2025-2026 Graduate Bulletin
Counseling (M.S.)
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 Return to: Majors, Concentrations, and Certificates
Dr. Nicole Knickmeyer
Chair, Department of Psychological Science and Counseling
Professor
Location: Clement Building, Room 205B
Phone: 931-221-7232
Email: knickmeyern@apsu.edu
Website: https://www.apsu.edu/mscounseling/
Dr. Eva Gibson
Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor of Counseling
Location: Health Professions Building, Room 202F
Phone: 931-221-6224
Email: gibsone@apsu.edu
Website: https://www.apsu.edu/mscounseling/
The Department of Psychological Science and Counseling at Austin Peay offers a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling.
Admission Requirements
The prerequisite for pursuing this degree is 12 hours of psychology or psychology related courses that can include: introduction to psychology, human development, psychopathology (or closely related coursework). If seeking a master’s degree in counseling, candidates must request admission to candidacy before completing nine hours of graduate course work.
Admission to the M.S. in Counseling Program (both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling concentrations) is competitive and selective.
Listed below are the required application materials and the associated scores (if necessary) for each.
- Application for admission
- Application Fee: $45 domestic or $55 international
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
- Bachelor’s degree, from a regionally accredited institution showing a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement - 2-3 page essay that responds to the prompt: “Please describe what is drawing you to the Counseling field. What strengths do you bring with you to the program and the profession? Specifically, address your experience related to diverse populations and how that will inform your work as a counselor.”
- Military documents (if applicable)
- Individual and/or group interview with Counseling program faculty (Interviews will be scheduled by program faculty after initial application review).
- Admission decision by department
All applications completed (including supporting materials) prior to the deadline will be reviewed. Those applicants who meet the admissions requirements will be contacted for a face-to-face interview. Students will be admitted based on the number of available openings in their program of interest, in addition to the criteria listed above. The Department of Psychological Science and Counseling does not grant conditional admissions.
Priority admission will be given to applicants whose files are completed and who meet admission requirements prior to February 20th for summer or fall admission.
For more information about the application process, please visit apsu.edu/grad-studies.
Retention Policies
Students in the M.S. in Counseling program must meet certain academic and professional standards to qualify for retention in and graduation from the program. These specific standards are outlined in the M.S. in Counseling Program Handbook and include:
- Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all required Program of Study courses.
- Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA
- Students must pass a written Comprehensive Exam
- Student must complete the program within time limitations
- Students must maintain ethical and professional behavior both in their academic work and their clinical work.
- Student must meet minimum standards on each Key Performance Indicator (KPI) evaluated in the program.
- In the event that a student is placed on a remediation plan, the student must demonstrate the required progress on the remediation plan to remain in the M.S. in Counseling program.
Note: We cannot guarantee post-completion OPT (Optional Practical Training) for F-1 students to allow for completion of supervised post-masters clinical hours required for LPC Licensure.
Some University Programs have additional requirements and information included in the Program Handbook. Program Handbooks, which are incorporated into herein by reference, are available by selecting the following link: Counseling.
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Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice:
To cultivate culturally affirming, ethically grounded and self-reflective students who exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the counseling profession’s theoretical foundations, specialized domains, and contemporary development.
- Social and Cultural Identities and Experiences:
To equip students to promote multicultural competence and social justice by understanding diverse cultural influences and addressing systemic inequities, discrimination, and trauma, while fostering empowerment, inclusion, and equitable access to services.
- Lifespan Development:
To prepare students to apply developmental and cultural theories to promote resilience, wellness, and healthy adaptation for clients across the lifespan.
- Career Development:
To equip students with culturally responsive counseling skills, demonstrate mastery of career development theories, assessment strategies, and interventions, enabling them to effectively guide diverse clients through career-related challenges while advocating for equitable access to educational and occupational opportunities in an evolving global workforce.
- Counseling Practice and Relationships:
To prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in applying diverse counseling theories, models, and culturally responsive strategies to effectively conceptualize cases, establish therapeutic relationships, and implement evidence-based interventions across various service delivery modalities.
To equip students with advanced skills in critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and professional practice, including crisis intervention, documentation, case management, and the integration of technology, while cultivating a personal counseling model grounded in theory and research.
- Groups Counseling and Group Work:
To prepare students with the knowledge and skills to effectively apply group counseling theories, dynamics, and techniques in diverse settings.
- Assessment and Diagnostic Processes:
Equip students to ethically apply culturally responsive, evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies to inform diagnosis, referral, and advocacy, while promoting client well-being and equitable access to mental health services across diverse global contexts.
- Research and Program Evaluation:
To equip students to use research and evaluation methods to inform practice, advance the profession, and advocate for clients by applying ethical, culturally responsive, and evidence-based approaches to data collection, analysis, and decision-making.
- Addiction Counseling:
To equip students to understand the neurobiological, psychological, and social aspects of addictions, and develop skills to identify, assess, and apply individualized strategies for prevention, intervention, and recovery.
- Counseling Children and Adolescents:
To prepare students to demonstrate the knowledge and application of culturally, situationally, and developmentally appropriate treatment strategies for children and adolescents, including recognizing characteristics, risk factors, and warning signs of mental health and behavioral disorders.
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialized Practice Area:
To develop students who demonstrate the ability to navigate mental health service systems, apply counseling and supervision theory and practice, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, advocate for clients, and understand licensure requirements and professional standards in clinical mental health counseling
Develop, through supervised practicum and internship experiences, an integration of the knowledge and skills needed to be successful as practicing counselors
- School Counseling Specialized Practice Area:
Enact skills to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive, student-centered school counseling programs that reflect core professional values and integrate foundational models, leadership, and advocacy to support the academic, career, social/emotional, and cultural development of all PK–12 students.
Develop, through supervised practicum and internship experiences, an integration of the knowledge and skills needed to be successful as practicing counselors
- Personal Growth and Understanding:
Foster the development of professional dispositions in counseling students, including ethical integrity, cultural humility, self-awareness, emotional maturity, and a commitment to lifelong learning, in alignment with the standards of the counseling profession. |
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