaining available spaces. A minimum of 60 credit-hours are required to complete the Master of Arts degree in Counseling. The Couples and Family Counseling, Elementary/Secondary School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and College Counseling/Student Affairs options are accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Program Admission Requirements
Each applicant for admission to the Master of Arts degree in counseling program must meet the following criteria:
Applicants to East Tennessee State University’s graduate program in counseling must be a graduate of a regionally accredited college or university. In addition to submitting an application and an official transcript of all academic work previously completed, applicants must submit three letters of reference and their general aptitude scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)*. After a review of the application materials, applicants whose documents indicate a potential for success will be invited for an interview with the counseling program faculty.
Because of the importance of interpersonal characteristics in the field of counseling, the interview is a significant component of the admission process of the counseling program. After interviews, candidates will receive a letter regarding admission. Students are admitted into the counseling program once a year for either the summer or fall semesters. Note that individuals applying to the school counseling concentration must complete a successful background check in order to be fully admitted. Students are admitted into the counseling program once a year. To be considered for summer or fall enrollment, the application deadline is January 31.
The counseling program does not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status. Under the preceding procedures, factors given consideration in the admission decision include the following:
- Faculty’s assessment of interpersonal skills and aptitude for counseling;
- Level of GRE performance;
- Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA);
- Undergraduate institution;
- Undergraduate field of study;
- Performance in previous graduate level study;
- Related counseling work experience
- Past and current positions
- Years of experience
- Scope and variety of experiences
- Other evidence of success in academic and professional endeavors
- Motivation for graduate study
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clifton Mitchell, Ph.D., Professor and Clinical Mental Health Coordinator
322 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70701
(423) 439-4197
e-mail: mitchelc@etsu.edu
Clinical Mental Health Counseling-This program is for students seeking preparation for counseling in community agency settings. Electives will be chosen from disciplines relevant to the area of professional interest of each student. Graduates who have completed the concentration in clinical mental health counseling will demonstrate professional skills for working in community mental health agencies, substance abuse centers, correctional facilities, employee assistance programs, hospice services, or other human service settings.
Additional Information
Recommended Electives-It is recommended that students, with written approval of their advisor or advisory committee, choose electives with a focus clearly related to their specific professional objectives. Coursework can be chosen from the disciplines of counseling, special education, criminal justice, social work, sociology, psychology, early childhood education, health education, personnel management, and other approved disciplines. Courses should be approved for elective credit before the courses are taken.
Retention and Dismissal-As required by ACA and AAMFT, students failing to demonstrate personal, professional, and/or ethical behaviors, as these behaviors relate to the ability to function as a counselor, upon review and substantiation (with due process), can be denied continuance in counseling programs. All counseling graduate students are evaluated twice a year. If intervention is indicated and completed, the student may petition the department for readmission.
Students are responsible for being familiar with and following all graduate school admission and retention requirements as stated in the front section of this catalog and in the counseling graduate student handbook.
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