Ph.D. in Counselor Education

The program of study includes advanced coursework in quantitative and qualitative research, counseling theory, social justice, clinical supervision and teaching. Students also complete a 12-credit cognate to develop specialized expertise in an area aligned with their research and career interests. Past cognate topics have included addictions counseling, family-school collaboration, college student development and trauma-informed practice.

During the Program: Many doctoral students who seek counselor licensure are able to complete clinical experience requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential during their program of study through practicum and internship placements.

After Graduation: Graduates are prepared to seek faculty positions at colleges and universities, pursue leadership roles in clinical settings, and obtain credentials such as the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) designation. Our CACREP-accredited doctoral degree is recognized nationally and meets educational requirements for counselor educator positions.

Our doctoral graduates are highly competitive in the academic job market. Recent alumni hold tenure-track and tenured faculty positions at universities across the country, serve as program coordinators and department chairs, lead community mental health organizations and hold leadership positions in professional associations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). Graduates have published extensively in top-tier journals and secured external funding for their research programs.

Application materials include your unofficial transcript(s), a personal statement, a resume/CV, and three recommendations. We encourage prospective students to begin an application, as the portal provides a clear overview of all application requirements, including the personal statement prompt.

All of our on-campus programs in School Psychology and Counseling Education (SPACE) invite top candidates to interview as part of the admission criteria. The Ph.D. in Counselor Education program's interview is offered in both an on-campus format and an online format.

Looking for the application deadline? See our Deadlines & Decisions page.

Students may apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA. If you have questions about your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@wm.edu.

We are pleased to offer a highly competitive graduate assistantship opportunity for full-time* students in the Counselor Education program. To be considered, applicants should complete the Graduate Assistantship Interest section of the application, including relevant skills and a current resume or CV.

All applicants are also automatically considered for any scholarships for which they are eligible. Students who receive scholarship awards will be notified directly.

*Full-time status is defined as enrollment in at least 9 credit hours per semester.