Doctoral Program in Counselor Education (Ph.D.)
Welcome to Seattle Pacific University’s doctoral program in counselor education. Offered through SPU’s School of Education’s Department of School Counseling, the program is a rigorous 90+-credit, post-master’s degree. A 135+-credit, post-bachelor’s degree option is also available.
Course Requirements
The doctoral degree in counselor education program is a rigorous, 90+-credit, post-master’s degree. A 135+-credit, post-bachelor’s degree option is also available.
Doctoral students are required to
- Pass three comprehensive exams: research, foundations, and specialization.
- Produce a professional counseling theory paper.
- Demonstrate supervision competency.
- Show instructional competency.
- Complete a dissertation and receive passing marks.
- Pass the oral defense of the dissertation.
As an overview, the following information lists the courses required for this doctoral degree.
Foundations and Instructional Leadership (18 credits)
- EDU 6120 (3) American Education: Past and Present*
- EDU 7910 (3) Seminar in Educational Values
- EDU 7101 (3) Instructional Theory
- EDU 7102 (3) Curriculum Design
- EDU 7990 (3) Colloquium
- EDU 7106 (3) Trends and Research in Global Education
*Not required for students with an equivalent graduate-level course
Research and Dissertation (36 credits)
- EDU 7107 (3) Program Evaluation
- EDU 7972 (3) Doctoral Research Design and Analysis I
- EDU 7973 (3) Doctoral Research Design and Analysis II
- EDU 7974 (3) Doctoral Research Design and Analysis III
- EDU 7970 (3) Advanced Quantitative Research
- EDU 7991 (1) Dissertation Orientation
- EDU 7995 (20) Dissertation
Specialization and Electives (36 credits minimum)
- EDU 7110 (3) Advances in Educational Assessment
- EDU 7115 (3) Advances in Educational Psychology
- EDU 7930 (3) University Teaching Practicum Seminar
- EDCO 6882 (3) Positive Psych/Spirituality in Schools
- EDCO 7910 (3) School Counseling Supervision Seminar I
- EDCO 7911(3) School Counseling Supervision Seminar II
- Elective credits (min.18)
Optional
- M.Ed. in school counseling (72 credits)
- ESA certification in school counseling (51 credits)
Prerequisite Coursework
Three classes that are prerequisites or equivalents to certain requirements for the doctoral degree are as follows:
- EDU 6975 Interpreting and Applying Education Research I
- EDU 6976 Interpreting and Applying Education Research II
- EDU 6655 Human Development and Principles of Learning
For non-education majors, three additional courses may be required:
- EDU 6524 Approaches to Curriculum Design
- EDU 6526 Survey of Instructional Strategies
- EDU 6613 Standards-Based Assessment
Suggested Course Sequence: A Three+-Year Plan
For those students with a counseling master’s degree, the following information maps out a sample three-year course sequence, with an additional fourth year if necessary. Each student’s course plan will be individualized to meet his/her needs.
Year One |
| Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
EDU 7101 Instructional Theory (3 credits)
EDU 6120 American Education: Past and Present (3 credits) |
EDU 7102 Curriculum Design (3 credits)
EDU 7115 Advances in Educational Psychology (3 credits)
Elective |
EDU 7972 Design and Analysis I (3 credits)
EDCO 6882 Spirituality and Education
(3 credits)
Elective |
EDU 7973 Design and Analysis II (3 credits)
EDU 7110 Advances in Educational Assessment (3 credits)
Elective |
Year Two |
| Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
EDU 7974 Design and Analysis III (3 credits)
EDU 7990 Colloquium (3 credits)
EDU 7106 Trends and Research in Global Education (3 credits) |
EDU 7970 Advanced Quantitative Research (existing course EDU 6950) (3 credits)
EDU 7930 University Teaching Practicum Seminar (3 credits)
Elective |
EDU 7991 Dissertation Orientation (1 credit)
EDU 7107 Program Evaluation (3 credits)
(3 credits)
Elective |
EDCO 7910 School Counseling Supervision Seminar I (3 credits)
Elective |
Year Three |
| Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
EDU 7910 Seminar in Educational Values
(3 credits)
Elective
*Take written comprehensive exams |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(1-20 credits)
EDCO 7911 School Counseling Supervision Seminar II (3 credits) |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(1-20 credits) |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(1-20 credits) |
Year Four (if necessary) |
| Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
| EDU 7995 Dissertation
(credits1-20) |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(credits1-20) |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(credits1-20) |
EDU 7995 Dissertation
(credits1-20) |
