Major Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Counselor Education and Supervision is a CACREP-accredited program designed to prepare graduates for academic positions and other careers in Counselor Education, building on the entry level competencies of the master’s degree in counseling. The doctoral program consists of approximately 96 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, with an additional 9-12 dissertation credits. Students must complete a minimum of 48 credits of course work (excluding dissertation) at Syracuse University. The doctoral program of study incorporates didactic and experiential learning and includes a cognate area of study involving at least nine semester credits, which are usually completed outside of the department.

In addition to meeting national accreditation standards, our program claims special expertise in five distinct areas. Students can expect unique opportunities, including conducting research, in any or all of the following:

• Clinical Supervision
  Developing the knowledge and skills necessary to train and supervise counselors and counselors-in-training, and to teach supervision to others.
• College Mental Health Counseling
  Developing the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to work within a college counseling context with students who present with a wide range of developmental and mental health concerns.
• Counseling People with Disabilities
  Developing the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of living.
• The Future Professoriate
  Developing the knowledge and skills necessary to assume academic, administrative, and professional leadership roles related to the professoriate.
• Social Justice and Urban Youth
  Developing the knowledge, skills, and awareness necessary to identify and confront the institutionalized forms of discrimination which continue to perpetuate disparities in social, academic, and career opportunities for urban youth.

The strengths of our doctoral program are numerous. Current and past doctoral students have offered the following comments on the quality of S.U.’s program:

• Faculty who are nationally recognized yet student-focused
• Multiple opportunities for clinical supervision
• Opportunities and support for developing teaching skills through the Future Professoriate program
• Solid financial support through graduate assistantships and excellent medical benefits
• Flexible policies allowing doctoral students to use GA support for summer courses
• Financial support to attend and present at national conferences
• Opportunities to develop research skills as part of on-going research teams

The Department of Counseling and Human Services has been a pioneer in training highly skilled practitioners and leaders in a wide range of counseling settings. Syracuse’s programs are nationally accredited and can lead to national certification or State Certification in School Counseling or Licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

Programs include extensive fieldwork opportunities in which students gain hands-on experience working with students and clients in a wide range of counseling and educational settings. Students work closely with their advisor, and the fieldwork coordinator to identify settings that meet their individual interests and career goals. The faculty is nationally recognized for their leadership in the profession and all classes are taught by skilled experts and experienced clinicians.

The faculty is deeply committed to the growth and development of their students; faculty work closely with both our master’s and doctoral students. Students are trained in the most current information in counseling and provided the opportunity to develop their skills and succeed in their chosen area of specialization. Doctoral students have many opportunities to develop their teaching, research and supervision skills and are prepared to be nationally competitive in academic and practice settings.

The Department’s goal is to prepare national leaders in counseling. It seeks to develop a diverse group of professionals who will excel in knowledge, skills, commitment, and service in a wide range of educational and community settings.