Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Program

Counselor Education Specialty

Program Details

The Department of Counseling at The University of Akron offers a Doctoral Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision with two different tracks: Counselor Education and Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy. The Counselor Education Doctoral Program is CACREP accredited and is approved by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board as meeting the educational and experiential requirements for professional licensure in Ohio (e.g., Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervising Counselor endorsements). The primary goal of this program is to teach students how to advance the profession of Counseling by becoming advanced clinicians, instructors, and clinical supervisors. Graduating students usually gain employment as counselor educators/researchers in academic institutions (e.g., colleges and universities), administrators of mental health service agencies (e.g., community mental health centers), and advanced practitioners/supervisors (e.g., doctoral-level clinicians/supervising counselors).

The Counselor Education program adheres to a practitioner-scientist model of development in that students are taught clinical, academic, and supervisory skills informed by research/science. During the Counselor Education program students first complete clinical foundation courses such as advanced theories of counseling, professional/legal issues in counseling, and use of assessment data. Next, students complete five semesters of supervised Advanced Practicum at the Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling. Then, students receive two semesters of training and practical experience focused on clinical supervision. Students also complete coursework related to teaching and instruction. Finally, students gain specialized training in clinical practice, teaching, and/or supervision by completing two semesters of Internship. Internship experiences are tailored to the professional goals of each student (e.g., clinical, academic, and/or supervisory endeavors). Throughout their program of study, students also receive formal training in statistics and research design/methods so that they acquire skills in conducting, reading, and writing about research studies. In general, students complete their internship during the last year of study while simultaneously conducting their dissertation research.

The Counselor Education program consists of a 120 credit hour curriculum. Up to 50% of this program’s total required coursework (i.e., 60 graduate credits) may be transferred into the curriculum from a previous master’s or doctoral degree program. This may be possible if the graduate-level courses substitute for required coursework needed to complete the Counselor Education degree, if the student received a grade of ‘B’ or better in the courses, and if the transfer of credits are approved by the student’s Faculty Advisor. Other conditions may apply.

A complete list of Counselor Education program coursework can be found on the Program Course Distribution form. Also, prospective students can learn more about this program, its goals, and its strengths by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web link. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the FAQ web link before contacting a Department of Counseling representative.

For program-related questions contact Dr. Cyndi Reynolds (program coordinator) at creynol@uakron.edu. For admission-related questions contact Dr. Sandy Perosa (admissions coordinator) at sperosa@uakron.edu

Prospective Students