The doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision is designed to evaluate the theory and practice of counseling through quantitative and qualitative research and to prepare educators and leaders in the profession of counseling.
Accreditation
Walden University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Note on Licensure
The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed counseling professional.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program will be able to:
- Synthesize theories and evidence-based practices across counselor education domains. (Knowledge)
- Create counselor education approaches to address diverse counselors-in-training. (Knowledge)
- Develop counselor education and supervision interventions to promote social change. (Skills)
- Employ professional counselor educator and supervisor behaviors in professional settings. (Dispositions)
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Foundation course (1 credits)
- Prerequisites (39 credits)
- To be completed if students have not graduated with a CACREP-accredited master’s degree
- Core courses (30 credits)
- Research courses (25 credits)
- Specialization courses (10–15 credits, depending on the specialization)
- Field experience courses (8 credits)
- Internship (8 credits)
- Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation writing courses (1 cr. per term for five terms)
- Dissertation writing courses (5 credits per term for a minimum of 3 terms; taken continuously until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- One residency (1 credit)
- Two Intensives (6 weeks online, 4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions)
Curriculum
Foundation Course (1 credits)
Core Courses (30 credits)
Research Courses (25 credits)
Specialization Courses (10-15 credits)
These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. The General specialization does not require specialization courses. Please see the course list on each specialization page.
Field Experience Courses (8 credits)
Residency and Intensive Requirements
- Complete Residency (RESI 8801C) as soon as you begin your program; no later than within 90 days of completing your Foundations course (within the first two terms of your program). View the calendar, then request to register.
- Complete Intensive I: Applications in Teaching and Supervision (CPLB 811L) after you have completed Residency (CPLB 8800c) , COUN 8000, COUN 8050, COUN 8115, RSCH 8110S, COUN 8120, COUN 8501, RSCH 8210S, COUN 8897, COUN 8125, COUN 8502, RSCH 8260S, RSCH 8310S, COUN 8503, and COUN 8135 in order to advance in the program.
- Complete Intensive II: Advanced Applications in Teaching, Supervision, and Research (CPLB 812L after you have completed Intensive I (CPLB 811L), COUN 8000, COUN 8050, COUN 8115, CPLB 8800C, RSCH 8110S, COUN 8120, COUN 8501, RSCH 8210S, COUN 8897, COUN 8125, COUN 8502, RSCH 8260S, RSCH 8310S, COUN 8503, COUN 8135, COUN 8898, COUN 8504, and RSCH 8360S in order to advance in the program.
Each intensive includes online course content integrated with a 4-day, face-to-face or virtual residential requirement.
- 3 weeks online
- 4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions (see the Calendar)
- 2 weeks online
Completion of the Doctoral Capstone
-
Can begin dissertation after the completion of COUN 8505.
Prerequisites
Students who have not graduated from a CACREP-accredited master’s program may be required to fulfill prerequisite requirements.
Course Sequence
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
COUN 8000 - Professional Dispositions and New Student Orientation |
1 credit |
|
COUN 8050 - Seminar: Leadership, Ethics, and Social Justice |
5 credits | |
|
COUN 8115 - Advanced Counseling Theories |
5 credits | |
| MUST complete Residency within Quarter Term 1 or Term 2 | ||
| Quarter 2 |
CPLB 8800C - CES Residency |
5 credits |
|
RSCH 8110S - Research Theory, Design, and Methods |
5 credits | |
|
COUN 8120 - Professional Consultation, Program Evaluation, and Leadership |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 |
COUN 8501 - Doc Companion 1: Introduction to Your Dissertation Journey |
1 credit |
|
RSCH 8210S - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits | |
|
COUN 8897 - Internship I: Counseling |
3 credits | |
| Quarter 4 |
COUN 8125 - Teaching in Counselor Education |
5 credits |
|
COUN 8502 - Doc Companion 2: Building Knowledge and Skills for Your Dissertation |
1 credit | |
|
RSCH 8260S - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 |
RSCH 8310S - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
| To be eligible to take Intensive 1 CPLB 811L, student must successfully complete CES Residency and all preceding courses. | ||
|
COUN 8503 - Doc Companion 3: Establishing Research Questions and Framework for Your Dissertation |
1 credit | |
|
COUN 8135 - Clinical Supervision |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 |
COUN 8898 - Internship 2: Counselor Education and Supervision |
2 credits |
|
CPLB 811L - Intensive I: Applications in Teaching and Supervision |
0 credits | |
|
COUN 8504 - Doc Companion 3: Developing Methods and Maintaining Alignment on Your Dissertation |
1 credit | |
|
RSCH 8360S - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits | |
| To be eligible to take Intensive 2 CPLB 812L, student must successfully complete Intensive 1 and all preceding courses. | ||
| Quarter 7 |
CPLB 812L - Intensive II: Advanced Applications in Teaching, Supervision, and Research |
0 credits |
|
COUN 8051 - Seminar: Scholar Practitioner and Professional Identity |
5 credits | |
|
COUN 8505 - Doc Companion 5: Transition to Doctoral Candidacy |
1 credit | |
|
COUN 8899 - Internship 3: Counselor Education and Supervision |
3 credits | |
| Quarter 8 |
CCOUN 8561 - Dissertation** |
5 credits |
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 9 |
COUN 8561 - Dissertation** |
5 credits |
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 10+ |
COUN 8561 - Dissertation** |
5 credits |
* Students take two to three specialization courses, depending on the specialization chosen.
** To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.