Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D.

Become a Leader in the Counseling Field

Counseling educators and supervisors shape the field by leading and mentoring current and future counselors. Governors State’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) prepares experienced counselors for opportunities in the fields of higher education and advanced clinical practice in professional counseling and supervision. A foundation in education and counseling theory, and supervision models, combined with advanced clinical work, teaching, supervising, research and scholarship, and leadership and advocacy opportunities will equip you to lead, represent, and empower counselors and who they serve in the field.

In this program, you will be part of a cohort that receives opportunities for personalized student-faculty collaboration and research. Our Ph.D. in CES is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Our curriculum is structured around CACREP’s standards for doctoral programs. Graduates of the CES program provide leadership in counselor education programs and have the opportunity to shape practitioners of tomorrow.

To read more about our program, here is a link to the Ph.D. in CES Handbook(2024).

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Reach Your Career Goals

A Ph.D. degree prepares experienced counselors to become influential instructors, supervisors, researchers, and leaders by increasing expertise in the areas of teaching, supervision, research, advocacy, theory, and professional identity, among others. Specialization in your area of interest and goals post-degree, and the development of a scholarship agenda, creates opportunities to have a meaningful impact on the counseling profession and practice.

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Why get a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision?

With an advanced graduate degree in counseling, you will be qualified to teach at the college level or supervise counselors in a clinical setting. Your impact on individuals, families, and communities will be even greater as you develop innovative leadership skills. Learn first-hand from the counseling program faculty members—practitioner-scholars whose expertise spans diversity, family, military, school, children, and adolescents, play therapy, trauma and crisis, research and assessment, and international counseling.

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Mission

Graduates with a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at GovState will be prepared to be highly knowledgeable, skilled, dedicated, and ethical professionals, researchers, educators, leaders in the field, and practitioners. Our doctoral graduates will provide leadership and expert service that enhances diverse student development in the school, family, community, and cultural contexts that advance the accountability of counseling services.

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Vision

The counseling program maintains an etic and emic perspective committed to serving the diverse local and global populations between community agencies and other service providers, and schools.

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Goal and Objectives

The Goal of the Counseling Program is to prepare professionals with personal and professional integrity. This endeavor includes, at a minimum, institutional and departmental support, a programmatic structure meeting credentialing requirements, qualified faculty, and dedicated students. In order to help prepare students to enter the field of counselor education and supervision, they will be provided with curricular, experiential, supervisory, and professional experiences related to general clinical, teaching, supervising, research, and leadership practices.

These preparations include coursework, practicum, internship, supervision, and opportunities for professional experiences. Students are provided and expected to work closely with their faculty advisor. Faculty advisors are designated prior to students’ first program semester. Students are encouraged and provided various opportunities to work with program and other university faculty on conference and workshop presentations, and in research. Faculty and students are expected to participate in local, state, and national professional activities and associations such as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and its regional affiliates, American Counseling Association (ACA) and its divisions and branches, the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), the Illinois Counseling Association (ICA), and the Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) honor society for qualifying students.

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program strives to meet the following objectives for the program and graduates related to five foci areas (Counseling, Supervision, Teaching, Research and Scholarship, and Leadership and Advocacy):

• • Counseling:


• o Implement advanced ethical, theory-based, and culturally relevant practices into clinical counseling.


• • Supervision:


• o Construct and apply a scholarly supervision model in an ethical and culturally relevant manner.


• • Teaching:


• o Articulate and implement scholarly-based pedagogical and/or andragogical teaching practice with a diverse student populations in counselor education.


• • Research and Scholarship:


• o Develop professional research projects and activities relevant to professional practice of counseling, counselor education, and/or supervision modalities.


• • Leadership and Advocacy:


• o Advocate for multicultural and social justice issues on behalf of the profession.

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Delivery Format

Earn your Ph.D. in as little as eight semesters. Governors State’s 48 credit hour Counseling Education and Supervision doctoral program is offered during evening classes to accommodate working professionals.

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Graduate Assistantships Opportunities

Limited Graduate Assistantships are available within the Counseling Department. These constitute a waiver of up to six credits per semester plus a semester stipend evaluated on a semester-by-semester basis. For more information on Counseling Department Graduate Assistantships, contact the PhD in CES program coordinator: Kent B. Provost, Ph.D. (kprovost@govst.edu) or Leonis S. Wright, Ph.D. (lwright11@govst.edu). For general information on Graduate Assistantships, or to explore current Graduate Assistantship openings for all departments at Governors State University, please visit the Student Employment Resources webpage and the Jobs for Jaguars database system.

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Accreditation

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 31, 2031. Please visit CACREP’s website for more details.

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Program Contacts

For Admissions and Academic Advising Information:

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Testimonials

Rossana Sierra-Swiech, PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Alumnus

"It has been a blessing and a privilege to be a student in the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program at Governor State University. The program has provided a unique academic structure that has challenged me to grow educationally, professionally, and personally. The professors are caring and genuinely interested in the students' growth as they promote open communication and critical thinking in the classroom. Furthermore, the program has provided opportunities for professional service, leadership experience, and conference presentations. I am thankful for the counselor education program because it has helped me to solidify my professional identity and development."

Jacob Santhouse, PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Alumnus

"My time at Governors State University has been incredibly formative. During my time in the program, I developed strong relationships with fellow students and faculty members. I think one of the greatest strengths of the counseling program is the faculty. They were personally invested in me and my growth as a counselor, an educator, and a person. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from and alongside individuals that I respect and that has given me an excellent foundation for my future."

Leslie Contos, PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Alumnus

"As a CES student, I am part of a cohesive cohort of smart and caring students who are my second family. My cohort attends classes on Tuesday evenings, allowing us to balance work and school at the same time. Professors in the program are caring and actively engaged and not only teach but model excellence in counselor education, qualities which are reflected in GSU’s CACREP accreditation When I hear a master’s level student talking about possible doctoral programs, I enthusiastically share how much I love this program, the faculty, and students. I witness doors opening as I watch alumni of the program find positions teaching at area universities. I expect the connections I make in this program will last a lifetime, and I am honored to be a part of the story of GSU."

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