• Graduate Programs
  • Mission Statement
  • M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling
    • HDC Admissions
    • HDC Program Tracks
    • HDC Course Descriptions
    • HDC Handbook
    • Links for Counselors
    • Chi Sigma Iota
  • M.Ed. Community Development and Action
  • Ph.D. in Community Research and Action
• HOD Undergraduate Program
• Faculty and Staff
• Center for Community Studies
• Fieldschool in Intercultural Education
• Newbrough Graduate Award

HDC Program Tracks

The Human Development Counseling program offers three curriculum tracks for students:

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• School Counseling
• Prevention Science: School and Community Mental Health

How to Apply
Applications to the M.Ed. program in Human Development Counseling are considered in two rounds for fall admission in the Community Counseling Track and the School Counseling Track. The deadline for consideration in these tracks is December 31. The Prevention Science Track is on a rolling admissions cycle, which reviews both fall and spring applications for admission.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track within HDC prepares master's level counselors for careers in various social service agencies, mental health centers, employee assistance programs, as well as other mental health organizations. Private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is an achievable goal for individuals who pursue this track.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This accreditation, originally obtained in 1984, places the HDC program as one of approximately 120 programs nationwide that meet these rigorous accreditation standards and in doing so offers many advantages and opportunities to HDC students.

The requirements for this track include a 60-semester-hour program of studies. Included in this curriculum is a full-year internship placement in a mental health or social service agency setting under supervision.

The curriculum requirements are listed below:

School Counseling Track
The School Counseling Track prepares individuals to work as school guidance counselors, K-12. Program requirements lead directly to licensure as a School Counselor by meeting all of the requirements established by the Tennessee State Department of Education. The School Counseling track is fully accredited by CACREP. During the period from 1991 to present, the School Counseling program has been accredited as part of institutional accreditation awarded by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The requirements for this track include a 48-semester-hour curriculum which includes a full-year internship placement in a school setting. This curriculum includes 42 semester hours of required courses and an additional six semester hours of elective courses. These requirements are shown below:

Prevention Science: School and Community Mental Health Track
The Prevention Science: School and Community Mental Health track is a 30 hour degree program preparing students for careers in developing, implementing, and evaluating preventive interventions in school and community settings. In schools and community agencies, there remains a great need for professionals who have the skills and knowledge to work toward transformation of systems and settings to support mental health, and to study and advocate for effective state and national mental health policy.

The emphasis on lifespan development, mental health and well-being and multicultural competence that is central to the HDC program mission is relevant to this specialization. This track will enhance existing efforts in communities and schools to disseminate knowledge, forge creative and enduring partnerships, create new funding opportunities, and promote policies that prevent social and psychological problems.

Program Goals
The specialization will advance students' knowledge and skills in psychoeducational and ecological interventions, and applied research. The curriculum bridges research, theory and practice utilizing developmental, public health, psychological and sociological theory, and empirical research methods that inform contextually-relevant prevention and intervention strategies. Specifically program goals include:

• Demonstrating competency and understanding of community mental health through effective research, practice, and advocacy.
• Promoting the well being of individuals, families and communities through effective health promotion programs and policies.
• Transforming knowledge of lifespan development into culturally sensitive research and practices that support the growth of individuals, families and communities.
• Establishing collaborative relationships between university and school/community professionals for the purpose of field placements, research, leadership development and program implementation.
• Critically evaluating social science research and empirical methods that contribute to the understanding of psychological and psychosocial processes.
• Demonstrating effective use of consultation, conflict resolution and active listening skills in communicating with individuals, groups and organizations.

Faculty
This HDC specialization bridges the disciplines of Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Community Psychology and Human Development and draws upon the expertise of HOD program faculty including faculty in the doctoral program, Community Research and Action (CRA). The CRA program emphasis on the relationship between system and individual well-being in the context of community complements the focus of the SCMH track.

Program of Study
Required Courses
Total Credit Hours: 30

Please contact hdc@vanderbilt.edu with comments or questions.