Professional Counseling
Specialize in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Comprehensive program for aspiring counselors. Accredited by CACREP.
Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration, Ed.S.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration in the Specialist in Education in Professional Counseling degree program is offered through the College of Education at MTSU. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration is a 61-hour degree program trains students to work with children, adolescents, and/or adults in mental health settings. Students who complete the concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will have met the educational requirements for licensure as professional counselors with mental health service provider (MHSP) designation.
Professional Counseling Program Mission
The mission of the Professional Counseling program is to help students develop essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions to function successfully as professional counselors working in mental health agencies, private practice, or elementary, middle, and high schools. Professional Counseling Faculty strive to attract a diverse group of students who have an allegiance to social justice and to advocacy for equal opportunity for all members of society, and who will make a strong commitment to their own academic achievement, professional development, and personal self-awareness and growth across the lifespan.
About MTSU's Professional Counseling Program
Professional Counseling faculty train highly skilled counselors to assist individuals with social, emotional and/or academic challenges. The curriculum emphasizes and infuses information pertaining to diversity and trauma. Learning by doing provides students with valuable experience and that builds their confidence as aspiring counselors.
Professional Experience
Students majoring in Professional Counseling are provided with this opportunity at the MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CCPS) and through internship experiences at mental health agencies and schools. CCPS is a high-tech training facility where students provide counseling services to MTSU students, faculty, and staff as well as residents of the Murfreesboro community under the supervision of faculty during their practicum experience.
Included in the off-campus facility are three individual/family counseling rooms, a child therapy room, and two classrooms. The counseling offices and child therapy room are equipped with a state-of-the-art audio/video recording system and all sessions are recorded for supervision purposes. Following the practicum experience, students complete in-depth internship training in agencies and schools in preparation for their roles as professional counselors.
Most graduates of the Professional Counseling program obtain jobs in Murfreesboro and the middle Tennessee area. Clinical mental health counseling graduates find employment with mental health agencies as counselors and eventually complete the requirements for licensure as professional counselors (LPCs). Employment prospects are very good given the strong reputation of the program.
MTSU's Professional Counseling program offers two concentrations — Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Both concentrations are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
News Briefs
January ‘Out of the Blue’ features Meharry partnership, professional counseling degree, new dean of students [+VIDEO]
Kicking off the new year with the January episode of "Out of the Blue," Middle Tennessee State University's television magazine program, viewers will learn about exciting updates to our partnership with Meharry Medical College, dive into our Professional Counseling graduate degree within the College of Education and meet our new vice president for student affairs and dean of students.[ Read More ]
Where Opportunity Meets Need: A deep dive on MTSU’s impact on the region’s health care services
MTSU offers dozens of degree programs to fill every niche in Metro Nashville's massive health care ecosystem, from corporate suites to rural clinics.[ Read More ]
News Briefs
January ‘Out of the Blue’ features Meharry partnership, professional counseling degree, new dean of students [+VIDEO]
Kicking off the new year with the January episode of "Out of the Blue," Middle Tennessee State University's television magazine program, viewers will learn about exciting updates to our partnership with Meharry Medical College, dive into our Professional Counseling graduate degree within the College of Education and meet our new vice president for student affairs and dean of students.[ Read More ]
Where Opportunity Meets Need: A deep dive on MTSU’s impact on the region’s health care services
MTSU offers dozens of degree programs to fill every niche in Metro Nashville's massive health care ecosystem, from corporate suites to rural clinics.[ Read More ]
Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration, Ed.S.
Most graduates of the Professional Counseling program obtain jobs in Murfreesboro and the middle Tennessee area. Clinical mental health counseling graduates find employment with mental health agencies as counselors and eventually complete the requirements for licensure as professional counselors (LPCs). School counseling graduates find employment with school districts in which they provide services to students, school personnel, and parents in elementary, middle, and high school settings.
The following is a partial list of entities where MTSU Professional Counseling graduates have found employment:
Degree in Mental Health Counseling Employers
- Branches Counseling Center
- Cedar Grove Residential Treatment Center
- Centerstone
- Cumberland Heights
- JourneyPure
- Integrative Life Center
- Mental Health Cooperative
- MTSU Counseling Services
- Murfreesboro Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center
- Nashville Center for Trauma and Psychotherapy
- Rutherford County Recovery Court
- The Next Door
- Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System
- Youth Villages
School Counseling Employers
- Bedford County Schools
- Cannon County Schools
- Coffee County Schools
- Franklin County Schools
- Franklin Special School District
- Knox County Schools
- Maury County Schools
- Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Rutherford County Schools
- Sumner County Schools
- Warren County Schools
- Williamson County Schools
- Wilson County Schools
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake.
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services
Learning by doing gives participants valuable experience and confidence. Students majoring in Professional Counseling are provided with this opportunity at the MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. This is a high-tech training facility where students provide counseling services to MTSU students, faculty, and staff as well as residents of the Murfreesboro community under the supervision of faculty. Included in the off-campus facility are three individual/family counseling rooms, a child therapy room, and two classrooms. The counseling offices and child therapy room are equipped with a state-of-the-art audio/video recording system. All sessions are recorded for supervision purposes.
Application and Admission Information
- Supplemental Application (Dynamic Form)
- Vita/Resume (PDF)
- Application Process for Graduate Assistantships
- Online Application
- Online Application (International Students)
Professional Licensure Disclosure
MTSU discloses that the Education Specialist (EDS) in Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Admission to the program does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certification. Successful program completion meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor with mental health service provider (LPC-MHSP) designation in Tennessee.
The EDS Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling disclosure provided on MTSU’s professional licensure disclosure website indicates the states and territories where MTSU has determined, through reasonable and good faith effort, that the program does or does not meet the educational requirements for other US states and territories. Licensing authorities for each state set and enforce their own requirements and standards, which are subject to change. Current and prospective students not located in Tennessee or who plan to seek licensure or certification outside the state of Tennessee should contact the appropriate state licensing agency or board and discuss their plans with an advisor and the MTSU Office of Teacher Licensure before enrolling in the program to ensure they have the most up-to-date information and guidance regarding licensure requirements.
CONTACT US
