Counselor Preparation and Research

    Counselor Preparation and Research

    Duration4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 39,466 / Year
    Next IntakeAugust 21, 2023
    Counselor Preparation and Research

    About

    Are you interested in being a teacher, administrator, or clinician for treatment programs in the state and beyond? Do you want the freedom to choose the area of focus that most interests you?

    The Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies of East Carolina University offers a PhD degree program in Counselor Preparation and Research to provide the student with the opportunity to specialize in an area including substance and clinical counseling, vocational evaluation, rehabilitation research, or an area of focus chosen by the candidate and approved by the program director.

    The program is designed to meet two basic needs: doctoral-level faculty for rehabilitation counseling and substance-abuse programs in North Carolina and nationwide, and doctoral-level administrators and clinicians for rehabilitation counseling and substance-abuse treatment programs.

    Financial support is available for doctoral students in the form of graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, graduate stipends, and doctoral student stipends and financial assistance packages. The program curriculum is designed to provide a individualized program of study for each doctoral student.

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    Program Coordinator: Paul Toriello (4425-K Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6297; [email protected])

    The Counselor Preparation and Research, PhD, program serves as a national and international leader in the education of excellent and responsible counselor educators, researchers, supervisors, and administrators. The doctoral program is a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited counselor education and supervision program and is designed to meet the critical need for doctoral prepared leaders in the counseling field across the nation and world. The primary obligations of the doctoral program include  (1) extending the knowledge base of the counseling profession in a climate of scholarly inquiry; (2) preparing students to inform professional practice by generating new knowledge for the profession; (3) supporting faculty and students in publishing and/or presenting the results of scholarly inquiry; and (4) equipping students to assume positions of leadership in the profession and/or their area(s) of specialization.

    Admission

    Admission to study at the doctoral level requires acceptance by the Graduate School and the Department. A comprehensive review of each applicant's qualifications will be made by Department faculty. The following criteria will be considered collectively for admission to the program:

    • Earned master's degree in counseling from a program accredited by the (CACREP)
    • Earned GPA of 3.5 in all graduate work
    • Two (2) years of post-masters related professional experience preferred
    • Professional and personal accomplishments
    • Two (2) professional references
    • Personal interview with the faculty
    • Statement of research interests and plans
      Degree Requirements

      The program offers two areas of concentration. Students select either the rehabilitation and clinical counseling concentration or the rehabilitation administration concentration. 

      The degree requires a minimum of 58-61 s.h. as follows: 

        Rehabilitation and clinical counseling concentration - 61 s.h. (minimum)
        • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
        • BIOS 7022 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
        • 3 s.h. of an advanced statistics course approved by the program director
        • ADRE 7340 - Advanced Clinical Counseling Theories and Techniques
        • ADRE 7601 - Rehabilitation Administration and Leadership
        • ADRE 8050 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselor Education and Supervision
        • ADRE 8210 - Advanced Pedagogy in Rehabilitation Counseling
        • ADRE 8360 - Advanced Practicum
        • ADRE 8380 - Rehabilitation Counseling Supervision
        • ADRE 8420 - Advanced Assessment and Evaluation
        • ADRE 8550 - Advanced Research in Rehabilitation
        • ADRE 8810 - Doctoral Seminar in Rehabilitation Counseling (4 s.h.)
        • ADRE 8991 - Advanced Internship
        • ADRE 8992 - Advanced Internship
        • ADRE 8993 - Advanced Internship
        • ADRE 8994 - Advanced Internship
        • ADRE 9000 - Dissertation ** (12 s.h. minimum)
        • 3 s.h. of an advanced statistics course approved by the program director
        • Specialty areas:

          Students may also elect a specialty area from the list below.

            Rehabilitation research (12 s.h.)

            Choose 12 s.h. from the following: 

            • BIOS 5010 - Epidemiology for Health Professionals
            • BIOS 7501 - Experimental Design
            • BIOS 7560 - Nonparametric Statistical Methods
            • other electives in advanced statistics or research approved by the program director.
            • other electives in advanced statistics or research approved by the program director.
            Substance abuse and clinical counseling (12 s.h.)

            Choose 12 s.h. from below: 

            • ADRE 6330 - Clinical and Addictions Counseling
            • ADRE 6703 - Foundations of Addictions and Clinical Counseling
            • ADRE 8710 - Substance Abuse Seminar
            • an elective approved by the program director.
            • an elective approved by the program director.
            Vocational evaluation (12 s.h.)

            Choose 12 s.h. from the following: 

            • ADRE 7404 - Resource Development in Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration
            • ADRE 8410 - Seminar in Vocational Evaluation Systems Design
            Specialty area to include courses chosen by the candidate and approved by the program coordinator (12 s.h.)
          Rehabilitation administration concentration - 58 s.h. (minimum)
          • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
          • BIOS 7022 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
          • 6 s.h. of advanced statistics or research approved by the program director
          • ADRE 7601 - Rehabilitation Administration and Leadership
          • ADRE 8050 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselor Education and Supervision
          • ADRE 8210 - Advanced Pedagogy in Rehabilitation Counseling
          • ADRE 8420 - Advanced Assessment and Evaluation
          • ADRE 8550 - Advanced Research in Rehabilitation
          • ADRE 8630 - Theory and Design of Rehabilitation Programs
          • ADRE 8810 - Doctoral Seminar in Rehabilitation Counseling (4 s.h.)
          • ADRE 9000 - Dissertation ** (12 s.h. minimum)
          • 6 s.h. of advanced statistics or research approved by the program director
          • Area of focus (12 s.h.)

            An area of focus selected by the candidate and approved by the program director is also required. 

            Note:

            **All students must complete doctoral comprehensive exams specific to their concentration prior to enrolling in ADRE 9000.

            Retention Standards

            Good academic standing in accordance with ECU Graduate School guidelines is required. 

            Students not maintaining the criteria above may be placed on academic probation in accordance with Graduate School policies.

            In addition, the program has the following specific regulations:

            Students receiving a grade of U or C or lower in more than six semester hours of required or elective courses will be dismissed from the program in accordance with departmental policies. 

            In courses graded on the S/U system, the grade of Unsatisfactory (U) is assigned when the equivalency of a C grade or lower is earned. If a student receives a U grade in a course, the student may repeat the course one time. If an S grade is not earned on the 2nd attempt, the student is dismissed from the program.

            • Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all required courses for the degree to graduate.
            • A minimum grade of S or B or better must be earned in all required and elective courses;
            • A grade of U or C or lower must be retaken, with no more than six semester hours of U or C or lower grades being retaken.
              Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

              All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment requirement for this program is the successful completion of a doctoral comprehensive exam specific to the student's concentration prior to enrolling in ADRE 9000. 

                For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

                Requirements

                Entry Requirements

                In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

                • Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
                • Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
                • Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation

                An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

                • Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
                • Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
                  • Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
                • ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
                • Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
                • Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
                • Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
                • Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
                • Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

                English Requirements

                • PTEMin 65
                • IELTSMin 6.5
                • TOEFLMin 78

                Career

                Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

                • Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
                • Health and Human Services
                • Rehabilitation Counselors
                • Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

                Career Opportunities

                ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

                NC Tower

                This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

                • Self-employed;
                • Work for the federal government, including the military: or
                • Work outside of North Carolina.

                US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

                This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

                Degree-specific internships

                For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

                Fee Information

                Application Fee 75

                How to Apply

                Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

                Contact information for each program, along with their application deadlines, can be found on the Find Your Program feature.

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                Counselor Preparation and Research
                East Carolina University
                East Carolina University
                United States of America

                United States of America, Greenville

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