Continue your academic journey and professional development with a Master of Education (MEd) in Professional Counseling degree from Lincoln Memorial University! Through our program at the Carters and Moyers School of Education, you'll develop the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectively in professional counseling positions in school and non-school settings.
Our program combines academic preparation in the areas of counseling, guidance and research with practicum and internship assignments. All courses in the program maintain the standards of both the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation, and the School Counseling program maintains standards of Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation.
To better align with your professional aspirations, our program offers concentrations in PreK-12 School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling. While you must select one of our two concentrations, if you choose to return and pursue the other counseling concentration as an add-on (to meet your career goals), you must take the Common Counseling Core, which can be completed in 36 credit hours.
So, you can fit your education more comfortably into your professional and personal schedule, the Professional Counseling program is taught in a hybrid format, delivered in a seated, face-to-face format with additional instruction offered through synchronous and/or asynchronous online components. Online courses and components of the hybrid model will include active instruction and support of the faculty to offer you improved guidance and instruction.
The Professional Counseling program, focusing heavily on interpersonal and helping relationships, will require considerable commitment. Before enrolling, please consult the Chair of the Counseling program regarding how appropriate the curriculum is in relation to your personal situation and professional objectives. Once you have been admitted, you must consult with your faculty advisor regarding sequencing of courses and licensure requirements.
The admission process for the Master of Education (MEd) degree program at LMU consists of two levels. Review the lists below to ensure that you complete all necessary steps and submit all required items.
Based on the recommendations of the Professional Counseling Program Director and faculty representatives, the Dean of the School of Education will approve your admission to Graduate Education Studies in Professional Counseling. To qualify for admission to graduate studies at LMU, you must submit the following items:
Before beginning your coursework, you must attend a new student orientation, where you will work with an advisor to develop a program of study. Once there, you will receive a program handbook containing the policies and procedures of the program as well as:
For mailing transcripts, please send to this address:
The Graduate Education Office
Lincoln Memorial University
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN 37752
Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your application is approved, you will be set up for a personal interview with program faculty.
After competing at least one but no more than two 6 credit hour graduate-level courses, you will apply for degree candidacy. With the assistance of your assigned advisor, you must submit the following items:
After completing these requirements, your credentials will be presented to the Graduate Admission Committee for admission to degree candidacy.
Note: If you have completed more than six semester hours of coursework prior to making an application for degree candidacy, some coursework may NOT be allowed for use in the degree program.
Once you have successfully completed the program, you must request the exit exam. If your program is a thesis program, the thesis defense will become the exam and must be successfully completed. If your program is a non-thesis program, you must successfully complete a comprehensive exam consisting of (1) "Personal Philosophy of Counseling," and (2) a series of case studies based on knowledge of professional, legal, and ethical counseling practices. The written comprehensive exam is a four-hour exam, but in some cases, it may be conducted orally.
Over the past two years, the Mental Health and School Counseling program have both had a 100% licensure completion rate and 100% job placement rate. After completing the Professional Counseling program at LMU, you'll have the opportunity to not only explore a wide variety of job opportunities, but to serve your community through real, positive change in the lives of others. You can make that difference in a number of settings, including:
Looking to build experience in addition to your academic journey? Each year, faculty in the Professional Counseling program conduct research and present at conferences with graduate students looking to build their experiences for application to doctoral programs.
Want to learn more about the Master of Education in Professional Counseling degree program at Lincoln Memorial University? Reach out to us at any time and we will be happy to help!
Program Information
Kristen Smith
Phone: 865.531.4110
Email: kristen.smith862@sd-jinri.com
Licensure Information
Tywana (Sue) England
Phone: 423.869.6253
Email: tywana.england@sd-jinri.com
