Milligan’s master’s program in School Counseling (MSC) will prepare you to pursue licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee. A determination of eligibility for licensure has not been made for other states. Students should check specific state requirements before applying to the program.
The school counseling curriculum consists of 48 credit hours for licensed teachers or 54 credit hours for students without teaching licensure. Both the licensure and non-licensure tracks include supervised internships in elementary and secondary schools that provide direct experience. Because Milligan is a Christian university, part of the required coursework includes an ongoing discussion and examination of the theoretical and practical aspects of the integration of faith and learning.
Milligan is accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized throughout the country for its quality. Research has shown that graduates from CAEP institutions significantly outperform those from other institutions on National Teacher Examinations.
The following link provides information on the Education Area’s performance in the following indicators: Impact on P-12 student learning, teacher effectiveness, employer satisfaction and employment milestones, completer satisfaction, graduation rates of candidates, undergraduate retention, ability of program completers to meet licensing requirements, employment and consumer information, and debt repayment. CAEP Annual Report Measures »
The School Counseling concentrations (Concentrations Two and Three) are either a two-year, 48 credit hour curriculum (for those students who are already licensed teachers) or a two-year 54 credit hour curriculum (for those students who are not licensed teachers). The curricula consist of 27 credit hours in core courses in human behavior and development, effective counseling strategies, ethical practice, and other core knowledge areas; 9 credit hours of clinical experience (practicum and internship); and 12 hours in courses involving counseling and assessment of children and adolescents and other issues specific to educational settings. Those students who are not licensed teachers complete 6 additional hours in curriculum methods and education of exceptional students.
- 11 students enrolled in CMHC (general & AC); 10 completed program to date (6 general CMHC; 4 AC CMHC). 91% completion rate.
- 4 students enrolled in SC; 2 completed program to date- 2 scheduled to complete in Dec.
- 100% completion rate of those who have taken NCE, and 100% pass rate of Praxis II exam.
- 11 graduates obtained licensure (including temporary licensure) in TN as a professional counselor in 2023-2024.
- 100% employment rate of those seeking employment in the Counseling field (CMHC & SC).
Employment of school and career counselors is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rising student enrollments in elementary, middle and high schools are expected to increase demand for school counselors. As enrollments grow, schools will require more counselors to respond to the needs of their students.
