Program Overview
Counselor Education, Ph.D.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counselor Education is a terminal degree that offers various preparation options for students. These options include preparation for professional positions as counseling educators and counseling supervisors in colleges and universities, administrative work in schools and various agencies, and appointments as advanced practitioners working in governmental agencies, non-profit settings, or private practice. The doctoral program meets the accreditation criteria of the Council for Accredreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Overview
The program features a common core of preparation in doctoral study, including advanced theoretical foundations, counselor pedagogy, counselor supervision training, and research.
Admissions
- Cohort admission decisions for Fall of each academic year are made at the following deadlines:
- Priority Deadline: December 15th
- Final Deadline: March 15th
- Applicants who apply to the priority deadline will be able to compete for graduate assistantships.
- Applicants can expect a response on their application materials within one month after the deadline.
- In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, the following information is needed for the application to be considered complete:
- CV/Resume
- A Statement of Purpose containing:
- Applicant’s reasons for seeking a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
- The applicant’s aptitude for graduate-level study
- The applicants’ approach to working with diverse populations and respect for cultural differences
- At least two letters of recommendation (three preferred) from individuals who can attest to the applicant's potential for success as a Counselor Education doctoral student
- An applicant for doctoral study must:
- Possess a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited institution at the time of initial enrollment in the PhD program
- When necessary, complete supplemental master's-equivalency courses to comply with the CACREP-accredited course of study for the master's degree in Counselor Education
- Successfully complete a pre-admission doctoral interview for formal pursuit of the doctoral degree in Counselor Education
Curricular Requirements
- Code and Title | Hours
- BCE Required Courses
- BCE 618: Adv Theory Counseling | 3
- BCE 619: Supervision in Counselor Ed | 3
- BCE 625: Advanced Internship | 9
- BCE 633: Advanced Seminar (Counselor Education Research) | 3
- BCE 635: Teaching & Scholarship in Coun | 3
- BCE 636: Leadership & Advocacy in Couns | 3
- Foundations Courses | 6
- Educational Research | 12
- Dissertation Research | 18
- BCE 699: Dissertation Research
- BCE Required Courses
- Total Hours: 60
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit is available.
Doctoral Plan of Study
Graduate School information on the Doctoral Plan of Study can be found.
Doctoral Preliminary and Comprehensive Exam
The policy of the UA Graduate School is that a comprehensive examination must be completed by all students seeking to graduate from any UA graduate program. The content and scheduling of the PhD comprehensive examination in Counselor Education are consistent with this expectation. Per Graduate School policies, students have two opportunities for successful performance on the comprehensive examination established for their program/department.
Fieldwork/Internship Requirements
- A. Internship
- In accordance with the 2024 CACREP Standards, doctoral students are required to complete internships that total a minimum of 600 hours.
- The minimum 600 hours must include supervised experiences in counseling and at least two more of the four remaining doctoral curricular areas (supervision, teaching, research and scholarship, and leadership and advocacy).
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
After successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, as well as all other academic requirements, the student is eligible for admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The Application for Admission to Candidacy for Degree must be completed according to the guidelines noted in the Graduate Catalog.
Continuous Doctoral Research Hours Registration
Graduate School Policy on Continuous Doctoral Research Hours Registration is available.
Dissertation Requirements
Dissertation Process
The culmination of work in receiving a doctoral degree comes with the successful completion of the doctoral dissertation. The dissertation should allow students to demonstrate their ability to analyze, interpret, and synthesize information, express ideas clearly and succinctly, and demonstrate knowledge of literature, research skills, and methodologies relating to the project.
a. Dissertation Committee
The dissertation committee is formed in the semester during which the student completes their comprehensive examinations. The committee typically consists of a minimum of five members, with the committee chair coming from Counselor Education. Along with the chair, students will need to choose the other members of their committee, one of whom must be outside the Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling.
b. Dissertation Prospectus
The dissertation prospectus is an informal initial overview of the student's dissertation idea. The submission and approval of a prospectus is extremely advantageous in that the student can identify areas of concern as well as potential difficulties far in advance of pursuing the actual dissertation proposal.
c. Dissertation Proposal
The second stage of the dissertation process is developing and presenting a formal proposal of the dissertation project for approval by the committee. The dissertation proposal should include an introduction to the problem, statement of the problem, research questions or hypotheses, a comprehensive review of the literature and related research, a description of the methods of inquiry to be employed in the investigation, a description of appropriate subjects, if any, and evidence of their availability, plan for data analyses, and results of pilot studies (where appropriate).
d. Oral Defense of the Completed Dissertation
The format for the dissertation must comply with the guidelines noted on the Graduate School website. Deadlines for defending the dissertation and its completed, approved acceptance by the Graduate School become particularly important at this time in order to graduate at the desired time. After completion of the dissertation project as well as development of the final dissertation document in consultation with the Chair and committee, the student will participate in a formal oral defense of the project and findings.
Time Limit for Degree Completion
Graduate School information on Time Limits is available.
Student Progress Requirements
Each student enrolled in a degree-seeking status in every degree level of study in Counselor Education is involved in a Student Performance Review near the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. The rubric used is the Faculty Review of Student Performance and Review of Student Dispositions.
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct is available.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence information is available.
Academic Grievances Information
Student Complaint Procedures
- Student raises the issue of concern with the faculty member involved and tries to resolve the concern to the satisfaction of both parties.
- If the first step is taken, and no resolution is found, the student may file a formal complaint or grievance with the Department Head and offer any documentation in support of the grievance.
- Should the problem remain unresolved, the complaint (and all the accumulated documentation) is forwarded to the Senior Associate Dean to come under University grievance policies as outlined in the University’s Faculty Handbook.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing is available.
Graduate School Deadlines
Information on Graduate School Deadlines is available.
Application for Graduation
Information on the Application for Graduation is available.