Counselor Education

The Ph.D. Counselor Education at Duquesne University is designed for counselors who wish to enhance their professional capabilities in research and evaluation, supervision, teaching, and counseling,.  The program is appropriate for professional counselors who want to teach in counselor preparation programs and/or obtain supervisory positions in schools and agencies. The Ph.D. program consists of 60 graduate credits which may be completed within two-and-a-half years. Doctoral students are enrolled full-time, taking 9 credits during the fall and spring semesters, and 6 credits during the first and second summer semesters. The Ph.D. program is structured in a manner that allows doctoral students to be enrolled full-time and maintain the option of full-time employment as classes are scheduled during weeknights and Saturdays. Doctoral students participate in a cohort model. The Program cannot be completed on a part-time basis. The Ph.D. Program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which means that the program uses a nationally recognized and rigorous curriculum. Programs that receive CACREP accreditation have demonstrated a commitment to high admissions, academic and fieldwork standards and current best practices in counselor preparation and ongoing program improvement. Beginning in 2013, masters’ and doctoral counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP must hire faculty who have earned a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program. This will increase the marketability of graduates of CACREP accredited doctoral programs. Counseling psychology or clinical psychology graduates will not be eligible to be hired to teach in CACREP accredited programs. You can find more information about CACREP accreditation here. Graduates of the Ph.D. Program have been very successful in obtaining faculty positions throughout the United States, and supervisory and director positions within mental health and human services organizations and school districts. Applicants may apply for full-time and part-time graduate assistantships, and doctoral students may receive tuition remission for providing supervision to Duquesne University counseling masters’ students. Applicants may apply for student loans through the Financial Aid Office. The Program requires completion of academic course work, teaching and supervision of master’s students, the passing of a comprehensive examination, completion of a practicum and internship, and submission of an approved dissertation. In accordance with CACREP requirements, there is a 100 hour practicum and a 600 hour internship. The internship includes providing supervision, teaching, and counseling.