Program Overview

Counselor Education, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in counselor education with a counselor education and supervision (CES) subprogram requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. The program provides students with knowledge and skills related to general counseling (including mental health, school, and rehabilitation counseling), teaching, consulting, supervising counselors, and conducting research. Graduates enter professional work as counselors, counselor supervisors, counselor educators, researchers and/or consultants, or work in other positions requiring expertise in human relations.

Program Description

Counselor education and supervision graduates are prepared to teach the knowledge and skills required of professional counselors and to supervise beginning and advanced counselors, perform counseling interventions with individuals and groups, and teach human relations skills in colleges or universities. They provide professional consultation with counseling practitioners, educators, and policymakers about counseling program development and evaluation. They may also perform research that contributes to knowledge about counseling, supervision, and counselor education.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) are the professional organizations most related to program activities.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes required courses in counseling, research tools and applications, and a dissertation.

Required Courses

• CSED:6394: Research and Scholarship Internship (1-3 hours)
• CSED:7470: Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Integrated Professional Internships
• CSED:7255: Advanced Career Development and Counseling (3 hours)
• CSED:7338: Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry (or collegiate equivalent) (3 hours)
• CSED:7353: Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 hours)
• CSED:7360: Advanced Doctoral Internship in Counseling (3 hours)
• CSED:7380: Internship in Teaching (3 hours)
• CSED:7385: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (3 hours)
• CSED:7400: Seminar: Ethics and Issues in Counseling (3 hours)
• CSED:7450: Advanced Social Psychology of Disability (3 hours)
• CSED:7451: Advanced Multiculturalism (3 hours)
• CSED:7454: Supervision Theory and Practice (3 hours)
• CSED:7455: Internship in Supervision (3 hours)
• CSED:7457: Seminar: Professional Orientation to Counselor Education, Supervision, Leadership, and Advocacy (4 hours)
• CSED:7458: Seminar: Issues and Trends in Counseling Research (4 hours)
• CSED:7460: Seminar: Research in Counseling (3 hours)
• PSQF:6243: Intermediate Statistical Methods (3 hours)
• PSQF:6265: Program Evaluation (3 hours)

Required Research Courses

Students must complete a specific sequence of research courses including distributed coursework in both qualitative and quantitative areas. In consultation with the academic advisor, they select from basic and advanced doctoral research courses listed under CES Doctoral Research Requirements on the Department of Counselor Education website.

Elective Minor Area

Students can elect to take a series of courses, typically a minimum of three, outside the Department of Counselor Education (in consultation with a major and minor advisor) to enhance and support their teaching and research interests.

Master's Thesis Project or Equivalent

Students are required to submit a previously conducted master's thesis for faculty review and approval or to complete a new supervised experiential research project before taking comprehensive exams. Students without an approved MA or MS thesis enroll in the following:

• CSED:6394: Research and Scholarship Internship (1-3 hours)
• CSED:7470: Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Integrated Professional Internships

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination consists of an oral defense of a student's portfolio, which covers six professional competency domains in counselor education, and an exam on the minor area. The examination may be taken during a student's final semester of coursework.

Dissertation

The major research project culminating in the doctoral thesis may be on any topic related to counseling and counselor education. The thesis advisor and the examining committee approve the topic and procedures at a formal prospectus meeting. The final oral examination on the thesis is conducted by the examining committee. Students usually earn 10 s.h. for dissertation work, but in some instances they may earn up to 15 s.h. The dissertation committee must include at least two counselor education and supervision faculty members.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Counselor Education, PhD

Plan of Study Grid (Manual) Academic Career

• 72 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website.
• Students are required to submit a previously conducted master's thesis for faculty review and approval or to complete a new supervised experiential research project before taking comprehensive exams. Students without an approved MA or MS thesis should enroll in CSED:6394 Research and Scholarship Internship or CSED:7470 CES Doctoral Integrated Prof Internships.
• Students can elect to take a series of courses, typically a minimum of three, outside the Department of Counselor Education (in consultation with a major or minor advisor) to enhance and support their teaching and research interests.

First Year

• Fall:
  • Create a MyPlan
  • CSED:7255: Advanced Career Development and Counseling (3 hours)
  • CSED:7457: Seminar: Professional Orientation to Counselor Education, Supervision, Leadership, and Advocacy (4 hours)
  • PSQF:6243: Intermediate Statistical Methods (3 hours)
• Spring:
  • CSED:7338: Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry (3 hours)
  • CSED:7385 or PSQF:6217: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education or Seminar in College Teaching (3 hours)
  • CSED:7400: Seminar: Ethics and Issues in Counseling (3 hours)
  • CSED:7451: Advanced Multiculturalism (3 hours)

Second Year

• Fall:
  • CSED:7353: Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 hours)
  • CSED:7360: Advanced Doctoral Internship in Counseling (3 hours)
  • CSED:7458: Seminar: Issues and Trends in Counseling Research (4 hours)
  • Advanced Quantitative/Qualitative Research course (3 hours)
• Spring:
  • CSED:7450: Advanced Social Psychology of Disability (3 hours)
  • CSED:7454: Supervision Theory and Practice (3 hours)
  • Advanced Quantitative/Qualitative Research course (3 hours)

Third Year

• Any Semester:
  • Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam
  • Dissertation Prospectus Defense
• Fall:
  • CSED:6394 or CSED:7470: Research and Scholarship Internship or Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Integrated Professional Internships (3 hours)
  • CSED:7470 or CSED:7380: Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Integrated Professional Internships or Internship in Teaching (3 hours)
  • PSQF:6265: Program Evaluation (3 hours)
• Spring:
  • CSED:7455 or CSED:7470: Internship in Supervision or Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Integrated Professional Internships (3 hours)
  • CSED:7460: Seminar: Research in Counseling (3 hours)

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • CSED:7493: PhD Thesis (7 hours)
• Spring:
  • CSED:7493: PhD Thesis (6 hours)
  • Exam: Doctoral Final Exam

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the department's general admission requirements. In addition, applicants must provide evidence of successful experience in counseling or a closely related profession. Applicants without experience may be admitted if their credentials indicate exceptional strengths.

Maintaining Good Standing

PhD students in the Department of Counselor Education must meet the following standards in order to remain in their degree programs and advance to candidacy and remain a candidate for a degree:

• Maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.00;
• Successfully complete a practicum, internship, or equivalent professional experience;
• Maintain professional behavior consistent with the ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association) and any additional code of professional ethics adhered to in any agency in which a student completes a practicum or internship; and
• Demonstrate progress toward the degree through successful completion of semester hours specified in the curriculum plan and active registration each session (exceptions may be approved by the advisor).

Each student's academic and professional progress is reviewed annually.

Probational Status

Students who earn a cumulative GPA lower than 3.00 are placed on probational status and are notified in writing. Students on probational status have two consecutive sessions to raise their grade-point average to the established standard. If that requirement is not met, a student may be removed from the program. Students are allowed one probational status during their program of study.

Learning Outcomes

The following are the standards of the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Iowa, which are the key performance indicators for PhD students:

• Acquire the awareness, knowledge, and skills of a professional counselor and/or counselor educator;
• Develop a process of ongoing reflective practice in relation to cultural humility and the profession’s multicultural, social justice, and ethical counseling competencies and education;
• Develop counseling skills that will address problems in living from a developmental/life span approach;
• Cultivate a commitment to ethical practices and behavior in counseling, counselor education, supervision, and research; and
• Acquire an understanding of the social, vocational, educational, and psychological needs of individuals served in various settings such as schools, vocational, or counseling centers.