Masters in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration (M.S.)

The primary goal of the Masters in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (CMHC) concentration program is to provide a solid behavioral health core with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, health, and educational issues across the lifespan. The curriculum is designed for students seeking preparation for a career in various types of mental health settings and related organizations, or for students planning to pursue a doctoral degree in Counselor Education or Counseling Psychology. Recognizing the value of both practice and research, the CMCH program offers two options: thesis or non-thesis.

***MS and Ph.D. programs in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling no longer require any standardized test such as Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogy Test (MAT. All application materials must be submitted electronically into the PSYCAS application system by February 1  for admission for the following Fall semester. 

  Admission Requirements

• It is highly recommended that applicants have earned or are in pursuit of an undergraduate major in Psychology or a closely related field.
• The minimum coursework that an applicant should have at the time of applying to the program include:
  • general psychology
  • elementary statistics
  • research methods
  • one  (1) other upper division psychology elective course
• The minimum acceptable overall GPA is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. However, most applicants who are admitted earn a 3.0 GPA or higher.

• Additionally, applicants should submit ALL of the following material into the PSYCAS system:
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation - one of which should be from an academic advisor or his or her designee
  • A personal statement of no more than 1000 words indicating
  • why you have chosen to pursue a degree in clinical mental health counseling
  • why you are interested in the program at Tennessee State University, specifically
  • what is your experience/understanding of working with differing populations and justice issues
  • what experiences you have with conducting research in behavioral health
  • A copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Only complete applications will be reviewed.
• Following the initial review, the program coordinator will contact select applicants for on-campus or virtual interviews.
• Only aapplicants with satisfactory application materials and a successful interview will be offered admission to the program.

All application materials must be submitted electronically into the PSYCAS application system by February  1 for admission for the following Fall semester.  The portal for the Masters in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration portal will open in mid-September. Interested applicants will be unable to submit any materials before this date.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of four semesters and a summer term of residential study are required to complete the program within a two-year period. This requires a course load of 12 credit hours per school term. 

Advisor Assignments for Masters in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration Program

(For those beginning Fall 2021)

 A – E    Esther M. Lynch, Ph.D.       

F – L     James Campbell, Ph.D        

M – O    Marie Hammond, Ph.D.      

P – S    Tiffany Williams, Ph.D        

T – Z    Robin Oatis-Ballew, Ph.D.  

(For those beginning Fall 2022)

A-J      James Campbell, Ph.D 

L - Z    Richard P. Garvin Jr., Ph.D.

 QUICK LINKS

M.S. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration Home

Frequently Asked Questions

Program of Study

Core Faculty

Student Handbook

Forms

All application materials must be submitted electronically into the PSYCAS application system by February 1 for admission for the following Fall semester.