Counseling and Personnel Services (PhD)
Advance Your Counseling Career
The PhD in Counseling and Personnel Services offers concentrations in college student personnel; counseling psychology; counselor education and supervision and educational psychology, measurement and evaluation. This program emphasizes social justice, leadership, practical experience and research. With mentorship from expert faculty advisors, students are equipped to contribute new knowledge and lead in their disciplines.
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Personnel Services (CPSPHD)
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Counseling and Human Development
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): See Specialization Requirements tab.
Program Information
This program offers a combination of coursework, with mostly in person courses. In person courses are offered on campus or in local schools.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Personnel Services encompasses three specialization areas:
- Counseling Psychology
- Counselor Education and Supervision
- Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation
The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of scholarly proficiency and distinctive achievement in a specific field/discipline. All candidates for a doctoral degree in the College of Education and Human Development must successfully complete qualifying exams and a dissertation/professional portfolio that clearly indicates the candidate has mastered and can exhibit/articulate the content knowledge, skills, and dispositions specific to their discipline, and can utilize appropriate research methodologies to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field.
Distinctive Characteristics of Doctoral Programs in the College of Education and Human Development
- Social Justice and Equity
Doctoral students in our program build experience and expertise in the issues of social justice and equity which aligns with our metropolitan mission and focus on student achievement. - Leadership
Our doctoral students gain expertise in supervising and leading others to achieve organizational goals and missions, managing complex systems, addressing administrative issues and procedures, conducting research to enhance leadership and teaching others about the art of organizational leadership. - Practical Experience
The doctoral program contains practicums, internships, or embedded field experience that aligns with program and career goals. These mentored experiences may include teaching, research, administration or other appropriate areas. - Scholarship/Research
An emphasis on scholarship includes experience and mentorship in ethics, publications, presentation, grantsmanship, and other forms of creative activity. The research component is characterized by the development of vertical research teams: senior faculty, junior faculty, doctoral students, master's students, and in some programs, undergraduate students, working together on research projects and research areas. These may be bolstered by partnerships with local school districts, businesses, or community agencies.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the Graduate School. Additional requirements are listed below:
- A master's degree, or its equivalent in a related field, is typically required. However, highly motivated applicants with a strong undergraduate record and a Bachelors degree may also be considered for admission. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional capabilities and potential.
- Test scores from the Graduate Record Exam General Test -- Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing -- are required.
Please note: When submitting GRE scores through ETS, have scores sent to the general University of Louisville code, 1838. - The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) is required of all students who completed a degree outside the United States from countries in which English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement.
- A statement of professional goals appropriate to pursuing a PhD in the specific area of specialization is required. Applicants should submit a personal statement of approximately 1,500 words outlining their professional goals and how their research and professional interests might align with those of faculty in the department.
- An updated curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
Each application will be evaluated to determine the strength of all components (GRE, undergraduate and graduate GPAs, letters of recommendation, professional goal statement, and work experience) as predictors of successful completion of the program. Applicants are encouraged to visit the website of the specialization area of interest for further information about suggested GPA and GRE score requirements, application deadlines, and other specific information related to that specialization area
Program Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Personnel Services encompasses four specialization areas. For specific coursework, see Specialization Requirements section.
- Counseling Psychology
- Counselor Education and Supervision
- Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation
All ECPY doctoral programs require courses in the following areas:
Specialty -- Specialty courses are designed to prepare the student for work within their selected professional field.
Research Methodology -- The research component prepares students to examine research within the professional area as well as contribute to the existing research.
Electives -- Elective courses are selected in concert with advisor and program committee with consideration to the student's background, interests, and professional goals.
Each doctoral program will have additional requirements related to their program of study.
All candidates for a doctoral degree must successfully complete qualifying exams and a dissertation/professional portfolio that clearly indicates the candidate has mastered and can exhibit/articulate the content knowledge, skills and dispositions specific to their discipline, and can utilize appropriate research methodologies to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field.
Specialization Requirements
Specialization in Counselor Education and Supervision
Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_PHDCES
Master's Degree prerequisite + 60 credit hours minimum: The Student and Committee must develop courses, programs and experiences that clearly identify and address the specific themes of Leadership, Scholarship, Social Justice and Equity. These areas of emphasis must have descriptive competencies that the student should attain and the Committee can assess.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Components 1 | 33 | |
| Generally includes: | ||
ECPY 722 | Advanced Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy | |
ECPY 731 | Counselor Education Seminar: Teaching and Ethics in Counselor Education | |
ECPY 755 | Counselor Supervision | |
ECPY 780 | Advanced Practicum in Counseling | |
ECPY 782 | Doctoral Internship | |
ECPY 793 | Doctoral Seminar in Educational and Counseling Psychology (Advanced Counseling and Consultation) | |
Specialty Electives | ||
| Research Methodology 2 | 27 | |
LEAD 601 | Applied Statistics (or equivalent required) | |
LEAD 701 | Intermediate Applied Statistics | |
LEAD 703 | Multivariate Educational Statistics | |
Research Electives (e.g., Field Survey Research, additional qualitative methodologies and /or quantitative methodologies) 3 | ||
Dissertation/Portfolio Research (twelve (12) credit hours) | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
33 credit hours minimum, Required Courses and Specialty Electives selected with Program Committee approval.
- 2
27 credit hours minimum, selected with Program Committee approval
- 3
Selected with Program Committee approval within program guidelines/framework. LEAD 600 may not be used for this requireme nt.
Specialization in Counseling Psychology
Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_PHDCPS
NOTE: Professional Licensure/Certification is available for this specialization.
The Student and Committee must develop courses, programs and experiences that clearly identify and address the specific themes of Leadership, Scholarship, Social Justice and Equity. These areas of emphasis must have descriptive competencies that the student should attain and the Committee can assess.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Components * | 60 | |
Counseling Core (twelve (12) credit hours) | ||
Foundations (18 Credit hours) | ||
Clinical Field Experience (30 credit hours) | ||
| Research Methodology | 27 | |
LEAD 701 | Intermediate Applied Statistics (or equivalent) | |
LEAD 702 | Applied Multiple Regression (or equivalent) | |
LEAD 703 | Multivariate Educational Statistics (or equivalent) | |
ECPY 540 | Evaluation and Measurement in Education (or equivalent) | |
ECPY 700 | Supervised Research in Educational and Counseling Psychology | |
ECPY 789 | Advanced Research Design (or equivalent) | |
ECPY 793 | Doctoral Seminar in Educational and Counseling Psychology (Advanced Psychotherapy Research and Practice, or equivalent) | |
Dissertation Research | ||
| Elective Component * | 18 | |
Counseling Psychology Specialty | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 105 | |
Specialization in Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation
Academic Plan Code(s): CPS_PHDPME
The Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation specialization requires a minimum of 90 graduate credit hours distributed in the following areas of study: specialty components , research methodology, and electives. Equivalent courses taken in a master's program may be substituted for required courses with advisor and program committee approval.
At least 45 of the 90 credit hours must be earned at UofL. These 45 credit hours include 18 credit hours fulfilling residency and twelve (12) credit hours required for dissertation research.
The Student and Committee must develop courses, programs and experiences that clearly identify and address the specific themes of Leadership, Scholarship, Social Justice and Equity. These areas of emphasis must have descriptive competencies that the student should attain and the Committee can assess.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Components | 15 | |
| EPME Core (all required) | ||
ECPY 605 | Human Development | |
ECPY 701 | Doctoral Professional Seminar in Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation | |
ECPY 710 | Social Ecology & Social Behavior | |
ECPY 712 | Advanced Issues in Human Development | |
ECPY 775 | Biological Bases of Behavior | |
| Research Methodology | 36-42 | |
| Selected with Program Committee Approval (36 credit hours minimum, 42 credit hours maximum) | ||
LEAD 701 | Intermediate Applied Statistics | |
LEAD 702 | Applied Multiple Regression | |
LEAD 703 | Multivariate Educational Statistics | |
LEAD 704 | Qualitative Field Research Methods | |
ECPY 740 | Psychometrics and Affective Instrument Development | |
ECPY 745 | Systematic Reviewing and Meta-Analysis | |
ECPY 746 | Secondary Data Analysis | |
LEAD 764 | Structural Equation Modeling | |
LEAD 765 | Hierarchical Linear Modeling | |
LEAD 789 | Advanced Research Design | |
LEAD 795 | Doctoral Research | |
| Electives | 39 | |
| Selected with Program Committee Approval | ||
CSE 630 | Advanced Databases | |
CSE 632 | Data Mining | |
ECPY 540 | Evaluation and Measurement in Education | |
ECPY 611 | Learning Systems: Theory and Practice | |
ECPY 631 | Adolescence | |
EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | |
ECPY 793 | Doctoral Seminar in Educational and Counseling Psychology 1 | |
ECPY 797 | Internship in Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation 2 | |
EDSP 527 | Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Child Development | |
LEAD 602 | Survey Research and Attitude Measurement | |
LEAD 606 | Program Evaluation | |
LEAD 705 | Qualitative Data Analysis and Representation | |
LEAD 750 | Doctoral Seminar in Educational Evaluation | |
LEAD 790 | Problems in Urban Education and Society | |
PHST 620 | Introduction to Statistical Computing | |
PHST 683 | Survival Analysis | |
PHST 710 | Advanced Statistical Computing I | |
PSYC 621 | Cognitive Processes | |
PSYC 636 | Human Memory | |
SOC 710 | Statistics II | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 90 | |
- 1
May be taken up to three times for a maximum of nine (9) credit hours.
- 2
May be taken for a maximum of three (3) credit hours.
The Doctorate in Counseling and Personnel Services - Specialization in Counseling Psychology program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure. If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification, you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree.
More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website: https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).
For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: http://louisville.edu/online/About-Us (please scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on the licensing disclosures tab).