Counseling, Ph.D.: Counseling and Supervision
Degrees Offered:
- Ph.D. in Counseling and Supervision
Content Area Options (specializations):
- Mental health counseling and supervision
- College counseling and student services
- Trauma counseling
- Child and adolescent counseling
Program Accreditation:
The Ph.D. degree doctoral program offered at the Union New Jersey campus is CACREP accredited with an expiration date of March 31. 2030.
Admissions Requirements:
- Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college or university, preferably CACREP accredited
- Recommended 3.5 cumulative GPA for the master’s degree
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are optional
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Copy of counseling license or plan to obtain licensure during the doctoral program.
- Three letters of recommendation by
- one letter from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's academic performance, writing, research, and potential for success in doctoral study
- one letter from a counseling supervisor familiar with the applicant's counseling skills, professional identity, dispositions, and ethics
- one additional letter from a counselor, Counseling faculty, or clinical supervisor
- Recommended recent scholarly or professional writing sample
- Comprehensive current professional résumé/CV
- Personal statement of four to eight pages (use APA style, written in first person) that presents your education, philosophy, and personal and professional development as a counselor, supervisor or college student affairs professional; your reasons and goals for applying to this program at Kean University; and your plans upon completion of the doctoral degree
- Official TOEFL or IELTS score reports for applicants whose native language is not English or whose degree is not from an English speaking country
Applicants must demonstrate the following to be considered:
- An academic aptitude for doctoral-level study in counseling & counselor education, with demonstrated capacity for research, teaching, clinical supervision, leadership, and advocacy.
- A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in counseling or closely-related field.
- Essential dispositions for the counseling profession, including self-awareness, emotional maturity, empathy, and the ability to convey compassion under stress.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, both professional and scholarly.
- Cultural competence, demonstrated through social-cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect.
- Potential for scholarship and contributions to the field.
- Potential for professional leadership, social justice, and advocacy.
- Overall fit for the program, with consideration given to the strength of the application as a whole.
Interview Process:
Selected applicants will be invited for an in-person interview as part of the admission process. Due to a completive applicant pool, not all qualified candidates will receive an interview invitation.
Start terms:
The PhD admits students ONLY for the fall term.
Graduation Requirements:
- Complete 57-58 credits
- Successful passing of a comprehensive examination
- Completion and successful oral defense of the dissertation
Program Description:
The PhD in Counseling and Supervision prepares experienced counselors and college student services professionals to advance their careers as compassionate trauma informed faculty, supervisors, clinicians, researchers, and administrators. This personal, student-centered program fosters the development of individual strengths and professional leadership.
Courses are scheduled in the evenings in a hybrid format to accommodate working professionals. Full-time students typically complete the coursework requirements within three years, while part-time students may take four to five years, depending on program requirements and individual academic plans. In addition to coursework, additional time may be required for the dissertation and other degree milestone (e.g., Comprehensive Examination). All degree requirements, including the dissertation, must be completed within six years from the start of the program, in accordance with current university policies.
NOTE:
The Counseling and Supervision Ph.D. program is undergoing curriculum revisions to align with the 2024 CACREP accreditation standards, which require doctoral programs to include a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the entry-level degree.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the program will continue to require 57-58 total credits. However, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, the program will transition to a 60-credit minimum to meet updated accreditation expectations.
Current students will follow the credit requirements outlined in their respective catalog year. Prospective applicants for the 2026-2027 cycle and beyond are encouraged to contact the program for the most up-to-date information.
For further details, please consult the program faculty or an academic advisor.
Degree Requirements
- 57-58 credits
- Comprehensive qualifying examination
- Dissertation and oral defense
- National Counselor Examination
- National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (for mental health and trauma counseling specializations)
Core Courses 22
Research Core Courses 12
Clinical Core and Teaching Courses 9
| CED 7980 | ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN COUNSELING | 3 |
| CED 7985 | ADVANCED INTERNSHIP I: PROFESSIONAL | 3 |
| CED 7986 | ADVANCED INTERNSHIP II: TEACHING | 3 |
Dissertation 9
Specialization Courses 5-6
| CED 7958 | PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY | 2 |
| CED 7961 | TRAUMA ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT | 3 |
| CED 7631 | ADVANCED COLLEGE STUDENT SERVICES AND COUNSELING | 3 |
| CED 7632 | ADVANCED COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 57-58