Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision

The Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences offers a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D. in Counseling). The Ph.D. in Counseling is designed to prepare graduates to work as counselor educators, supervisors, researchers, and practitioners in academic and clinical settings. The program provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out scholarly research, lead professional organizations, create new knowledge to better assist the community and their clients, and enhance knowledge and skills in chosen academic areas. Whether they counsel, administer, or teach, graduates of the Doctoral Program in Counseling promote holistic development and the spirit of justice.

Please note: We will add an online option for our doctoral program beginning in the Fall of 2020. The program has applied for CACREP recognition of the online options for our doctoral degree programs, but the online option is not currently accredited by CACREP.

The program leading to the Ph.D. in Counseling consists of a minimum of 114 credit hours, which include the Master’s degree in Counseling, a clinical practicum, a clinical internship, a candidacy examination, and a dissertation.

Scope and Purpose

In keeping with the stated philosophy of University of Holy Cross, the Ph.D. in Counseling seeks to provide opportunities for intellectual, psychological, and spiritual growth to foster the individual's contribution within a pluralistic society. The Catholic heritage of the University and the Marianite tradition of service are integral to the philosophy of the Doctoral Program in Counseling.

Mission and Philosophy of the Graduate Programs

The Graduate Programs in Counseling incorporate the Mission of the University in their own statement of Mission and Philosophy. The various specialties in Counseling nurture students to become self-developing, competent professionals who can contribute to their communities, both personally and professionally. The programs emphasize the whole person’s development of spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and material values necessary to live responsibly, respect individuality, seek truth and peace, and foster justice in society. The programs emphasize the delivery of services from sociocultural, systemic, developmental, and wellness perspectives. The Graduate Programs in Counseling integrate their philosophy into their Mission through measurable objectives for teaching, research, and public service.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Ph.D. program in Counseling, graduates should be able to

1. practice professional counseling, consultation, teaching, and supervision skills within the scope of a multicultural and changing society;
2. extend and contribute to theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of counseling;
3. demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking, decision making, and independent judgment;
4. design, conduct, evaluate, and disseminate research in counseling and its related disciplines for its applicability to counseling theory and counseling practice;
5. practice leadership skills in collaboration with members of the counseling profession;
6. evaluate the impact of counseling theory and practice as it relates to assisting clients, students, supervisees, and other professionals in their growth and development;
7. evaluate the impact of supervision theory and practice as it relates to promoting the professional development of counselors in training;
8. demonstrate the advocacy role within the multicultural perspective for the uniqueness, dignity, and worth of the client and others; and
9. accept individual responsibility and accountability for personal and professional growth.

Nature of Graduate Work

Course work at the graduate level serves mainly as a guide to independent study. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to their respective professions rather than just to pass courses or simply comply with formal requirements. Graduate students are expected to exceed minimum requirements and assume responsibility to pursue lifelong learning that best meets their professional needs.

Graduate Admissions

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Chair of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences accepts applications for admission from students without regard to ethnicity, race, color, sex, age, disability status, or national origin.

Admission Procedures

Applicants must first be admitted to Graduate Studies. Application, all official transcripts, and proof of immunizations must be sent to the Office of Admissions, University of Holy Cross (UHC), 4123 Woodland Dr., New Orleans, LA 70131.

To be considered for admission to the Doctoral Program in Counseling, applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Counseling from a regionally accredited program and submit the following prior to the due date of the semester for which they are applying, sent directly to the Office of Admissions:

1. A completed official graduate application form;
2. Official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate course work, which must be sent by the institutions attended;

The following should be sent directly to Dr. Carolyn White, Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences:

1. At least three letters of recommendation written by people qualified to evaluate academic potential and personal and professional promise. Letters should address the applicant's character, work ethic, leadership, ability to work with others, communication skills, and ability to complete doctoral-level academic work. These letters should be addressed to Dr. Carolyn White, Director of the Graduate Counseling Programs. It is recommended, but not required, that the applicant include at least one letter from a previous faculty member in the Master’s degree program and at least one from a supervisor of an internship site or job where the applicant had counseling experience;
2. A two-page, double-spaced, typed letter of intent providing background information about the candidate, reasons for having selected the counseling profession, and future professional goals, particularly as related to the desire for a Doctoral degree in Counseling;
3. A 50-minute role-playing counseling session, recorded on DVD or external thumb drive; and
4. A current résumé.

Academic Requirements

Admission to the Doctoral Program in Counseling at University of Holy Cross is based on the evaluation of the applicant's personal, professional, and academic records by the Graduate Counseling Program faculty. The University recruits qualified applicants from diverse socio- cultural backgrounds who display professional promise, intellectual achievement, personal character, and educational commitment. At a minimum, applicants are expected to have met the following academic qualifications:

1. A Master’s degree from a university or college approved by a recognized regional accrediting agency in the United States, CACREP programs preferred, or proof of equivalent training at a foreign university;
2. A record of graduate level study predictive of success in a Doctoral program. This requires a Master’s degree in Counseling with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
3. A satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended.

Foreign and ESL Students

A foreign or ESL (English as a Second Language) applicant must present evidence of satisfactory proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English. The applicant may do so by presenting a satisfactory score on the TOEFL, normally 550, or iBT score of 79. For information about TOEFL, the applicant should write to TOEFL, 1755 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Letter of Good Standing

Students enrolled in graduate programs at other institutions who wish to register for transfer credit must submit a Letter of Good Standing and are not required to submit complete transcripts. The Letter of Good Standing must come from the dean of the student's graduate school.

Course Load

To be classified as a full-time doctoral student, he or she must register for at least nine (9) credit hours in a regular semester and at least six (6) credit hours in a summer term. An overload of three (3) semester hours may be approved by the Chair of the Department.

Exceptions or Special Circumstances

University of Holy Cross has determined that enrollment in one (1) or three (3) credit-hour dissertation classes only is considered equivalent to full-time for enrollment purposes and is recorded as such. The courses included in full-time enrollment are either COU 851 or COU 852. This exception is allowable only if a student has completed all other academic course requirements and is at the end of the doctoral program.

Grade Point Requirements

An overall GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale is required for the maintenance of good standing in the Doctoral program. Passing grades for Doctoral students are A and B. A graduate student who attains a C in any course is automatically placed on probationary status and a remediation plan is designed by the Graduate Counseling Faculty. The student must repeat the course during the next semester it is offered and receive a minimum grade of B in the course the second time it is taken. The student’s status is then subject to review by the Graduate Counseling Faculty. If the student does not receive a minimum grade of B in the course when it is retaken, the student is dropped from the Doctoral program. A maximum of one grade of C may be earned during the doctoral program.

Doctoral students whose semester average in course work is below 3.00 are placed on probationary status. To be removed from probationary status, the graduate student must complete nine (9) semester hours with an earned grade not less than B and a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.00 at the end of those nine hours. If the Doctoral student on probation for falling below a 3.00 overall GPA is unable to remedy the deficient overall GPA at the end of nine semester hours of the probationary period, the student is dropped from the Doctoral program. In order to progress to candidacy, Doctoral students must have an overall graduate GPA of at least 3.50.

Procedures for Dismissal for Other Than Academic Reasons

In addition to terminating students for academic failure, students may be dismissed for ethical violations and/or personal unsuitability for the profession. The following protocol is followed as a part of ongoing student screening when faculty identify behaviors that indicate possible incompatibility with the counseling profession:

1. Faculty initiated private verbal discussions, including a collaborative dialogue between the faculty member(s) and the student, identifying problematic behaviors and addressing specific suggestions for remediation;
2. If problematic behaviors continue, documentation of specific concerns collected by faculty, including documentation of any discussions with student. This documentation continues throughout the process;
3. Meeting of graduate faculty to discuss concerns regarding the student. The meeting includes graduate faculty and the Provost of the University. Faculty collaboratively address alternatives and future courses of action;
4. Meeting with the student to discuss continued concerns and options. Specific goals for remediation are addressed, including timeline and consequences of noncompliance. The student receives written feedback detailing problem areas, including clear guidelines for retention;
5. If retention goals are not met within specified time lines, and problematic behaviors inconsistent with the goals of the Graduate Counseling program persist, the student is dismissed from the program for nonacademic reasons.

Appeal

Subject to the review of the Graduate Counseling Faculty, students may be dismissed from the program for factors other than Grade Point Average (GPA) without a probationary period. The student’s status is then determined by the Graduate Counseling Faculty. The student may appeal decisions of the Graduate Counseling Faculty by submitting a written appeal to the Provost of the University. If the decision to dismiss remains firm, the student may then appeal to the Director of Student Life and follow the University Appeal Procedure.

Time Limit

A maximum of ten (10) years from the first semester attended is allowed in order to complete the requirements for the Doctoral Program in Counseling. If the time limit is exceeded, the graduate student must apply for readmission to the Doctoral Program in Counseling and document in writing the reason(s) for a need of extension. Readmission is an extension and does not qualify the applicant to begin anew the ten-year requirement.

Continuous Enrollment

Once admitted to the Doctoral Program in Counseling, students must maintain continuous enrollment unless the student requests and is granted a leave of absence by the Counseling and Behavioral Sciences Department. This leave of absence must be requested by the student in writing, giving reasons for the request and a timeline of when he or she expects to return to the program. If the leave of absence is granted by the Department, the student must maintain contact with his or her major professor during the leave of absence. Except in extraordinary circumstances, only one leave of absence is allowed during the student’s program.

Student Responsibility

Each student is responsible for knowing all pertinent requirements and regulations for the successful completion of the Doctoral degree in Counseling. Students should become familiar with this section of the Catalog, and the Handbook of Counseling: Ph.D. Program. Students should be aware of the fee payment required as they make progress through their academic program.

Professional Association Affiliation

Memberships in the Association for Graduate Students in Counseling (AGSC), the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) are required for Doctoral Counseling students. Students should budget for this along with their other fees. Students are expected to attend workshops and seminars whenever possible to enhance and complement their doctoral studies. Membership in other professional organizations is also strongly encouraged.

Liability Insurance

Documentation of proof of professional liability insurance is required for all students conducting counseling or supervision. This insurance can be obtained through the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Transfer Credits

Sixty hours of required Master’s-level credits in counseling may be transferred to the Doctoral Program. In addition to the 60 hours of required Master’s credits, doctoral credits from another institution may be transferred to the Doctoral Program upon approval by the Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Sciences. A minimum of 39 of the required 114 doctoral credits must be earned at University of Holy Cross. These courses must be verified by an official transcript from the institution where the courses were taken. Graduate credit is not awarded for portfolio-based experiential learning. Approval of all transfer credits must be obtained from the Director of Graduate Counseling Programs.

Major Advisor

Each student is assigned a major advisor. The major advisor aids the student with his or her program of study and registration.

Program of Study

The student works closely with the major advisor to develop a program of study that outlines the courses to be taken toward the Doctoral degree. The program is designed to meet both the goals and objectives for graduate study of the student and of the institution. The planned program of study must be approved by the student's major advisor and the Chair of the Department. Changes in the program of study may be made with the approval of the major advisor and the Chair of the Department.

Requirements Beyond Courses, Examinations, and the Dissertation

A Ph.D. program involves a serious commitment of time and energy. Requirements for completion of the degree go far beyond completion of courses, examinations, and a dissertation. Throughout the doctoral program, Ph.D. students are expected to be involved in the research projects of faculty members, assist in teaching courses, provide group and individual supervision to Master’s students, attend and present at professional conferences, and generally immerse themselves in professional activities at University of Holy Cross. These activities are designed to prepare Ph.D. students to become faculty members in Counseling graduate programs and leaders in the specializations of clinical mental health counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; or school counseling.

After Ph.D. students complete the course COU 820: College Teaching, they are encouraged, but not required, to assist full-time professors in teaching Master’s-level Counseling courses during the time they are completing their degrees.

Clinical Experience

Doctoral students are required to participate in a supervised doctoral-level practicum of a minimum of 100 hours in counseling, of which 40 hours must be in direct service to clients. The nature of the doctoral-level practicum experience is to be determined in consultation with program faculty and/or a doctoral committee. During the doctoral student’s practicum, supervision occurs as outlined in entry-level standards III.A and III.C–E. The use of student supervisors is not allowed in a doctoral-level practicum.

Doctoral students are required to complete doctoral-level counseling internships that total a minimum of 600 clock hours. The 600 hours must include supervised experiences in at least three of the five doctoral core areas: counseling, teaching, supervision, research and scholarship, and leadership and advocacy. The internship includes most of the activities of a regularly employed professional in the setting. The 600 hours may be allocated at the discretion of the doctoral advisor and the student on the basis of experience and training.

During internships, the student must receive weekly individual and/or triadic supervision, usually performed by a supervisor with a Doctorate in Counselor Education or a related profession. Group supervision is provided on a regular schedule with other students throughout the internship and is usually performed by a program faculty member.

Admission to Practicum and Internship

To be admitted to practicum and internship, students must submit an application to the Practicum and Internship Coordinator. This application must be submitted during the semester prior to beginning practicum.

Application to Candidacy

Students must file a formal petition for candidacy with the Chair of the Department once they have successfully completed the general examination. This application must be completed and signed by the student's advisor and submitted to the Chair of the Department. It is then presented to the Graduate Council for final approval.

Students not recommended to candidacy are informed in writing by the Chair of the Department, and a remediation plan is implemented.

Requirements for Graduation

A minimum of one hundred fourteen (114) semester hours is required, which include the Master’s and Doctoral course requirements. In addition, the student must develop a portfolio, complete a general examination, and successfully design, propose, and defend a dissertation research study.

Portfolio

Students must develop a portfolio with their major professor. Upon completion of a student’s course work, the portfolio is reviewed by a Graduate Counseling faculty committee and assessed with a rubric designed for that purpose. If students fail to meet the required proficiency level on the rubric, then they collaboratively design an improvement plan with their major professor.

General Examination

Students must complete a general examination which is designed in collaboration with their major professor. The examination is evaluated by each student’s dissertation committee, and students must pass the examination in order to progress to their dissertation research.

Dissertation Research

Students must design a research study in collaboration with their major professor and dissertation committee. Once the topic of study has been approved, students prepare a dissertation proposal consisting of the first three chapters and then orally defend this proposal to their dissertation committee. Once a study has passed the oral defense, it is submitted to the College’s Human Subjects Protection Review Committee for approval to begin the study. Once the dissertation research is completed, the final product must again be defended orally.

Application for Graduation

The requirements for graduation, as outlined by University of Holy Cross, must be followed. Applications are available in the office of the Registrar. It is the student’s responsibility to file the Application for Graduation by the due date published in the Academic Calendar and to pay the appropriate graduation fees.

Commencement

Upon successful completion of course work, practicum/internship, and of the final assessments, including the portfolio, general examination, and successful oral defense of the dissertation research, the student is expected to attend commencement exercises.

Course Prerequisites

Completion of core Master’s degree Counseling courses is required of all Ph.D. students. Core Master’s degree Counseling courses that have not been completed prior to beginning the Ph.D. program may be taken as a part of the Ph.D. program. Each course is 3 credits unless otherwise indicated. The Master’s degree must have included 60 credits, or doctoral students must take additional graduate Counseling courses during their Ph.D. program.

Core Master’s Degree Counseling Courses (60 Credits Minimum)

Required

COU 600	Human Growth & Development	3
COU 602	Social & Cultural Foundation	3
COU 605	Career & Lifestyle Development	3
COU 606	Theories of Counseling	3
COU 607	Theory and Practice of Group Counseling	3
COU 609	Pro Orientation and Ethics in Counseling	3
COU 610	Research Method & Program Eval	3
COU 615	Diagnosis/Treatment of Mental Disorders	3
COU 616	Techniques of Counseling	3
COU 618	Appraisal in Counseling	3
COU 631	Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling	3
	Or
COU 662	Counseling Families	3
COU 699	Practicum in Counseling	3
COU 701	Internship in Counseling I	3
COU 703	Internship in Counseling III	3
COU		18

COU 699: minimum of 100 hours

COU 701 and COU 703: minimum of 300 hours

COU: additional graduate credits in counseling, including 3 or more courses in one of the following specialties: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; or School Counseling

Ph.D. Program Required Courses

Counseling Content Concentration (18 Credits Minimum)

Required

COU 806	Advanced Counseling Theories	3
COU 810	Advanced Diagnosis & Treatment of Mental Disorders	3
COU 820	College Teaching	3
COU 825	Counselor Supervision	3
COU 839	Adv Multicultural Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling	3
COU	Doctoral Elective

Research Core (15 Credits Minimum)

Required

COU 830	Introduction to Program Evaluation & Statistics	3
COU 833	Current Counseling Research	3
COU 834	Intro to Qualitative Research Designs	3
COU 850	Research Seminar in Counseling	3

One of the following Courses (Depending on the Student’s Research Interest)

Required

COU 832	Advanced Statistical Methods in Research	3
	Or
COU 837	Advanced Qualitative Research Design and Analysis	3

Doctoral Counseling Practicum and Internship (9 Credits Minimum)

Required

COU 845	Doctoral Practicum in Counseling	3
COU 846	Doctoral Internship in Counseling I	3
COU 847	Doctoral Internship in Counseling II	3

COU 845: minimum of 100 hours

COU 846 and COU 847: minimum of 300 hours

Dissertation (12 Credits Minimum)

Required

COU	Dissertation	12
COU 851	Dissertation Research I	1
COU 852	Dissertation Research II	3
	Or
COU 853	Dissertation Research III	6

Note: Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of Dissertation Research. Students must be enrolled in at least one (1) hour of dissertation research each semester until the dissertation is successfully defended.

Total Credit Hours: 114