Counseling

Ph.D.
Hybrid You can complete this program in a hybrid format that blends online coursework with in-person classes held periodically in Portland, Oregon.*
delivery
$643 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
Summer
start term

Earn your Ph.D. in Counseling from Oregon State University and prepare to promote good mental health in your work as an advanced practitioner, clinical supervisor or counselor educator. This CACREP-accredited doctoral degree program will strengthen your skills and help you both understand and address societal problems facing modern communities.

Explore core topics that today's counselor educators, supervisors and practitioners are facing in courses that emphasize cultural, theoretical and research-based frameworks. A department professor or advisor who is committed to your success will guide every stage of your education, and you’ll learn alongside a committed cohort of students that studies online and meets twice each quarter via in-person courses in Portland, Oregon.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s hybrid Ph.D. in Counseling program

As a student in Oregon State’s hybrid Ph.D. in Counseling degree, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert Oregon State faculty who have real-world experience in the field.

  • Research and publication
  • Supervision
  • Advanced theory and practice
  • Assessment
  • Career counseling
  • Consultation
  • Group counseling
  • Diversity and social justice
  • Counselor education
In a private office, a woman wearing glasses sits in a plush chair while counseling two people who sit across from her

Program details

Oregon State’s Ph.D. in Counseling program is focused on advanced practice, counselor supervision and counselor education. The curriculum includes exploration of issues that counselor educators, supervisors and counselors are facing. The rigorous curriculum will guide your development and prepare you to be a leader and advocate for change.

The hybrid Ph.D. in Counseling program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Education.

Degree requirements

A total of 150 quarter credits is required to graduate with your Ph.D. in Counseling. Up to 56 of those credits can be covered by your master’s degree, and the remaining 94 must be completed at Oregon State. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on OSU’s academic catalog.

People participating in a group counseling session in a light-filled space with plants.

Additional program features

The program operates in a hybrid format for the first two years. Students meet in person twice each quarter on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Oregon State’s downtown Portland classroom building. Classes are held fully online the third year.

Because the face-to-face course location is in the Portland metropolitan area, it is easily accessible from the Portland International Airport and surrounding regions, making it possible for out-of-state students to participate.

It’s nearly impossible for students from other countries to participate, due to time zone changes and the need for synchronous instruction.

A 630-hour internship is a core requirement for your Ph.D. in Counseling. Most students are actively working, so their work site becomes their internship site. This experience is designed to prepare you for leadership roles by strengthening your teaching and supervision skills.

State of Colorado: This program requires an internship. Although Oregon State University participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), due to Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act, we have limited authorization to offer programs that require internships in the state of Colorado. The Colorado internship site must provide workers’ compensation. In some cases, a proposed internship site may not provide workers’ compensation insurance and, as a result, is not available as an internship site. Please contact Shannon Riggs, associate vice provost for educational programs and learning innovation, with questions.

In compliance with an agreement with the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission for participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), Oregon State University provides information regarding professional licensure through distance education. The courses and programs, delivered online by OSU Ecampus, are not formally approved for professional licensure outside of the state of Oregon.

To determine whether these courses or programs meet licensure requirements in your state, you must contact the appropriate licensing board(s). Visit our license disclosure webpage for more information.

Applicants are required to have a master's degree in counseling or a closely related field, which can be applied toward their Ph.D. total credits.

Explore the detailed admissions information for the Ph.D. in Counseling program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Education website.

The program is approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This accreditation allows you to gain competence in counseling knowledge and skills, personal growth, and development of a professional counselor identity and dispositions.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Counseling careers

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s hybrid Ph.D. in Counseling degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs in the global marketplace. You’ll graduate ready to showcase your abilities and provide insights in sectors that need counseling experts.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to counseling. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.