Counselor Education and Supervision, (PhD)

The PhD program in Counseling is designed to prepare advanced professional practitioners in counseling, counselor education and counselor supervision with particular program emphases on multicultural and urban settings. Entry into the program presumes a master’s degree in counseling wherein one has acquired knowledge and skills in human development, helping relationships, group counseling, lifestyle and career development, assessment techniques, research and evaluation and clinical experiences in applied settings. The PhD is designed for individuals seeking advanced preparation as educational leaders in the roles of counselor educator,  counselor supervisor, professional counselor, and researcher. The PhD is not appropriate for individuals seeking preparation or licensure as a psychologist.

Program objectives are: (1) comprehension of concepts and theories underlying the profession of counseling; (2) ability to collect, analyze, and interpret individual and group data, and to generate and test hypotheses related to human behavior; (3) ability to effectively counsel in both individual and group settings: (4) ability to formulate, implement, and evaluate appropriate counseling programs and interventions; (5) ability to understand and demonstrate ethical behavior and the legal and ethical implications of that behavior; and (6) development of sensitivity and understanding of the needs of persons who are culturally different, including the ability to (a) examine attitudes and myths regarding the culturally different and (b) the sociopolitical forces impacting the culturally different client.

A master’s degree in counseling that meets CACREP or CORE standards for core knowledge and skills. Students with a master’s degree in counseling that does not contain all core areas can be considered for admission, but will be required to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in doctoral level courses.

1. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and to the program. The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education & Supervision is a limited access program; not all eligible candidates are admitted. To be considered for admission, applicants must:

   • provide official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of all academic work completed,

   • submit a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score,

   • complete a program admission application including appropriate goals essay,

   • provide three letters of academic and/or professional reference,

   • undergo an interview with the faculty, and submit a writing sample.

2. The program selections committee selects students after all application materials and the personal interview are completed. Deadline for the completion of all admissions requirements is March 1 for the fall semester. Students are admitted one time per year and must begin their coursework during the fall semester.

such as marriage and family, crisis intervention, career, rehabilitation, school, mental health counseling, etc.

NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

All students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and make no less than a B- in all required courses.