Ed.D. in Counseling

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Degree is a 60 semester hour program. The Ed.D. Degree is offered on Campus. All doctoral level students must complete a 600 hour counseling internship in an appropriate clinical setting, in addition to a dissertation.

Admission Requirements

The applicant must submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score (combined verbal and quantitative) that will be used in conjunction with the applicant’s socioeconomic profile and the Masters grade point average to determine admission. The GRE score must not be more than five (5) years old.

The policies governing admission to the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program are as follows:

• Student must apply for admission to the doctoral program through the Graduate School by completing an application and submitting all required documents (including GRE scores).
• Completed applications are reviewed by the Doctoral Admissions Committee in the major area and the names of applicants recommended for admission are submitted to the Graduate School.
• Upon approval, the Dean of the Graduate School will notify applicants of the Committee’s decision.

Non-negotiable Areas

• Have an earned master’s degree in counseling or a counseling-related field, with a grade point average of at least 3.25 (“B+”) from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Have a minimum of two (2) years of successful professional experience in counseling or counseling-related field, counseling supervision, or other career service, for example, clinical services director, clinical services coordinator, etc.
• Submit recommendations from at least three persons including two (2) college faculty members in the applicant’s most recent academic program and at least one (1) immediate supervisor of the applicant’s professional work.
• Demonstrate acceptable proficiency in the use of the English language based upon performance on a standardized English Proficiency Test. (Performance on the Verbal portion of the GRE may be considered as adequate by the Doctoral Admission Committee.)
• Have a personal interview with the department head and faculty in the area of the planned concentration.
• A score of at least 500 (550) on the paper-based test, 173 (213) on the computer-based test, or 61 (79) on the internet-based test (iIBT) on the TOEFL if the applicant is a foreign student.
• Other criteria specified in H.B. 1641 will be considered.

Requirements for the Doctor of Education degree

Before receiving the degree, each students must:

• Be admitted unconditionally to the Doctor of Education degree program.
• File a Degree Plan with the Graduate school.
• Satisfy residency requirement for two consecutive semesters of full-time, or an approved equivalency.
• In addition to the two years of professional experience required for admission, meet the internship requirements of two consecutive semesters in the degree program.
• Satisfy the 60 semester credit hours (SCH), including 6 hours of internship and 6 hours of dissertation within a seven year period.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English – GRE Analytical Writing Score of 3.5 or above/English 501 course.
• Pass the College of Education Comprehensive Examination.
• Be admitted to candidacy for the doctorate degree.
• Prepare an acceptable abstract, proposal and dissertation.
• Pass a final oral examination. The oral examination will be a defense of the doctoral dissertation and other topics that may be designated by the Dissertation Committee.
• Present three approved copies of the doctoral dissertation in the final form and three copies of the abstract to the Graduate Office.
• Apply for graduation.

Non-Negotiable

A master’s degree in counseling or a counseling-related field from an accredited college or university. Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors rules specifically define “counseling -related field”: §681.2. Definitions (9) Counseling-related field – A mental health discipline utilizing human development, psychotherapeutic, and mental health principles including, but not limited to, psychology, psychiatry, social work, marriage and family therapy, and guidance and counseling. Non-counseling fields include, but are not limited to dance therapy, sociology, education, administration, and theology.