Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D.

If you're looking for a faculty position in a CACREP-accredited Counseling program, this Ph.D. program provides exceptional training for academic careers. This program features world-class facilities and nationally renowned researchers. Graduates of our Ph.D. program have earned tenure-track faculty appointments at major universities across the country.

Our Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision excels at shaping faculty careers because:

1. We have a national reputation. Our Counseling Division is the largest in Tennessee in terms of student enrollment. We also offer more master's level concentrations than any program in the state. Our student body is the most diverse in Tennessee. You will benefit from our size and variety. A degree from our program makes a strong impression in faculty search committees.
2. We do cutting-edge research. Our faculty are engaged in multiple funded studies. Our faculty have a variety of foundation, state, and federal grants. You will have access to the UofM's research infrastructure, and the department's in-house clinic. Our faculty are leading groundbreaking research in many areas including adverse childhood experiences, addiction, risk-taking behaviors, and healthcare access.
3. We excel in both qualitative and quantitative methods. Few Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D. programs can match our training in research methodology and statistics. Our statistics and research courses are taught by faculty in the department's Educational Psychology and Research program which is currently ranked 5th in the nation. You will benefit from the rigor and diverse course offerings of this nationally ranked program. No matter what type of research you want to focus on, we have the facilities and faculty to support you.
4. We will train you to teach. Our program has coursework to train you in teaching, pedagogy, and classroom management. You will have the opportunity to teach courses on your own with close supervision and mentoring from our most seasoned faculty. This experience will help you develop practical skills necessary to lead college-level classrooms effectively. Strong teaching ability will round out your candidacy for faculty appointments, and it helps to explain our graduates' excellent track record in landing tenure-track jobs.
5. We support our students. Our doctoral students receive funding via teaching and research assistantships. Our TAs and RAs receive tuition remission and a monthly stipend. While you are employed as a TA or RA, you will learn life as a faculty member by engaging in the very activities you will do as a professor.

Program Goals and Objectives

The Counselor Education and Supervision program prepares college faculty, scholars, and leaders in the counseling profession. Students will gain: (1) ability to collect, analyze, and interpret individual and group data, and to generate and test hypotheses related to human behavior; (2) advanced comprehension of concepts and theories underlying the profession of counseling; (3) the ability to formulate, implement, and evaluate appropriate counseling programs and interventions; and (4) the ability to understand and demonstrate ethical behavior and the legal and ethical implications of that behavior.

Program Coordinators

Melanie Burgess
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Old Dominion University, 2019
M.Burgess@memphis.edu 

Taneshia Greenidge
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Florida, 2019
tgrnidge@memphis.edu 

Faculty Research

Faculty in the Counseling Division engage in a variety of cutting edge and societally relevant research and our doctoral students will be expected to join in their work. Faculty in the division run multiple research labs covering numerous topics including models of counseling supervision, access to healthcare, adverse childhood experiences, and forensic counseling, among others. Students work with faculty and publish and present their findings as co-authors. The department has a robust history of sending our doctoral students to professional conferences around the world. Learn more about our research here.

Admission Requirements

Entering students must possess a master's degree in counseling (concentration open) from a CACREP or CORE-accredited program. Students with a master's degree in counseling that does not contain all key elements of a CACREP-accredited degree may be considered for admission, but will be required to complete additional coursework.

The program enrolls 5 to 6 students each year. Applications are accepted for the Fall semester only, and applications for the 2024 class are due March 1st. Applicants are expected to enter with a master's degree and typically spend 3 to 4 years in full-time residence to complete the program. Preference is given to applicants seeking full-time enrollment, but those seeking enrollment as part-time students are also considered. For more information about the programs policies and procedures, consult the Counselor Education and Supervision Student Handbook.

Application Procedures

As noted, the application deadline is March 1st. All applicants must submit:

• Transcripts of all colleges attended at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement 
• Writing sample
• Resume

The personal statement should be a concise but a complete report of applicant's counseling training and experiences, research background and interests, and an outline of future career goals. There is no page limit. Qualified applicants will be invited to campus for an interview. Applicants will be asked to identify at least two potential faculty members to serve as their major professor.

Apply Now

Financial Assistance

The department provides qualified full-time students with teaching (TA) and/or research (RA) assistantships. Assistantships are provided on a competitive basis at the departmental level. Additional RAs and TAs are available across campus as well. For additional information, click here for our financial assistance page or contact your concentration coordinator.

Accreditation

The doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). You can access our CACREP Accreditation here.

Important Links

Here is a link to forms and other documents for current students