GRADUATE Programs HYBRID PORTLAND
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling
The Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling (Ph.D.-Coun) program prepares students to work as advanced practitioners, counselor educators, and supervisors in clinical and academic settings. The Ph.D. is a hybrid, part-time program, with face-to-face classes occurring twice a quarter in Portland.
Become a leader in the field of counseling.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling prepares graduates to be leaders and advocates for change in the professional counseling field. This CACREP-accredited program emphasizes student contributions to counselor education through research while understanding and addressing the needs of today's communities.
Learn in a flexible, hybrid cohort
The Ph.D.-Coun is a part-time, hybrid program. Students can work full-time during the program to continue to provide counseling services to the communities in which they live and work. Face-to-face classes occur twice each quarter on a Friday through Saturday in the OSU Portland Center.
With approximately 12 students are admitted each year into a cohort, students meet regularly in-person and develop significant peer relationships.
Work with our expert faculty
Students participate in meaningful faculty-student mentoring relationships and learn from nationally recognized scholars and leaders in the professional counseling field. This program has a strong focus on antiracism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, and we are committed to engage in anti-racism work to better serve the needs of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in our community.
OSU Counseling was honored to receive the 2022 Counseling Program award from the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities. The award is presented to a program that has demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of LGBTGEQIAP+ awareness and affirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coursework is typically completed after two full years of part-time attendance. The remaining 7 credits of internship (630 hours) and 36 credits of dissertation take anywhere from 1 to 3 additional years. The median completion time is 48 months.
The minimum requirements for the Doctoral degree are a Master of Counseling or closely related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Academic background, personal and emotional suitability, volunteer or paid experience in the helping professions, and the educational and professional goals of each candidate are evaluated before admission is granted.
Screening includes, but is not limited to, three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from a current or recent clinical supervisor, and a writing sample. A personal interview is required for those applicants who meet the initial application criteria.
All information related to applications can be found on the "How to Apply" page.
We do not require the GRE for admission into our program. We believe that there are many other criteria that will reflect if a candidate is a fit for the program including past academic work, professional and volunteer experience.
A new cohort enters the Doctoral degree program starts every summer quarter.
International students are not eligible to apply. Due to the hybrid nature of this program (in person and online), international students are unable to obtain an appropriate educational visa. For more information contact International Admissions.
The Doctoral program is 150 credits (including Master’s transfer credits).
The OSU Ph.D.-Coun degree is part-time, and financial support such as loans and grants are more limited than for full-time programs. There are no teaching or research assistantships since these require full-time enrollment. For more information on what financial support is available to you, see our Financial Aid and Scholarships page.
Are you ready to take your next steps?
Get in touch with our team to learn more about the College of Education.