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Earning a PhD requires a considerable investment of resources and an enduring commitment to complete the program. Before applying to a doctoral program, conduct research to make informed decisions. The following frequently asked questions and answers provide a starting point for your research.
In order to be admitted for the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program at GCU, you must follow GCU’s requirements for graduate and doctoral admission. This includes having earned a master’s degree from an institutionally accredited school with an approved GPA.
In addition, you must either possess a current unencumbered, unrestricted license as an independently licensed, associate-level licensed mental health professional, a current certification in a Mental Health Specialty, or a master’s degree in a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) approved (or its equivalent) program. You must have also graduated from an approved accredited institution or program. Read through our University Policy Handbook for more details.
Earning a doctoral degree is a significant investment in time and resources, but it can be well worth the effort. A PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision gives you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the counseling field, which can help you position yourself to potentially serve as a leader within your organization and a more effective advocate for your clients. It can also open the door to advanced career opportunities. Plus, a terminal degree may enhance your own professional brand. Reflect upon your professional goals before deciding if a PhD is worth it for you.
A counselor educator is a professional counselor who teaches aspiring counselors in postsecondary institutions. As a counselor educator, you might choose to teach undergraduate counseling classes. Alternatively, you might focus your work on teaching graduate-level courses to current or aspiring counselors who wish to deepen their knowledge.
A counselor’s salary will depend on many factors, including their employer, geographical location, years of experience and credentials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay in May 2022 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors was $49,710.1 Although licensing requirements vary by state, these professionals are generally required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and often a master’s degree to obtain licensure.2 To become a postsecondary educator, such as a counselor educator, it’s generally necessary to earn a PhD.3 The BLS doesn’t offer salary data for counselor educators specifically, but the median annual pay for all types of postsecondary teachers in May 2022 was $80,840, according to the BLS.4
Licensure requirements vary from one state to the next. You should research the licensure requirements for the state in which you plan to work before choosing a degree program. In general, however, substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Counselors who wish to work in private practice generally need a master’s degree and supervised clinical experience in order to obtain state licensure. It generally isn’t necessary for a counselor in private practice to obtain a PhD for the sake of obtaining a state license.2 However, if you would like to become a counselor educator in a postsecondary institution, you will generally need a PhD, depending on the institution.3
GCU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is offered online, which gives you the flexibility and convenience to work and complete your doctoral degree at the same time. In addition to our interactive digital learning platform, you can benefit from GCU’s other online resources, such as the Doctoral Community (DC) Network,TM which facilitates scholarly connections and collaboration.
In addition to your online coursework, you will attend in-person residencies where you will have access to doctoral faculty and peer feedback for your proposed dissertation research. GCU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision online program is designed to be interactive with your peers and your program leadership through open, collaborative forums.
On the path to supporting other counselors, you may examine how to improve your own practice and impact the health outcomes of your clients. Through coursework and research, residency, internship and program requirements, you may have the opportunity to demonstrate your professional growth. The combination of theoretical and hands-on work may help you prepare yourself for potential transition into the next stages of your career.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences has outlined the six domains that highlight the goals of the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision coursework.
Counseling
Examine and integrate ethical and culturally relevant theories of counseling
Supervision
Develop a legal, ethical and personally relevant style of clinical supervision
Teaching
Design, deliver and evaluate counselor education experiences
Scholarship and Research
Conduct independent research
Leadership and Advocacy
Lead and advocate based on prevailing social, cultural and political conditions and trends within counseling
Special Topics
Evaluate the integration of evidence-based treatments relevant to family systems and group dynamics and processes
When you earn your doctorate at GCU, you will begin to work toward your dissertation throughout your program by working with a mentor, completing coursework, and completing residencies focused on the development of your original dissertation research.
You will complete a required dissertation that will conclude this program. You will begin to develop elements of your dissertation from the start of the program by expanding your idea for your original research project and concluding with conducting the research and analyzing your findings in dissertation courses with the guidance of your dissertation committee. Along the way, you’ll take courses in research and counselor education and supervision that prepare you for your dissertation defense by teaching analytical and communication skills. In addition, you must complete two in-person residencies and required internships to meet all graduation requirements.
If you are ready to prepare for teaching and supervising the next generation of counselors, fill out the form on this page to learn more about the counselor education and supervision degree program at GCU.
As a graduate of the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program, you may oversee clinical counselors and provide instruction and leadership when necessary.
No degree program can guarantee any specific career outcome. However, after earning your PhD, you may choose to stay in your current practice and apply the research and learning to improve the lives of your clients.
You may also choose to pursue a new career, such as:
Advanced clinician or mental health counselor
Faculty member or counselor educator
Counselor supervisor
Leadership positions in educational settings
Leadership positions in counseling settings
Before choosing a doctoral program, it’s important to ensure that the university is accredited, which is a reflection of the quality of the school and academic offerings. GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1968 and proudly offers academic programs informed by industry and student learning outcomes.
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-July2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in July 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors as of September 2023, retrieved on Sept. 29, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, October 24). How To Become a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, or Mental Health Counselor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, September 6). How To Become a Postsecondary Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Postsecondary Teachers as of September 2023, retrieved on September 29, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Postsecondary Teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision program at Grand Canyon University offers you the theoretical and practical background knowledge necessary to teach counseling students and supervise clinical counselors. Before earning a doctorate in counselor education and supervision, you must conduct original research to develop and test new ideas and theories. This research can potentially position you to become a practitioner who is capable of supporting counseling students and clinical counselors.
Online: $750 per credit [More Info]
Up to 9 doctoral credits
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Doctoral)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA less than 3.4 may be accepted with specifications.
** Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA between 3.0 - 3.39 may be accepted with specifications. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will not be accepted.
Doctoral students pursuing GCU’s PhD with a qualitative focus will conduct research that focuses on describing how and why people think, believe and behave a certain way. Students pursuing GCU’s PhD with a quantitative focus will analyze original concepts by interpreting numeric data. To complete the data analysis for a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, you will create a sampling plan, design various research tools, collect data and analyze the data using a systematic approach. Your results and analysis will then be presented in a written dissertation.
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
