Counseling and Supervision (Ph.D.)
The CACREP-accredited Ph.D. in Counseling and Supervision prepares counseling practitioners and emerging scholars for advanced roles as counselor educators, clinical supervisors, researchers, clinicians, and leaders in counseling and higher education. Grounded in a scholar–practitioner model, the program welcomes graduates of counseling and related master’s programs who seek to deepen their professional expertise while contributing to the advancement of the counseling profession through research, teaching, supervision, and leadership.
This student-centered doctoral program emphasizes the development of advanced competencies in research and scholarly inquiry, counselor education and pedagogy, clinical supervision, advanced counseling practice, and professional leadership and advocacy. Through rigorous coursework, mentored research with faculty, and experiential learning opportunities, students engage in critical inquiry and develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills essential for scholarly and professional leadership. Training is grounded in contextually and culturally informed frameworks that prepare graduates to address complex mental health and developmental needs across diverse communities and across the lifespan. Throughout the program, students learn to bridge theory and practice by integrating research, counseling practice, supervision, and teaching to generate and apply knowledge that advances the counseling profession.
Courses are offered in the evenings in a hybrid format to support students who may be balancing doctoral study with professional responsibilities. Full-time students typically complete the program in approximately four to five years, while part-time students may require additional time depending on their individual academic plans. In addition to completing required coursework, students must successfully pass the comprehensive examination before advancing to the dissertation phase of the program. In accordance with university policy, all degree requirements, including the dissertation, must be completed within the established institutional time limit for doctoral study.
Program Accreditation:
The Ph.D. degree doctoral program offered at the Union New Jersey campus is CACREP-accredited with an expiration date of March 31. 2030.
Admissions Requirements:
- Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college or university, preferably CACREP accredited
- A minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in the master’s program is strongly recommended
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are optional
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Copy of counseling license or plan to obtain licensure during the doctoral program.
- Three letters of recommendation (please see below for further guidelines) *
- Comprehensive current professional résumé/CV
- Personal statement (please see below for further guidelines) **Official TOEFL or IELTS score reports for applicants whose native language is not English or whose degree was earned in a non-English-speaking country. Applicants must meet the university’s English proficiency requirements. Because doctoral-level counselor education and supervision training requires advanced academic, interpersonal, and professional communication skills, applicants may also be evaluated on their overall communication readiness for doctoral study, teaching, supervision, research, and clinical practice. Recommended English proficiency scores include TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.5, or TOEFL revised scale score 5.5.
*Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from current or former faculty members, supervisors, or professional colleagues who can speak to the applicant’s academic performance, research aptitude, and potential for success in
doctoral-level study. Letters should also address the applicant’s clinical experiences, professional dispositions and suitability for advanced counseling practice, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and capacity to grow as a counselor educator and scholar.
**Personal Statement: A 3–5 page, single-spaced statement (written in the first person) that describes your educational background and your personal and professional development within the counseling profession or closely related fields, including clinical practice, supervision, college student affairs, or other counseling-related roles. The statement should articulate your emerging professional identity as a counselor educator and scholar, your research interests and areas of inquiry, and your clinical and supervisory experiences. Applicants should also discuss any prior research experience, scholarly activities, methodological training, publications, presentations, or other indicators of research preparedness and potential for contributing to the field. In addition, applicants should address their commitment to multicultural competence, social justice, ethical practice, and interpersonal effectiveness. Finally, the statement should clearly explain your reasons for applying to the doctoral program at Kean University, including alignment with faculty expertise and program mission, as well as your long-term professional and scholarly goals.
Preferred Applicants Qualification/Criteria:
Evidence of post-master's professional experience in counseling or closely-related field.
Evidence of strong oral and written communication skills appropriate for doctoral-level scholarship, teaching, and professional presentation.
Demonstrated potential for leadership within the counseling profession, including a commitment to social justice, advocacy, and service to diverse populations.
Prior involvement in research activities (e.g., research assistantship, data collection or analysis, conference presentations, or publications) demonstrating readiness for scholarly engagement.
Professional licensure or progress toward licensure is viewed positively.
Clear alignment with the program’s mission and faculty expertise, as reflected in the overall strength and coherence of the application materials.
Recent published scholarly or professional writing sample.
Cougars Climb Higher
At Kean learning and professional growth extend far beyond the walls of our classrooms. We encourage you to take advantage of a variety of research opportunities, internships, conferences and more to help advance your career and set the stage for continued success.
Community Counseling and Wellness Center
The Community Counseling and Wellness Center on Kean's main campus features state-of-the-art equipment. Doctoral students work closely with their faculty supervisors to provide individual and group counseling as well as Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy and Filial Therapy for children and families.
Counseling Honor Society
Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society that values academic and professional excellence in counseling and promotes a strong professional identity through members (professional counselors, counselor educators, and students) who contribute to the realization of a healthy society by fostering wellness and human dignity.
Conferences, Symposiums & Events
Imagine: A Center for Loss and Grief, the New Jersey School Counselor Association, Voices of September 11 conference (shown in photo), as well as the American Counseling Association and the NJ Counseling Association conferences, are examples of how our faculty contributes to the community.
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