Wichita State University
Ph.D. in Education and Behavioral Studies
Program Highlights
- Two focused tracks tailored to your career goals
- Hands-on doctoral internships in research, teaching, and supervision
- Flexible electives for a customizable academic experience
- CACREP-aligned training for future counselor educators
- Strong faculty mentorship and research support
Career Opportunities
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education & Supervision
- University Faculty or Researcher in Counselor Education
- Counselor Educator/Supervisor
- Mental Heatlh Training Program Leader
- Director of Counseling Services
- Accreditation Consultant
- And more...
Educational Psychology
- University Faculty or Researcher in Educational Psychology
- Educational Psychologist
- Director of Learning and Assessment
- Cognitive or Learning Sciences Researcher
- Psychometrician or Assessment Developer
- Program Evaulator
- And more...
Ph.D. in Education and Behavioral Studies
About the Program
The Ph.D. in Education and Behavioral Studies at Wichita State University is a 60-credit-hour doctoral program designed for professionals seeking advanced knowledge in one of two tracks:
- Educational Psychology
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education and Supervision
*Now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 cohort
The Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education track is pursuing accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Admission Requirements
General Admission Requirements (All Applicants)
- Master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current résumé or curriculum vitae
- Academic writing sample
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of professional goals
Track-Specific Requirements
Educational Psychology Track
- Master’s degree in any field with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education and Supervision Track
- Master’s degree in counseling or related field*
- Optional interview
*Students applying for the clinical mental health counselor education and supervision track are expected to have completed curricular experiences equivalent to CACREP entry-level standards and curricular requirements of a specific CACREP program area before beginning doctoral-level counselor education coursework. Any missing content can be completed before or in some cases (e.g., if minimal content is needed) concurrently with initial doctoral-level counselor education coursework.
Degree Requirements
This 60-credit-hour program includes:
-
30 credit hours of core coursework
-
30 credit hours of track-specific coursework
-
Doctoral Qualifying Examination (required before entering the dissertation phase)
-
Dissertation (minimum 9 credit hours)
Curriculum Overview
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CESP 704 | Advanced Educational Statistics | 3 |
| CLES 801 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3 |
| CLES 750AT | Introduction to Higher Education Teaching | 3 |
| CLES 924 OR CLES 925 |
Doctoral Internship: Teaching Doctoral Internship: Teaching in Counselor Education (150 hours) |
3 |
| CLES 901 | Proseminar I | 3 |
| CLES 905 | Quantitative Research Methods & Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| CLES 906 | Qualitative Research Methods & Data Analysis | 3 |
| CLES 909 | Dissertation | 9 minimum |
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLES 923 | Doctoral Seminar: Advanced and Modern Counseling Theories | 3 |
| CLES 922 | Doctoral Clinical Practicum (100 clinical hours) | 3 |
| CLES 921 |
Doctoral Seminar: Consultation, Diversity, Leadership, & Advocacy |
3 |
| CLES 926 |
Doctoral Internship: Theory & Practice of Supervision (150 hours) |
3 |
| CLES 927 | Doctoral Internship: Theory & Practice of Group Counseling (100 hours) | 3 |
| CLES 928 | Doctoral Internship: Research (100 hours) | 3 |
| Electives | Student-Selected Courses | 12 |
| Doctoral Qualifying Examination | Required before dissertation phase | - |
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLES 902 | Psychology of Leadership, Persuasion & Influence | 3 |
| CLES 904 | Psychology of Discourse Processes | 3 |
| CLES 903 |
Beliefs about Knowledge, Learning & Instruction |
3 |
| CLES 907 |
Cognition & Instruction |
3 |
| CLES 908 | Proseminar II | 5 |
| Electives | Student-Selected Courses | 6 |
| Doctoral Qualifying Examination | Required before dissertation phase | - |