The Counselor Education track consists of 120 credits of required coursework. The average student attends the program for 4 years in order to complete the required coursework and clinical experiences. Students may attend the program full-time or part-time and may take any number of credits desired each semester. Attending the program part-time will likely extend the time it takes for a student to graduate, as some students attend the program part-time and do not graduate with their doctoral degree for 5-6 years. The Graduate School allows each student a maximum of 10 years to complete the doctoral degree.

The purpose of the Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Program—Counselor Education Track is to facilitate the professional leadership roles of counselor education, supervision, counseling practice, and research competencies of students to advance the counseling profession.  Aligned with the current standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), doctoral students are expected to develop the identity of a professional counselor, clinical supervisor, counselor educator, and researcher.  This identity is intended to promote competence and professionalism as students begin careers in public and private sectors of mental health care and/or academia.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a clear and strong professional counselor identity, evidenced by professional leadership roles of counselor education, supervision, counseling practice, and research competencies expected of doctoral graduates.
2. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices beyond the entry-level program requirements in all of the following:
1. Supervision
2. Teaching
3. Research and scholarship
4. Counseling
5. Leadership and advocacy
3. Promote diversity through culturally relevant counseling, supervision, teaching, research, and professional service.

Students must first complete master’s degree prerequisite coursework before registering for doctoral-level coursework. Many of these prerequisite courses may be transferred in from a previous master’s or doctoral degree program. Students graduating from CACREP-accredited master’s degree programs will likely meet most or all of the program’s master’s degree prerequisite coursework upon entry into the Counselor Education doctoral program. Then, students register for coursework related to advanced theories of counseling and statistics. Next, students complete two semesters of Advanced Practicum while also registering for courses related to teaching and clinical specialty areas chosen by the student. Following this, students complete courses in clinical supervision, ethics, and research design. Finally, students register for two semesters of Internship while simultaneously completing a research dissertation. In general, the Counselor Education doctoral program balances coursework in clinical skills and teaching/supervision/research throughout the student’s course of study. The Counselor Education Planned Program Form aids students in deciding which courses to register for each semester.

The Graduate School allows doctoral degree students up to 10 years to complete their degree.

The Counselor Education track consists of a 100 credit hour curriculum. Up to 30 credits may be transferred into the curriculum from a previous master’s or doctoral degree program if the graduate-level courses substitute for required coursework needed to complete the 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 Adviser. Other conditions may apply.

Due to the length of the doctoral degree program and the fact that graduate assistantships are for work related to teaching and/or research (two of the primary focus areas of the doctoral program), the School of Counseling typically reserves graduate assistantships for doctoral students. Over the past decade over ½ of School of Counseling doctoral students were awarded graduate assistantships, a much larger percentage than most doctoral programs. Full-time graduate assistantships require 20 hours/week of teaching and/or research work and carry a full year-round tuition waiver and an annual stipend. Part-time assistantships may also be awarded on occasion (e.g., 10 hours/week with part-time stipend and tuition waiver). Some Counselor Education doctoral students are awarded graduate assistantships from departments/programs outside the School of Counseling. Students are encouraged to apply for graduate assistantships throughout The University of Akron. Doctoral students are encouraged to complete a graduate assistantship application if interested in this possibility. Most doctoral students who do not desire or are not awarded graduate assistantships work in the counseling profession part-time. A small minority of students elect to apply for student grants and/or financial aid. Information about scholarships and grants for domestic applicants (U.S. citizens) can be found through the Financial Aid Office. International applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of International Programs.

First, the School of Counseling at The University of Akron is one of only two departments in the U.S. that houses accredited doctoral programs in Counselor Education (CACREP-accredited), Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy (AAMFT-accredited), and Counseling Psychology (APA-accredited). Therefore, although Counselor Education students are always professionally mentored and academically advised by a Counselor Education faculty member, students may receive instruction from a variety of different faculty members with diverse professional experiences and philosophies. Second, the School of Counseling houses the renowned Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling, which is a training facility that functions as a community agency that provides Counselor Education students with a ‘real world’ Advanced Practicum training experience in order to cultivate advanced clinical skills. The two semesters of required doctoral-level Advanced Practicum Clinical Supervision training are beyond most other doctoral degree programs, allowing students to learn a much deeper and broader array of skills before entering their doctoral internship. Next, Counselor Education doctoral students often become student leaders of Chi Sigma Iota - Alpha Upsilon Chapter. The Alpha Upsilon Chapter is one of the largest and most awarded in the nation, having over 100 active student members and receiving many international awards of excellence. Finally, School of Counseling students are routinely honored with being among the top five in pass rates for all departments in Ohio on the Ohio Professional Licensure Examination.

Doctoral-level courses are offered during the late mornings and afternoons on Mondays through Thursdays, although evening coursework is also offered.