Program Overview

Counselor Education, PhD

The Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education. The Ph.D. in Counselor Education is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Mission Statement

The Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, devoted to excellence in instruction, research, and service, prepares graduate-level counselors and counselor educators to facilitate impactful societal changes at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Program Description

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), through the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD), offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Counselor Education designed to prepare students for careers as counselor educators and supervisors. The Counselor Education program is a 69-semester hour program CACREP-accredited program.

Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives

Graduates of the Counselor Education doctoral program will be able to:

• Knowledgeably integrate fundamental principles of counseling service delivery into a contemporary counselor educator identity
• Knowledgeably integrate fundamental principles of clinical supervision into a contemporary counselor educator identity
• Knowledgeably integrate fundamental principles of curriculum development and classroom instruction into a contemporary counselor educator identity
• Knowledgeably integrate fundamental principles of scholarly inquiry and professional writing into a contemporary counselor educator identity
• Knowledgeably integrate fundamental principles of leadership and advocacy into a contemporary counselor educator identity

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the doctoral program must submit:

• An application data sheet
• A two-page professional goals statement
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work indicating the completion of requirements that are equal or equivalent to a master's degree accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• A valid score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that is no more than five years old
• Three letters of recommendation using forms provided by the Department
• A resume documenting work experience
• An interview by the admissions committee focusing on communication skills, self-awareness, and potential for scholarship, leadership, and advocacy

Program Requirements

The degree requirements enhance the leadership capabilities of professional counselors who serve or plan to serve in the role of counselor educators, directors of counseling and guidance programs, research specialists in counseling and the behavioral sciences, supervisors in counseling and mental health, and direct service providers. The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Counselor Education is awarded in recognition of the attainment of independent and comprehensive scholarship in the field.

Course List

The following courses are part of the program:

• CNEP 6305: Advanced Theories in Individual and Group Counseling
• CNEP 6310: Advanced Counseling Strategies
• CNEP 6315: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues
• CNEP 6320: Advanced Appraisal Techniques and Psychometrics
• CNEP 6335: Consultation Theory and Professional Advocacy
• CNEP 6340: Diversity in Counselor Education
• CNEP 6350: Advanced Clinical Supervision
• CNEP 6354: Counselor Education Pedagogy
• CNEP 6355: Leadership and Advocacy in Counselor Education
• CNEP 6395: Doctoral Practicum
• CNEP 6396: Doctoral Internship
• CNEP 6397: Research Seminar
• CNEP 6398: Dissertation in Progress

Research Courses

An extensive sequence of research courses is required, including a minimum of 33 hours of research methodology and statistics. Courses in quantitative and qualitative analysis are required. Included within this research component is a minimum of nine hours of supervised dissertation.

Doctoral Practicum and Internship

All doctoral students are required to successfully complete a clinical component of the program. This includes a doctoral practicum (CNEP 6395 3 semester hours/300 clock hours) and doctoral internships (CNEP 6396, 3-semester-hour courses that students take twice for a total of 600 clock hours). The 600-hour doctoral internship includes supervised experiences in the five doctoral core areas of counselor education: clinical work, teaching, research and scholarship, supervision, and leadership and advocacy.

Comprehensive Examination

Doctoral students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination administered in two parts (written and oral) after completing the first two years of doctoral coursework.

Dissertation and Final Examination

Doctoral students are required to successfully complete a dissertation under the direction and supervision of their dissertation chair and committee members. There is a dissertation proposal defense at the time of one's proposal and a dissertation and final examination at the successful completion of one's dissertation.