Counselor Education - Doctoral Program
Dr. Karen Prichard,
Coordinator
- General Objectives: The doctoral program in Counselor Education is designed for the preparation of counselor educators and supervisors. To this end, students are expected to develop competencies for leadership and instructional roles in counselor education and supervision, advanced counseling practice, and research. Faculty in the program recognize the uniqueness of human beings and are dedicated to helping students obtain knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to facilitate development as counselor educators and supervisors. Uniqueness is emphasized in that students are expected to develop their own specialties within counselor education and supervision.
- Application for Admission to Graduate Study
- Doctoral Application Form
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results
- Official transcripts from all universities attended
- A minimum of three letters of recommendation
- A 5-page, double-spaced essay which addresses the applicant's career goals and views on personal and professional growth
- A copy of the applicant's thesis, research paper, or final project
- Application fee of $45.00
Employment Perspective: Employment patterns for counselors have changed over the past two decades, and it is anticipated still more changes will occur as the year 2000 approaches. In the late 1960's and 1970's, counselor educators were in great demand as federal and state financial support for counseling programs was put in place. Today, many of those counselor educators are retiring and will be replaced by new faculty. The history of counselor education and the professional counselor is closely related to governmental priorities, the state of the economy, and sociological trends.
Although the exact nature of the labor force in the next decade is unpredictable, counselors will continue to provide services to fields such as education, training, management, research, mental health, business, industry, and governmental agencies. Supply and demand for counselors may vary in particular job categories. Yet with proper planning, some geographical flexibility, and a strong skill base in counseling, which the SIUC program provides, there will continue to be positive employment prospects.
Accreditation: The doctoral program in Counselor Education is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (NCACSS).
Admission: Applicants must have a mater's degree from a program equivalent to that currently offered at SIUC. The master's program at SIUC requires 48 semester credit hours and course work in each of the curriculum areas required by CACREP, which includes 700 hours on-site with 300 direct client contact hours in practicum/internship.
In the event that the applicant holds a master's degree that is not equivalent, there are two options: (1) If the student has at least 24 credits of equivalent course work including a practicum in counseling with at least a B grade, they may apply and, if accepted, complete equivalency requirements in addition to doctoral program requirements. (2) If the student has less than 24 credits of equivalent course work or no counseling practicum, they will be considered for admission to the Counselor Education master's program. Under this option, they will be expected to complete degree requirements, in effect earn a second Master's degree, prior to admission into the doctoral program. An applicant may reapply to the Ph.D. program the final semester they are meeting Master's requirements.
Application to the Counselor Education program requires submission of the following:
GRE scores and all transcripts must be submitted directly to the Department. Applicants may not personally submit the GRE score or transcripts.
Applicants interested in applying for fellowships should submit all application materials during the Fall semester in order to be eligible for the fellowship application deadlines in January and February. All applicants to doctoral programs within the department are initially reviewed by a departmental committee. The next stage will involve a personal interview on campus. Notice of acceptance or status as an alternate will be mailed approximately six weeks after the original application deadline. Applicants have 15 days to notify the department of acceptance.