The Department of Counseling and Human Development Services welcomes applications for the Ph.D. program in Counseling and Student Personnel Services at the Gwinnett Campus. All applicants who meet the initial requirements outlined in the Admissions Criteria section below are encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is typically in January for acceptance into a cohort of 15 students to begin classes the following summer. Candidates must complete both the UGA Graduate School application process and the departmental application process described below.

Note: The Graduate School admissions process and expectations are different from those of the department; therefore, you will need to pay close attention to the requirements for BOTH.

* The UGA Graduate School code for this degree is 159B. Intent to apply for the Gwinnett Ph.D. degree is indicated by the P-16 emphasis.

Please click here to view the Departmental application process.

Admissions Criteria

The admission requirements are comparable to the two on-campus Ph.D. programs but include criteria relevant to the unique characteristics of this program and accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Because we are developing our program so that it will meet the national accreditation standards and will have a cutting edge professional focus, the program offers a different curriculum from the currently offered on-campus version of the degree. The intent of the program is to provide a vehicle for advanced graduate study. Applicants holding master’s degrees in counseling or college student development who are currently employed at least one half-time in a P-12 school or in a college or university setting are preferred. Three years of post-master’s experience is preferable but not required. Specific criteria will include:

Master’s Degree: Previous graduate work must include at least six of the eight Counselor Education core courses. Any of the core courses that are missing must be taken as pre or co-requisites. The common core areas are

• Professional Identity
• Social and Cultural Identity
• Human Growth and Development
• Career Development
• Helping Relationships
• Group Work
• Assessment
• Research and Program Evaluation

Students with degrees in other fields are eligible to apply; however, the previous graduate work must include at least 6 of the 8 CACREP master’s core courses.

Academic Record: Performance in the Master’s Degree program (GPA and evaluations of clinical/field experiences), scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and faculty references will serve as benchmarks of academic capacity for advanced graduate study.

Personal Statement of Goals: Applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and goals for post graduate contribution must be compatible with commonly accepted purposes of advanced study and the specific mission of this program related to P – 16 education and social justice. What should I include in the personal statement?

• Why this program, specifically addressing issues related to the P-16 and social justice emphasis.
• Why doctoral study.
• Future plans and goals; what does the applicant expect on the other side of the doctorate.
• How does the applicant believe being a part-time doctoral student will work at this point in their lives.

Recommendations: A minimum of three references including two academic references and one supervisor in employment.

Resume: A current vita should be included with the application and should include practica and internship experiences as well as post-master’s employment.

Other Important Guidelines
-The requirements state an expectation of 3 (three) years of experience and we expect to adhere to that.
-With regard to transfer credit, each student’s work will be evaluated when they apply.