Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision
May. 20, 2024

There is a shortage of those trained as counselor educators, a vital component of growing the mental health workforce in professional counseling. The need is clear.

  • Multiple reports consistently rank Nevada 51st for youth mental health access. 
  • Before the pandemic, only 40 percent of Nevada’s youth in need of mental health services received the help they needed. 
  • According to the Office of Suicide Prevention, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth 8-17 years of age in 2020.
  • With just over 1,000 school counselors in Nevada, the American School Counselor Association estimates a student-to-counselor ratio of 449:1 (their recommendation is 250:1).

About the program


Housed within the Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, the Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) Ph.D. program prepares graduates to work as counselor educators, supervisors, researchers, and practitioners in academic and clinical settings. Students will gain knowledge in professional roles in five doctoral core areas:

  • Counseling
  • Supervision
  • Teaching
  • Research and scholarship
  • Leadership and advocacy

Increasing multicultural and social justice competency is an embedded goal within student learning outcomes across all core areas. 

Upon completion of the CES program, graduates will be able to:

  • Apply advanced knowledge regarding counseling theories and culturally-informed and social justice practices to their professional work as well as that with counselors-in-training and supervisees
  • Serve as effective clinical supervisors across mental health, school, college, and other settings
  • Utilize skills and knowledge to become effective counselor educators in higher education settings
  • Demonstrate research competencies relevant to advancing the counselor education and supervision field
  • Practice the scholar-practitioner-advocate model by advancing counseling practice, professional leadership, and advocacy

Career Possibilities

Graduates of this doctoral program will be prepared to work as counselor educators, supervisors, researchers, and practitioners in academic and clinical settings. 

Program Structure

Students can enroll as part-time or full-time students. Full-time students may complete the program in three years, and part-time students will have a five-year program option. Only full-time students are eligible for funding. 

Admissions Requirements

Admission to this program will be limited to the most qualified applicants based on a combination of the following: 

  • A master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited master’s program.
    • If you are applying from a non-accredited program, a review of course syllabi will be required and additional coursework may be required if CACREP accreditation content standards are not met. 
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher from previous graduate-level coursework.
  • A two-to-three-page personal statement that articulates (a) reasons for pursuing the CES Ph.D. degree program, (b) specific areas of research interest, and (c) professional goals upon completion of the program.
  • Three letters of reference from university faculty or other individuals qualified to judge the applicant's academic potential and professionalism.
  • A scholarly or professional writing sample (any length).
  • A current CV or resume.
  • Scores from the verbal, quantitative, and analytical section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within five years of application for the program

Financial Support

The program is prepared to offer seven graduate assistantships to admitted students. Graduate assistantships are 20 hours per week and include up to nine credits of in-state tuition per semester (and an out-of-state tuition waiver for the duration of the assistantship) and a $21,500 yearly stipend. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Assistant Handbook. 

Learn More

Check out the 30-minute video of our recent information session and add your information to our contact form. The department’s graduate coordinator, Heather Dahl-Jacinto, will be in touch to share the latest information and application instructions.