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Graduate Counseling Programs

Transform Lives Through Christ-Centered Counseling

Southern Adventist University’s Master of Science in Professional Counseling program prepares compassionate, skilled counselors to serve as leaders in their communities. Accredited by CACREP and aligned with CAEP standards, this graduate program provides two emphases—Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling—preparing students for meaningful careers in diverse settings. Rooted in a biblical worldview, our curriculum integrates faith with evidence-based practices, emphasizing servant leadership, multicultural competence, and reflective decision-making. Whether you aspire to guide individuals through life’s challenges or support K-12 students, Southern’s MS in Professional Counseling equips you with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to thrive in today’s counseling profession while honoring Christian values.

Programs

MS — Master of Science in Professional Counseling

MS — Master of Science in Professional Counseling

Southern Adventist University’s Master of Science in Professional Counseling is a CACREP-accredited program designed to prepare students for rewarding careers in counseling. Grounded in a Christ-centered approach, the program equips graduates to support clients from diverse backgrounds facing trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other challenges with skill, confidence, and compassion. Students may choose from emphases in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or a dual specialty, providing flexibility to pursue state licensure and careers that align with their passions.

Program Highlights

  • 60–66 credit graduate program

  • Completed in approximately 2.5 years of full-time study

  • Designed for working professionals with full-time and part-time enrollment options

  • Courses offered fully online or in a hybrid format

  • CACREP-accredited for professional counseling licensure

  • Emphases available in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or Dual Specialty

  • Prepares graduates to serve diverse populations in schools, clinics, and mental health settings

  • Dual specialty option allows qualification for two state licenses (Professional Counselor and School Counselor)

Additional Information

  • Open to students nationwide; Tennessee residency not required

  • Flexible scheduling allows students to balance studies with career and personal life

Online, In-person
Post Master's Certificates (Counseling)

Post Master's Certificates (Counseling)

Post-Master's Certificates in Counseling are designed to meet licensure requirements and are available in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling for students with a previously earned Master's in Counseling.

Courses are taken in an interactive, online format and are not campus-based.

Online, In-person

Course Guides

Admissions Process

Important Dates
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. Please reach out to an enrollment adviser when in doubt.
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: Jul 15
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1
Admissions Requirements
For comprehensive information regarding the Counseling programs, visit the Program's Catalog Page.

Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited program.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Behavioral science courses: 6 hours of undergraduate upper-division coursework in the behavioral sciences.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three letters of recommendation, including one academic and one professional from recent sources.
  4. Statement: Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
  6. Background Check: Successfully complete a background check.
  7. Criminal-Record Release and Declaration: Submit the Criminal-Record Statement. Your signature on this form gives the School of Education and Psychology permission to retain your criminal-history record and affirms that you are not a registered sex-offender.
  8. Personality test: Complete a personality test, as required by the School of Education and Psychology.
  9. Interview with faculty.
Admission Requirements for International Graduate Students
Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States and planning to attend classes on-campus are considered international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.

See Full Requirements

Changing Lives

Follow Bradford, an elementary school counselor, as he changes lives after graduating from our School Counseling program.

National Accreditation

Master in Professional Counseling

CACREP logoThe Master of Science in Professional Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, commonly known as CACREP.

CACREP is the highest independent accrediting agency for graduate counseling programs throughout the United States and the world. Their accreditation ensures that programs meet appropriate standards within the counseling profession. The program’s emphasis in School Counseling is also approved by the State of Tennessee School Counseling (PreK-12) licensure program.

Additionally, Southern Adventist University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges, and Universities, a worldwide association. Southern consistently earns top-tier ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

Program Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Master of Science in Professional Counseling program is to facilitate the comprehensive development of counselors as servant leaders in their communities. Articulated in the language of the program’s conceptual framework, the goal is to provide opportunities for candidates to become effective as caring persons, as informed facilitators, as reflective decision-makers, and as committed professionals.

Within this framework, the objectives of the Master of Science in Professional Counseling program are to prepare graduates who demonstrate the following:

  • Personal and professional dispositions essential for counseling practice
  • Knowledge, skills, and practices needed to follow ACA/ASCA professional standards in a multicultural, pluralistic society
  • An active identification with the counseling profession and awareness of current developments in the field

The annual Counseling Outcomes Assessment Report shares details of how the program continues to fulfill its mission and objectives.

Why Southern?

Southern Adventist University offers a Christ-centered, CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Professional Counseling designed to prepare you for licensure across the United States. Our program combines academic excellence with flexibility—live online classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and full-time students can graduate in as few as six semesters. With small class sizes, personalized attention, and a diverse faculty bringing multicultural perspectives and real-world experience, you’ll gain both professional competence and spiritual grounding. Whether you choose Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, or both through our dual-emphasis option, Southern equips you to serve with integrity and compassion in any setting.


Flexible. Valuable. Christ-centered.

Meet the Faculty

Tammy Overstreet, PhD

Dean

Ileanna Freeman, PhD

Professor

Tami Navalon, PhD

Professor

Tron Wilder, PhD

Professor