The PhD specialization in Counselor Education is not reviewing applications at this time. Please contact Dr. Ahmad Washington, Program Coordinator, at ahmad.washington@louisville.edu with any questions.
Counselor Education Doctoral Handbook [PDF]
The Ph.D. program in Counseling and Personnel Services (CPS) with a specialization in Counselor Education and Supervision is committed to developing counselor educators prepared to be leaders in the counseling field through educational experiences strongly grounded in a foundation of social justice. Through course work, supervision, and active mentoring, the faculty prepare students to provide leadership in a variety of roles that are critical to the future of the mental health field. As agents of change, graduates are expected to make meaningful contributions to society through education, research, community involvement, and professional service to the local community and beyond.
The program provided me with all the tools I needed to attain a tenure-track position at one of the nation's premier public urban research universities. Through quality instruction and careful mentoring, the faculty helped me develop into an effective clinician and supervisor, teacher, and researcher. Equally as essential, they assisted me in demonstrating these competencies in the national job market.
George Richardson, 2011 Counselor Education and Supervision Graduate
The Ph.D. in CPS with a specialization in Counselor Education and Supervision is a post-master's degree program that prepares students to function in a variety of high-level positions in the mental health field including faculty positions in counselor education programs. Students admitted to the program without the equivalent of a CACREP-accredited master's degree in clinical mental health counselor or school counseling will be required to take additional coursework to meet accreditation standards.
The Ph.D. program includes advanced coursework in clinical practice, counselor education and supervision, social justice and multiculturalism, prevention, and research. Flexibility in coursework allows students to develop an area of concentrated study consistent with their academic interests and professional goals.
The goal of the program is to produce leaders in the field of counselor education and supervision who support the integrity and growth of the field through ethical practice in a variety of professional roles.
The mission of the Counselor Education specialization is to prepare counselors and counselor educators who contribute to society in a variety of professional roles by: supporting principles of social justice, fairness, and equity in their work; proactively promoting the welfare of those they serve; and engaging in a lifelong process of educational and professional renewal. Consistent with our focus on social justice, the Counselor Education specialization is committed to building a culturally-diverse student body and providing a culturally-responsive educational environment for all students.
The coursework combines classroom and practicum and internship experiences to prepare students to work as mental health professionals in the work setting of their choice (school, mental health facility, university).
For details about program curriculum, visit the Degree Requirements - Graduate Catalog.
Following is a suggested course sequence for full-time Ph.D. students in CPS with a Counselor Education and Supervision specialization. You should always check with your program chairperson to be sure you are on the path to graduating according to your timeline.
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Summer 1 |
|---|---|---|
| ECPY 719 | ECPY 711 | ECPY 700 |
| ECPY 732 | ECPY 780 | ECPY 789 |
| ELFH 601 | ELFH 701 | (Elective)* |
| (Elective)* | (Elective)* | |
| ECPY 700 (1) | ECPY 700 (1) |
| Fall 2 | Spring 2 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|
| ECPY 731 | ECPY 782** | ECPY 782** |
| ECPY 755 | (Elective)* | ECPY 795 (3) |
| ELFH 703 | Comprehensive Exam | (Elective)* |
| ELFH 704 |
| Fall 3 | Spring 3 | Summer 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ECPY 782** | ECPY 782** | ECPY 782** |
| ECPY 795 (3) | ECPY 795 (3) | ECPY 795 (3) |
| (Elective)* | (Elective)* | (Elective)* |
* 9 credit hours of electives are required. Electives may be taken in any of the designated semesters.
** 6 credit hours of internship (ECPY 782) are required. Internship hours may be taken in the designated semesters.
Ph.D. students are required to enroll in one advanced practicum (ECPY 780). This includes of a minimum of 100 hours in counseling, of which 40 hours must be in direct service with clients. The nature of the doctoral-level practicum experience will be determined in consultation with program faculty and/or the doctoral program committee. Appropriate site supervision is required.
Ph.D. students are required to complete doctoral-level internships (ECPY 782) that total a minimum of 600 clock hours. The 600 hours include supervised experiences in areas of counselor education and supervision that meet the student’s career goals (e.g., clinical practice, research, supervision, teaching, leadership and advocacy). The internship hours must include the activities of a regularly employed professional in the setting. The 600 hours will be allocated at the discretion of the doctoral advisor and the student on the basis of experience, training, and the student’s career goals. During internships, the student must receive weekly individual and/or triadic supervision, usually performed by a supervisor with a doctorate in counselor education or a related profession. Group supervision with other students will be provided by CES program faculty.
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. The following are required in order to be considered for admission:
This program is open to all eligible students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.
An applicant who does not meet one of the above criteria and wishes to be considered for admission should include, in his/her application package, a written rationale for why the doctoral admissions committee should consider the application.
Applicants ranked highest by the doctoral admissions committee based on their application package will be interviewed on campus or by telephone.
Visit the Doctoral Student Handbook to learn more about the admission process. If you have questions about the program, e-mail ecpyinfo@louisville.edu.
December 15 (if requesting financial assistance) or up until April 15 if no financial assistance is requested and positions in the program are still available, for admission in the fall semester.
Dr. Ahmad Washington
Program Director
Department of Counseling and Human Development
College of Education & Human Development/Porter Building
Room 326
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0615
Graduates find positions in a variety of settings as university faculty and mental health clinicians, consultants, researchers and administrators. Students who enter the program without the academic requirements needed for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor will gain the coursework and supervised clinical experience that are needed to pursue licensing as a mental health counselor in most states including Kentucky.
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
We have been succesful in funding our full-time doctoral students for the majority of their time in the doctoral program. However, we cannot guarantee assistantships or fellowships for all students. The faculty are committed to pursuing funding for full-time students.
For a full-time student who enters the program with a degree that is equivalent to a CACREP-accredited master's degree, the program takes 3-4 years. This includes two to three years to complete the coursework and one year to complete the dissertation. After completing required coursework in the program of study, students take a comprehensive examination, a set of questions that assess mastery of knowledge included in the program of study. After passing the comprehensive examination, the student becomes a doctoral candidate and completes the dissertation.
Licensing as a mental health counselor generally requires a master's degree. If you enter the Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D. program without a master's degree that allows you to be credentialed as a mental health counselor (you don't have the appropriate coursework or clinical experiences), you can acquire the experiences you need to be licensed during the doctoral program. You should become familiar with the requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state where you wish to be licensed.
Being actively involved in research is a requirement in the program. The program includes required coursework in statistics and research design as well as being involved on a faculty research team. Students work with faculty who share common academic and research interests. The student is matched with a faculty member with similar interests upon being admitted to the program.
At least one advanced counseling practicum is required (ECPY 780). Two semesters of doctoral internship (ECPY 782) are also required. The internship experiences are designed to match the student's career goals and can focus on clinical work, research, teaching, prevention, administration, advocacy, or a combination of these areas. The student is required to spend at least 600 hours in internship experiences.
