| Description |
: The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision represents the terminal professional degree in the pursuit of higher education and leadership in the discipline of counseling. The professional identity of an individual who has earned the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is that of a counseling professional. The doctorate is designed to provide a unique combination of academic instruction and clinical fieldwork for students of exceptional ability who are strongly motivated to attain a high level of competency in the field of counseling. The program has dual emphases: training educators to teach counseling at the university level, and developing the advanced clinical skills that enhance the practice of the professional counselor. An essential component of the program is its focus on integrating counseling knowledge, skills, and strategies with biblical foundations and faith practices.
Graduates will be able to serve as leaders in a variety of professional roles that include faculty, clinical practitioners, counselor supervisors, administrators in mental health agencies and schools, researchers and consultants. A 51-hour master’s degree in counseling or significantly related field such as psychology or social work is a prerequisite. The 60-hour full-time PhD-CES program is both theoretical and experiential, and has the distinction of being offered in an e-learning (online) format, allowing students to take coursework from almost anywhere in the world. Students will enjoy a sense of community during the program through brief residencies at the Virginia Beach campus, as well as instructional design that has been developed to maximize teambuilding and cooperative identity. The program has a prescribed progression of coursework, and an internship and a dissertation are required. Students will typically be able to complete the program in about 3 1/2 to 4 years.
Accreditation of doctoral programs in Counselor Education and Supervision is conferred by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The PhD-CES has been developed to meet or exceed all CACREP standards for accreditation and CACREP accreditation will be sought within the earliest timeframe allowable under CACREP guidelines. |
