Program Objectives

1. To acquire, integrate, and apply empirical and theoretical knowledge of the field of counseling.
2. To develop leadership and advocacy skills in counselor education, supervision, advanced counseling practice, and research.
3. To apply advanced skills and competencies in field-based settings.
4. To conduct research and generate new knowledge in counseling.
5. To design, adapt, and evaluate curricula in the field of counseling.
6. To develop depth and breadth in professional growth and continued life-long learning.
7. To examine the influence of social context and policy variables on human behavior.
8. To show increased sensitivity and clinical skills that demonstrate awareness of the diversity of race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, mental/physical ability, nationality, and sexual orientation as relevant to counseling professionals.

In addition to a 100-hour clinically based doctoral practicum, doctoral students participate in internship experiences of at least 600 clock hours that include teaching, supervision, and research.

Students also collaborate with faculty as a part of their Professional Development Plan in teaching, supervision, counseling services, research, professional writing, and service to the community, region, and profession.

Additional Admission Requirements

Applicants should possess a CACREP-approved Master’s Degree in counseling with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) or higher.  Students with master’s degrees requiring less than 60 credit hours or degrees from non-CACREP-approved Master’s programs may need to complete prerequisite courses.  All doctoral students accepted into the program who graduated from a CACREP accredited program prior to 2009 or who graduated from a non-CACREP accredited program must provide documentation of a graduate level substance abuse/addiction course or add a substance abuse/addiction course to their program of study.  At least one year of experience as a professional counselor is preferred.

Degree Requirements

Admission to Candidacy

Students are considered candidates for the doctoral degree on successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination and acceptance of the Dissertation Proposal.

Practicum

A Doctoral Practicum is taken in the first year of study. The practicum requires 100 hours over the course of a semester at an approved site in the community. The Practicum involves the acquisition of new skills and learning regardless of the site selected.

Internships

Doctoral students are required to complete a total of 600 clock hours of internship in the areas of teaching, supervision, and research.  Students and their doctoral advisors develop collaboratively components of their internship experiences in accordance with relevant CACREP standards.  

Elective Courses

Students in the Ph.D. in Counseling are required to choose two elective courses to complete their doctoral program.  Electives may be any of the following.  Electives other than those listed below may be selected with the approval of the doctoral advisory committee.

• CSLG - 7000-8999 (3)
• RSCH - 7000-8999 (3)

Advising

Students select a program advisor and committee by the end of their first fall semester in the program.  The program advisors assist students during the initial stages of the program, which includes developing a Program of Study aligned with the program plan in DegreeWorks for the catalog year in which the student entered the program, developing a Professional Development Plan, and identifying faculty whose research interests and expertise are congruent with students’ areas of inquiry for the dissertation.  The assistance of the advisor does not relieve students of responsibility for following departmental and University procedures.  Following the comprehensive exam, students select a dissertation advisor/chair and committee.  The program advisors continue to provide academic advisement to students through their program, regardless of whether they are part of students’ dissertation committee.

Comprehensive Exam

The main objective of the written portion of the qualifying exam is to ensure that the student is adequately prepared to write a dissertation to complete the Ph.D. degree requirements. Being prepared means the following:

1. Examinees must have completed all degree core content courses.
2. Examinees must be able to analyze and synthesize information obtained from coursework and research within a multicultural counseling context.
3. Examinees must demonstrate advanced knowledge in the core areas of counselor education.
4. Examinees must demonstrate competencies in research methodology and evaluation.

The comprehensive exam is a 2-day written exam administered on campus.

Dissertation Committee

A Dissertation Committee, comprised of at least five faculty members, will be formally appointed for each student after admission to candidacy. At least three committee members must be on the Counseling Program faculty and one member will be appointed by the Graduate School. A person outside the University may serve as a full member of the Dissertation Committee in situations where knowledge or expertise of a particular nature is desired. With the mutual consent of the student and the faculty member, a faculty member will be designated to serve as the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. Chairs of Doctoral Committees are specifically responsible for seeing that the student progresses in an expeditious manner towards completion of the degree. Chairs will assist students in organizing committee meetings, conducting original research, presenting the proposal, and organizing the dissertation defense. Eligible faculty are all tenured faculty (Professor/Associate Professor), as well as Assistant Professors who have been reappointed for their second term. Each appointed Committee Member will have both voice and vote on all relevant matters pertaining to a doctoral student’s progress towards the degree. At least four committee members must be present for the oral defense of the dissertation. The oral defense is considered satisfactory upon the positive vote of at least four committee members. Prior to and following the appointment of this committee, students are encouraged to work with faculty on dissertation ideas.

Dissertation

Each candidate for the doctoral degree is required to prepare and present a dissertation that shows independent investigation and is acceptable in form and content to the Dissertation Committee. A doctoral dissertation must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conceive, design, conduct, and interpret independent, original, and creative research and must make a unique contribution to knowledge in the field of counseling. Under the direct supervision of the Doctoral Committee Chair, students are encouraged to consult regularly with their Dissertation Committee members during the planning, conducting and writing of the dissertation. Following the approval of the dissertation proposal students are required to maintain continuous enrollment (fall and spring semesters) for dissertation study until work is completed. Continuous enrollment begins on the date the Graduate School approves the student’s dissertation topic. Students who exceed the required number of dissertation hours for degree completion will register for GRAD 9999  each semester until degree requirements have been completed.

Program Certifications/Accreditation(s)

The program has been accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).