Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education

The Ph.D. program, accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs), prepares students to work as counselor educators, clinical supervisors, and advanced practitioners in academic and clinical settings. The mission of the program is to: extend the knowledge base of the counseling profession in a climate of scholarly inquiry prepare students to generate new knowledge for the profession through research that results in scholarly publications prepare graduates to be leaders and advocates for change An emphasis is placed on faculty involvement in areas including: teaching, research, and professional service leadership in national counseling associations and organizations leadership as journal editors or associate editors.

Students admitted to the doctoral program must have completed master's level studies that are comparable to CACREP entry-level standards and provide evidence of a knowledge base of a professional counselor. As part of the doctoral program, students can focus on a specialty area of interest including school counseling, mental health counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. Current full-time students generally receive financial assistance in the form of fellowships or graduate assistantships.
Transcripts
As part of the online application process, applicants are required to electronically upload copies of transcripts (or equivalent documents for institutions outside the U.S., e.g., degree/study certificates, diplomas, etc.) from all post-secondary institutions attended, in the language of instruction (and copies of an official English translation if English is not the language of instruction). Applicants recommended for admission who accept an offer through the online graduate admission system will be notified by the Graduate School that official/original transcripts/documents must be sent from the originating institutions in the official language of the institution(s) attended (and if the language of instruction is not English, an official English translation must also be sent).
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Career Goals Statement
This essay should be no more than one page in length, single-spaced. Describe your professional goals upon completion of a doctorate in Counselor Education. How do you see your professional interests matching with those of the Counselor Education faculty at PSU?

Autobiographical Statement
This essay should be no more than two pages in length, single-spaced. This essay provides you with an opportunity to supplement the other information available to the admissions committee relative to your objectives in pursuing doctoral work. The statement should cover:
GRE Test Results
GRE Test Results (PSU Institution Code: 2660, Department Code: 3802). The applicant should request GRE scores
Three letters of recommendation
Three letters of recommendation concerning the applicant's academic and professional abilities and potential are required. These letters should address the applicant's ability to meet graduate-level academic challenges and to work in the counseling profession.
International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisaaional admission, enrollment, and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Revised TOEFL PBT July 2017 and later 60