Master's Degree

Students are admitted into the counseling program once a year to begin classes in either the Summer or Fall semesters. To be considered for Summer or Fall enrollment, the admission deadline is February 1st.

Applicants to East Tennessee State University's graduate program in Counseling must:

• be a graduate of a regionally accredited college or university. We also welcome applications from international students.
• complete an application.
• submit a transcript of all academic work previously completed. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with your application and official transcripts will be required later, if you are admitted to the program.
• submit three letters of recommendation from professional references (e.g., professor, supervisor, colleague, employer, etc)

The GRE is not required for admission into our counseling program unless GPA is lower than a 3.0.

ALL materials must be submitted directly to the ETSU Graduate School. Applicants may only apply to one concentration. Please see the FAQs for more information.

Applications to our program are first screened by the ETSU Graduate School. Incomplete applications are not sent through to our program for review. In addition to making sure all items on your application checklist are complete in the application portal, be sure to respond to all parts of the prompt for the personal statement. Your personal statement should provide an accurate representation of who you are as a person and your interest in pursuing the degree. 

Applications will be reviewed by our program once the application portal closes in February. After a review of the application materials, applicants whose documents indicate a potential for success may be invited for an interview with the counseling program faculty. On campus interviews are typically scheduled the first Friday in March. Because of the importance of interpersonal characteristics in the field of counseling, the interview is a significant component of the admission process. After interviews, candidates will receive a letter regarding admission.

Please note that due to Tennessee State requirements School Counseling admits will be conditional until the submission of an approved background check. More information will be provided to applicants.

The counseling program does not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual/ affectional orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status. We are seeking a diverse group of students who will excel as helping professionals in a wide range of educational and community settings.

Funding Your Education:

There are many opportunities for you to get help with the cost of your graduate education!  At ETSU, we have a number of options that may assist in students in keeping the costs of graduate education as minimal as possible. We encourage our students to consider applying for Graduate Assistantships or Tuition Scholarships in addition to other forms of federal financial aid. Also, take a look at scholarships and grants that are offered. More information can be found at the Graduate School website. Click here to apply on-line.

 Are you a Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) at the associate or bachelor's level? If so, you may be eligible for a scholarship to pursue the Master's degree in Counseling through the National Board of Certified Counselors Foundation. Click here for more information!