As demand for mental health services continues to grow, so does the need for experienced counselors who are ready to lead. The profession needs educators, supervisors, researchers, and advocates who can advance the field while preparing future counselors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
If you’re a licensed counselor or experienced mental health professional who feels called to influence the profession beyond the counseling room, Columbia International University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision offers a pathway to expand your impact. This fully online doctoral program with required residencies equips you to teach, supervise, conduct research, and lead while integrating a Christ-centered worldview into your professional practice.
What Can You Do with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision?
Many counselors reach a point in their careers when they begin asking a different question.
Not “How can I help more clients?”
But “How can I help shape the counselors who will serve thousands of future clients?”
CIU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is designed for professionals who want to move into leadership roles in higher education, clinical supervision, counselor training, research, advocacy, and program development. Graduates are prepared to serve as:
- Counselor educators at colleges and universities
- Clinical supervisors in mental health settings
- Counseling program directors
- Research scholars and authors
- Professional counselors in advanced leadership roles
- Consultants and advocates within the counseling profession
The program helps experienced clinicians transition into scholar-practitioners who influence the profession through teaching, leadership, supervision, and research.
What Makes CIU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Different?
A doctoral degree can transform years of counseling experience into a broader platform for teaching, mentoring, leading, and shaping the future of the profession.
The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is intentionally designed to develop expertise across the profession’s key leadership domains, including teaching, supervision, research, leadership, advocacy, and clinical practice. Students learn how to train future counselors while contributing meaningful scholarship to the field.
“One of the greatest benefits of the PhD program has been discovering how much influence counselors can have beyond the counseling room. As Counseling Clinic Director, I’m able to invest in future counselors while continuing to grow as a leader myself. CIU is preparing me to make a greater impact than I ever imagined.” — Lannie Ott, PhD Student and Counseling Clinic Director
What makes the program especially distinctive is its integration of faith and professional excellence. Counseling often addresses questions of identity, purpose, belonging, and meaning. CIU prepares doctoral students to engage these issues from a biblical worldview while meeting the highest standards of professional counseling practice. Graduates are equipped to serve in faith-based and secular environments alike.
Students also benefit from learning alongside faculty who remain actively engaged in counseling practice, supervision, research, and counselor education.
Can You Earn a Doctorate While Working Full Time?
For many counselors, leaving a career to pursue a doctorate simply isn’t realistic. That’s why CIU designed the program for working professionals.
The 60-credit-hour doctoral program combines flexible online coursework with required residencies that provide meaningful opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, professional development, and hands-on learning. Students can continue serving clients and advancing their careers while earning a doctoral degree.
This format allows you to immediately apply what you’re learning in your current professional setting while building relationships with faculty and fellow doctoral students from across the country.
The next cohort begins August 24, making now an ideal time to explore whether doctoral study aligns with your next season of professional growth.
Learn From Faculty Who Invest in Your Calling
The most transformative part of a doctoral journey is often found in the mentors who challenge, encourage, and invest in your growth.
Dr. Steve Stuhlreyer, Professor of Counselor Education and Director of CIU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program, brings experience in counselor education, clinical practice, supervision, research, faith integration, and dissertation mentoring. His passion is helping counselors expand their influence as educators and leaders.
“God often expands our influence in ways we never imagined. Through teaching, supervision, scholarship, and leadership, our students are preparing to shape the future of counseling while helping develop counselors who will serve individuals, families, and communities for years to come. That’s the kind of impact that extends far beyond a single career.” — Dr. Steve Stuhlreyer, Program Director
Faculty members work closely with doctoral students throughout the research and dissertation process, helping them develop scholarship that contributes to the counseling profession and advances their vocational calling.
Is CIU’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Accredited?
Columbia International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). This accreditation ensures your doctoral education meets rigorous academic standards and is recognized by employers, educational institutions, and professional organizations.
Your Next Level of Impact Starts Here
The counseling profession needs leaders who can teach with wisdom, supervise with excellence, conduct meaningful research, and prepare future counselors to serve a world in need.
CIU’s online PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision offers an opportunity to deepen your expertise, expand your influence, and align your professional growth with a Christ-centered mission.
With free applications for graduate students, flexible online delivery, and a $500 Visit Scholarship available for both campus and virtual visits, there’s never been a better time to explore what’s next.
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