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Academic Programs: Ph.D in Counselor Education
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Counseling and Educational Leadership

Academic Programs: Graduate
Ph.D in Counselor Education


Director: Catherine Roland
Office: University Hall, Room 3162
Phone Number: (973) 655-7184
Email: rolandc@mail.montclair.edu

View our Program Flyer

Program Description

The primary objective of this Ph.D. program is to prepare scholars and practitioners to become leaders in maximizing the mental health and quality of life for individuals, families, communities, and educational organizations.

Program graduates may seek employment in communities, agencies, schools and in colleges and universities in the following roles:
  • Academic Faculty Member
  • Supervisors
  • Program Managers or program developers
  • Consultants
  • Researchers
  • Evaluators
Graduates of doctoral programs in Counselor Education may find employment as program managers and developers. They are employed by private and public school systems as directors of guidance, guidance center supervisors, and master counselors. They hold positions in business and industry, especially in urban areas. Companies that offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), in particular, hire doctoral-level counselors to develop and manage mental health and holistic care programs as a service for their employees.

Individuals with Counselor Education doctoral degrees work in administrative and managerial roles in health care agencies, nonprofit organizations, community agencies, and student affairs/academic affairs units in colleges and universities as well as in businesses. In addition to working in such agencies and in business, holders of Ph.D. degrees in Counselor Education also serve as consultants for agencies on specific projects - for example, consultants to state departments of education concerning guidance outreach to underserved populations.

The combination of scholarly preparation and advanced counseling and supervision practice will allow Ph.D. graduates many opportunities for professional growth and employment. A state-of-the art curriculum, faculty mentoring, and the thoughtful choice of a cognate in the doctoral program will contribute to these opportunities.

Requirements:

I. Core Courses (18 S.H.)
Number Name Semester Hours
COUN 810 Advanced Counseling Theory & Methodology 3
COUN 812 Counselor Supervision 3
COUN 814 Advanced Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling 3
COUN 816 Clinical, Leadership and Organizational Assessment 3
COUN 818 Advanced Group Counseling 3
COUN 820 Advanced Career Counseling Techniques & Practice 3
 
II. Clinical Experience (6-9 S.H.)
COUN 824 Professional Internship I: Instructorship (3 S.H.)  
COUN 826 Professional Internship II: Fieldwork (up to 6 S.H.)  
 
III. Cognate or Elective Studies (9 S.H.)
Three courses from a discipline relevant to the study of counseling, such as school counseling, community counseling, student affairs/higher education counseling, marriage and family counseling, or social justice and advocacy for social change, to be approved by the student's doctoral advisory committee.
 
IV. Research Core (15 S.H.)
COUN 822 Research Seminar in Counseling 3
EDCO 820 Qualitative Methods for Educational Research 3
EDCO 821 Quantitative Methods for Educational Research 3
EDCO 823 Advanced Qualitative Methods II 3
EDCO 824 Advanced Quantitative Methods II 3
 
V. Doctoral Dissertation (Minimum 15 S.H.)
 
PROGRAM TOTAL: 63-66 credits

Admissions

Admission decisions will be based on faculty review of the completed application, which must include the following:
  • Master's degree in Counseling or Counselor Education, preferably CACREP accredited or aligned
  • 2 years minimum post Master's professional counseling experience related to the applicant's chosen concentration: community, school, higher education/student affairs or addictions
  • Submission of recent GRE scores (no more than 5 yrs old)
  • Transcripts indicating receipt of the bachelor's and master's degrees (minimum counseling master's program GPA of 3.5 is required)
  • 3 letters of recommendation indicating readiness for a doctoral study: One reference from a professional in the applicant's field and two faculty references
  • Current Resume
  • Personal Interview: If invited for a personal interview, requirement includes writing sample, done on campus
The Ph.D. in Counselor Education *requires* applicants to complete the online application instead of the paper application, as it will allow for faster processing after the deadline, and allows you as an applicant to track the status of your application up until the deadline. The online application may be found at http://www.montclair.edu/graduate (click the "Apply Now" button).

Deadlines

Review of completed applications, including review for doctoral assistantships, will begin on or about November 1 each year. The final application deadline is February 1 each year for the following Fall semester.