Counselor Education and Supervision
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Our CACREP-accredited Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D. program will prepare you to acquire faculty positions and assume leadership positions in mental health and school settings. You will receive intense training in counseling, teaching, supervision, research and advocacy. Classes are held during weeknights and our coursework can be completed within two years.
CACREP Accreditation
Our Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program is accredited by the , which means that the program has a nationally recognized and rigorous curriculum.
Programs that receive CACREP accreditation have demonstrated a commitment to high
admissions, academic and fieldwork standards and current best practices in counselor
preparation and program improvement.
Counselor preparation programs that are accredited by CACREP must hire faculty who
have earned a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision, preferably from
a CACREP-accredited program. This has increased the marketability of graduates of
CACREP-accredited doctoral programs. Counseling psychology or clinical psychology
graduates are generally not eligible for counselor education faculty positions.
*Applications open July 2025.
Program Information
Our CACREP-accredited Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program will prepare you to acquire faculty positions and assume leadership positions in mental health and school settings.
Degree
Doctorate
School
Academic Department
Counselor Education and School Psychology
Duration
3-year
Required Credit Hours
51
Prepare Here, Impact Anywhere
Great Value, Great Education
Our 51-credit program gives you the flexibility, skills and experience so you can pursue your bigger goals.
Application Process
All Applicants
3.0 GPA*
*Applicants are customarily expected to have a 3.0 grade point average, based on a
four-point scale, in their undergraduate work. However, exceptions may be granted
on a limited basis, in which there is substantial additional evidence of a student's
academic competency.
CACREP Requirements
The Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
has the following requirements for doctoral students:
- Master's degree in counseling or a closely related field
- Completed coursework in the CACREP common core areas, which include: 1) Professional Identity, 2) Social and Cultural Diversity, 3) Human Growth and Development, 4) Career Development, 5) Helping Relationships, 6) Group Work, 7) Assessment, and 8) Research and Program Evaluation
- Completed coursework in a CACREP specialty area (e.g., addictions counseling, clinical mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, etc.)
Applicants who have not graduated from a CACREP master's program, or who have a master's in psychology, social work, or a related field, are to mail or e-mail an unofficial copy of their master's transcript to the Program Director, who will review the transcript to identify what additional coursework is needed to satisfy CACREP prerequisites.
International Applicants
English Proficiency Requirements
Â鶹ֱ²¥ requires submission of the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English
Test (DET) scores for all non-native English-speaking applicants who attended a university
outside of the United States.
Score Requirements
The University requires the following minimum scores* for general admission consideration:
- TOEFL (iBT) 80
- IELTS 6.5**
- Duolingo English Test 105
Transcript Credit Evaluation
If your transcript(s) is from an institution located outside of the United States,
you must use a transcript credential evaluation service to obtain a course-by-course
report.
The official reports must be sent directly to Â鶹ֱ²¥ from the organization you order through and will qualify as official transcripts.
You may use the following services to request official foreign credential evaluations: or .
Visit International Admissions for additional information and requirements.
All Applicants
Applications open July 2025.- Resume/curriculum vitae
- Graduate education essay
- The essay is limited to 500 words
- Prompt: Discuss your professional plans upon acquiring a Ph.D. in Counselor Education
- Two (2) Recommendations
- Names and email addresses of recommenders are needed
- Recommender will receive an email prompting the recommender to upload their recommendation for the applicant
- Recommendations must be from individuals who can speak about the applicant’s academic
professional abilities (i.e. faculty/supervisor recommendations) - Note: Family, friends and professional colleagues are not acceptable references
- Official transcripts
Submit transcripts to one of the following:
Hard Copy:
Â鶹ֱ²¥
Office of Graduate Admissions
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Electronic:
Email%20Graduate%20Admissions
International Applications
- Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo
(please see score requirements in the previous section - "Admission Requirements, International Applicants") - Transcript Credit Evaluation
- If your transcript(s) is from an institution located outside of the United States, you must use a transcript credential evaluation service to obtain a course-by-course report.
- The official reports must be sent directly to Â鶹ֱ²¥ from the organization you order through and will qualify as official transcripts.
- You may use the following services to request official foreign credential evaluations: or.
Visit International Admissions for additional information and requirements.
Fall 2025 Applications
Our 2024 fall Ph.D. cohort is filled and we are no longer accepting applications.
Applications for the 2025 fall cohort will open this July.
Qualified candidates will be notified of an interview in late fall once a completed application is received. Interviews for the fall 2025 cohort will begin February 2025.
Submission of Application Materials
Upon completing the to the university, applicants will be prompted to submit their supporting materials
(in above "Application Materials" section) in their applicant portal. Applicants can
track the progress of their application materials in their .
Learning Outcomes
To prepare counselor educators who are able to incorporate a culturally sustaining and ecological-systems framework in providing counseling services, teaching and supervising counselors, and conducting research and program/evaluation
Learning Outcomes - Program Objectives
- Use a culturally sustaining and ecological-systems framework in conceptualizing clients/students presenting issues and needs.
- Understand and follow legal and ethical standards.
- Understand and demonstrate use of counseling theories in conceptualizing and providing individual and group counseling and consultation to clients/students and their important others.
- Effectively use active listening skills in forming professional helping relationships with clients/students and their important others.
- Support supervisee’s ability to use active listening skills, counseling theories, culturally sustaining approaches, and an ecological-systems framework in working with clients/students and their important others.
- Provide instruction that is informed by teaching methods, instructional and curriculum design, and evaluation methods.
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and follow the standards of professional writing.
- Use theories and strategies in advocating for the counseling profession and client’s/student’s needs.
Counselor Education and Supervision Graduate Statistics
Statistics | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Graduates | 7 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 7 |
Completion Rate | 100% | 88% | 85% | 78% | 43% |
Job Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
For additional information and statistics, please see the
Alum named PSCA Counselor Educator of the Year (Pennsylvania School Counselors Association)
Our Faculty Experts
The mission of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Counselor Education program is to prepare professional
counselors, educators, scholars and clinical supervisors who promote the well-being
of individuals, families, organizations and communities. This mission aligns with
the University’s Spiritan mission to serve God by educating counselors who value social
justice, meet high personal and professional standards; and promote moral, spiritual,
intellectual, physical, social and emotional development. Our counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling
and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).Featured content
Mission Statement - Counselor Education
Accreditation
It's Time for Bigger Goals
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Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D. program