School Counseling Concentration

60 credit hours (on-ground)

Applicants pursuing a concentration in counseling have two choices: School Counseling (below) or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The prerequisite for pursuing this degree is 12 hours of psychology or psychology related courses that can include courses like: 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 school counseling concentration is designed to prepare graduates for school counseling positions at elementary, middle/junior high and high school levels. Students completing this concentration will meet the current licensing requirements for the Tennessee Board of Education. 

The curriculum requirements include coursework, a 120-hour practicum experience, 600-hour internship, and a comprehensive examination. Students will be required to complete a background check prior to beginning fieldwork.

Possible changes in Tennessee certification requirements or accreditation may significantly alter this program of study. Please consult with the Coordinator of the Counseling Program (Dr. Eva Gibson) for current information.

To learn about the course requirements for the School Counseling concentration, please see the Graduate Academic Catalog.

For more information about school counseling check out this video!

Accelerated Master's Pathway

Are you an APSU undergraduate student interested in becoming a professional school counselor? The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) provides eligible students with an opportunity to begin graduate coursework while completing their undergraduate degree.

Through AMP, students may complete up to two graduate-level courses before graduating with their undergraduate degree, at no additional cost. This pathway allows students to get an early start on their graduate education while preparing for a career in school counseling.

Please note: The AMP option is exclusively available to students interested in the School Counseling concentration of the M.S. in Counseling program. It is not available for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration.

Student Eligibility

To be considered for the Counseling Accelerated Master's Program, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be currently enrolled as an APSU undergraduate student.

• Have completed at least 96 GPA credit hours toward undergraduate graduation requirements.

• Have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (some programs may require a higher program-specific GPA).

• Be a U.S. citizen.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission to the AMP. Students must also meet the applicable program requirements.

Benefits of AMP

• Get an early start: Begin graduate-level coursework while completing your undergraduate degree.

• Save money: Eligible graduate coursework may be completed at no additional cost.

• Stay on track: Begin preparing for graduate study in school counseling while completing your bachelor's degree.

Interested in AMP?

If you are interested, the next two steps are for you:

1. Review the university's AMP page
2. Contact Dr. Eva Gibson, M.S. in Counseling Program Coordinator, to learn more about eligibility, the application process, and next steps.

If you already hold a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or a closely related field and are wanting to complete additional coursework for school counselor licensure eligibility, see more information about our Post-Master's School Counselor Licensure Eligibility Certificate program.