Doctoral Program Mission and Objectives

Doctoral Program Mission

Our CACREP accredited doctoral program in Counselor Education and Counseling is dedicated to advancing the field of counselor education and supervision through rigorous scholarship, innovative andragogy and supervision, and active engagement with leadership and advocacy. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of leaders in counselor education and supervision who will shape the future of the counseling profession via transformative learning experiences, mentorship, and scholarly inquiry.

We believe it is also our mission to:

instill a strong sense of professional identity as counselor educators, supervisors, social justice advocates, and researchers,
help students gain an understanding of the rich history and knowledge base in counselor education,
facilitate expertise in the skills of teaching, supervision, advocacy, and research,
aid students/graduates in their initial job placement as a counselor educator,
teach and perform research applicable to the practice of counselor education, supervision, and counseling,
aid students in developing lifelong cultural humility and its integration into their roles as counselor educators and supervisors.

The Department of Counseling also has a mission within the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences, College of Health, which is to represent the mental health perspective within the Division and to consult with Division faculty and departments, encouraging a holistic perspective for health care services.

Doctoral Programs Objectives

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling is designed to prepare graduates for work

in counselor education programs. The major emphasis of this program is to prepare graduates

for a career in university teaching, supervision, and research in counseling programs.

Counselor education and counseling students at Idaho State University will be:

Prepared to teach courses in counseling skills and counseling theories.
Prepared to supervise counselors and counseling students via individual/triadic and group supervision across all counseling specialties (i.e., CMHC, CRC, MCFC, SA, and SC).

Prepared to teach selected courses in one or more of the CACREP counseling specialty areas.
Prepared to teach selected courses within 3 of the CACREP core areas.
Prepared to evaluate counselor education programs and counseling sites.
Knowledgeable of professional issues in the field of counselor education and the profession of counseling.

Knowledgeable of ethical issues and practices in the field of counselor education and the profession of counseling.

Experienced in developing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research.
Experienced in writing for professional publications.
Experienced in the advisement and mentorship of master’s level counseling students.
Knowledgeable and skilled in providing advanced clinical counseling skills.
Knowledgeable and integration of sociological manifestations of cultural diversity, intersectionality, and positionality and the roles and duties of a counselor educator.

Application Process

Application Deadline: December 1

In order to be admitted, applicants are required to complete the on-campus interview process with the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee. Generally, preference for interviews is given to prospective students who meet all of the requirements.

Admission to the Department of Counseling doctoral program is competitive; satisfactory completion of the entry level Graduate School requirements does not guarantee acceptance. The program only accepts 6 applicants per year, 3 in Pocatello and 3 in Meridian.

To apply to the program, go to Graduate School and click on Graduate Application. The application materials for the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling program must be submitted by December 1 to be considered for admission for the following academic year.

Complete the ISU Graduate School online application.
Attach Professional resumeʹ.
Attach a one-page statement of post-doctoral career objectives.
Have three (3) letters of recommendation submitted.
- In addition to speaking to the applicant’s general potential for success as a doctoral student in the ISU Counselor Education & Counseling program, please include at least 1 letter that includes the recommender’s thorough assessment of the applicant’s clinical counseling skills and experience, including those appropriate to crisis response and suicide assessment/prevention.
- In addition to speaking to the applicant’s general potential for success as a doctoral student in the ISU Counselor Education & Counseling program, please include a thorough assessment of the applicant’s clinical counseling skills and experience, including those appropriate to crisis response and suicide assessment/prevention (if applicable).
Complete an on-campus interview with the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee.

Application Schedule

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Counselor Education and Counseling applications will be accepted through December 1. A secondary admissions process may be conducted if the program has not filled all seats with high quality applicants. Please contact the Department of Counseling for more information.

August 15- December 1	Apply to Graduate School and Department of Counseling.
December 1-22	Applications reviewed by Department of Counseling Admission Committee.
Approximately January 1	Candidates selected for on-campus interview notified.
First or Second week of January	On campus interview day for all prospective doctoral students.
Approximately February 1	Applicants informed of admission decisions
Approximately March 15	Secondary admissions group if needed.
Approximately May 1	Notify alternates of admission (if applicable)
June/July	New Graduate Student Surveys Sent/Returned. Advisory Assignment Letter Sent Registration for Fall Semester Classes

Program Costs

(Subject to Change without Notice)

Application Fees:

ISU Graduate School - $65

ISU Department of Counseling - $30

Tuition and Course Fees

Program Fees:

Liability Insurance - $15/year

Program/Professional Fee - $807/semester

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Counselor Education and Counseling applications will be accepted through December 15. A secondary admissions process may be conducted if the program has not filled all seats with high quality applicants. Please contact the Department of Counseling for more information.

Requirements for Admission

General Requirements of the Graduate School:

Applicant must have a bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited in the United States or its equivalent from a school in another country. (Must complete the degree before the onset of classes in the fall semester in the year of acceptance.)
Admission into the counseling program is competitive. A present number of students will be admitted according to faculty resources. All applicants admitted into the counseling program will require a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.

NOTE: The method of calculating an Admission GPA is based on the last 60± semester graduate credits (90±quarter credits), using complete semesters (quarters). In the case of those students who have not completed the master’s degree, the grade point average will be calculated on the last 60 credits at the time of application. If the applicant does not meet both GPA and percentile requirements but meets one of the parameters, they can be admitted with performance requirements.

Department of Counseling Selection Criteria for Doctoral Study:

1. In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, persons applying for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Counselor Education and Counseling must meet the following criteria for selection. Applicants must have:

i. A master’s degree from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program and be licensed as a counselor in Idaho or a state with comparable requirements.

ii. A master’s degree in counseling and be a Nationally Certified Counselor and apply for an Idaho Counseling License upon admission to the doctoral program

ii. A master’s degree in counseling, one year of full-time post-master’s degree counseling experience, graduate course work curriculum requirements in all of the CACREP common core areas, and be a Nationally Certified Counselor or Idaho Licensed Counselor.

2. Doctoral students who have earned their master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program will be assumed to have entry level knowledge in core and major course areas. Those not graduating from a CACREP accredited program will have their transcripts evaluated by the Department Chair to determine knowledge base deficiencies.

Complete the ISU Graduate School online application.
Attach professional résumé.
Attach a one-page statement of post-doctoral career objectives.
Have three (3) letters of recommendation submitted.
Complete an on-campus interview with the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee.

3. Selected applicants will be interviewed by the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee as part of the admissions procedure. The Admissions Committee will make the final decision regarding admission. This decision will be based on grade point and test score rankings as well as the Committee’s impression of the applicant’s interpersonal style and compatibility of personality with the program’s training philosophy.

4. Only applicants who have submitted all materials on or before the application deadline will have their material reviewed by the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee to determine status as a competitive, qualified applicant.

Doctoral Program Description

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling is designed to prepare graduates for work in counselor education programs and doctoral level counselors for work in university counseling centers and other counseling sites. The major emphasis of this program is to prepare graduates for a career in university teaching, supervision, and research in counseling programs.

Counselor education and counseling students at Idaho State University will be:

Prepared to teach courses in counseling skills and counseling theories.
Prepared to supervise counselors and counseling students who are providing individual/triadic, and group supervision across all counseling specialties (i.e., Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling; Student Affairs Counseling; and School Counseling), and/or marriage, couple and family counseling.
Prepared to teach selected courses in one or more of the CACREP major areas.
Prepared to teach selected courses in the general CACREP common core.
Prepared to evaluate counselor education programs and counseling sites.
Knowledgeable of professional issues in the field of counselor education and profession of counseling.
Knowledgeable of ethical issues and practices in the field of counselor education and profession of counseling.
Experienced in developing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research.
Experienced in writing for professional publication.
Experienced in the advisement and mentoring of master's level counseling students.
Knowledgeable and skilled in providing advanced clinical counseling skills.
Knowledgeable of the sociological manifestations of cultural diversity

Goals, Objectives and Outcomes

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest university award given in recognition of completion of academic preparation for professional practice in counseling. Candidates are provided primarily with courses and practicum experiences which will be instrumental in assisting them to function more effectively as professional counselor supervisors, researchers, practitioners.

The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling is designed to prepare counselor educators for work in counselor education programs and doctoral level counselors for work in university counseling centers and other counseling sites. The major emphasis of this program is to prepare graduates for a career in university teaching, supervision, and research in counseling programs.

Counselor education and counseling students at Idaho State University will be:

Prepared to teach courses in counseling skills and counseling theories.
Prepared to supervise counselors and counseling students who are providing individual/triadic, group, and/or marital, couple and family counseling.
Prepared to teach selected courses in one or more of the CACREP major areas.
Prepared to teach selected courses in the general CACREP common core.
Prepared to evaluate counselor education programs and counseling sites.
Knowledgeable of professional issues in the field of counselor education and counseling profession.
Knowledgeable of ethical issues and practices in the field of counselor education and counseling profession.
Experienced in developing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research.
Experienced in writing for professional publication.
Experienced in the advisement and mentoring of Master of Counseling students.
Knowledgeable and skilled in providing advanced clinical counseling skills.
Knowledgeable of the sociological manifestations of cultural diversity.