Admission
To be considered for admission to the PhD in education and behavioral studies, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Master’s degree with a minimum of 3.000 GPA in any field for educational psychology track, master’s degree in counseling or related field for the clinical mental health counselor education and supervision track;
- Note: 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.
- Current resume or CV of educational and professional experience;
- Sample of academic writing;
- Two letters of recommendation from supervisors and/or professional peers that attest to the applicant’s potential for success;
- Statement of professional goals; and
- Optional interview.
Upon receipt of this information, the departmental screening committee will make recommendations concerning acceptance/rejection for the PhD program in education and behavioral studies.
Application Deadlines
- For fall semester: April 1
- For spring semester: October 1
All applications must be complete. Candidates who apply are considered in the order in which their applications are completed until all openings are filled.
Contact us for more information: cles@wichita.edu.
Program Requirements
The PhD in education and behavioral studies offers two different tracks depending upon the student's career goals. These tracks include clinical mental health counselor education and supervision (60 credit hours) and educational psychology (60 credit hours). Each track includes a common core (18 credit hours) featuring courses in advanced research design, program evaluation and higher education teaching, as well as the required dissertation. Program tracks are 42 credit hours.
Background Check
Upon admission and prior to their first semester, all applicants admitted to this program must clear a criminal background check. There are two reasons for this requirement. First, it is part of the university’s due diligence before placing students in field settings. Second, the check may alert applicants or students to issues that may subsequently affect their ability to work in their chosen field. In instances when a person’s criminal history raises reasonable concerns that should be cleared to engage in the field experiences and/or subsequently obtain licensure/endorsement, WSU may take a range of actions, including rescission of admission or dismissal from the program, depending on the nature of the concern.
For information regarding this requirement, visit the Advanced Programs webpage.
Transfer of Credit
All graduate credit accepted for transfer will be at the discretion of the departmental advisor and graduate coordinator and must meet the transfer of credit policy of the Graduate School. A maximum of 6 credit hours from an earned master’s degree, or 12 credit hours from a doctoral program that did not lead to an earned degree, may be considered for transfer into the PhD program. Final determination of transfer credit will be made upon approval of a submitted plan of study by the Graduate School.
Common Core Courses for All Tracks
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CESP 704 | Introduction to Educational Statistics | 3 |
| CLES 750AT | Introduction to Higher Education Teaching | 3 |
| CLES 801 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3 |
| CLES 901 | Proseminar I | 3 |
| CLES 905 | Research Methods and Analysis: Quantitative | 3 |
| CLES 906 | Research Methods and Analysis: Naturalistic | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education and Supervision Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| CESP 704 | Introduction to Educational Statistics | 3 |
| CLES 922 | Doctoral Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| CLES 923 | Doctoral Seminar: Advanced and Modern Counseling Theories | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 750AT | Introduction to Higher Education Teaching | 3 |
| CLES 801 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3 |
| CLES 921 | Doctoral Seminar: Advanced Consultation, Diversity, Social Justice, Leadership and Advocacy | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| CLES 925 | Doctoral Internship: Teaching in Counselor Education | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| CLES 901 | Proseminar I | 3 |
| CLES 905 | Research Methods and Analysis: Quantitative | 3 |
| CLES 926 | Doctoral Internship: Theory and Practice of Supervision | 1.5 |
| Credit Hours | 7.5 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 906 | Research Methods and Analysis: Naturalistic | 3 |
| CLES 926 | Doctoral Internship: Theory and Practice of Supervision | 1.5 |
| CLES 927 | Doctoral Internship: Theory and Practice of Group Counseling | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 7.5 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| CLES 928 | Doctoral Internship: Research | 3 |
| CLES 909 | Dissertation 1 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 909 | Dissertation 1 | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Upon approval of the dissertation proposal, continuous enrollment in at least 2 credit hours (fall and spring) is required.
Educational Psychology Track
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| CESP 704 | Introduction to Educational Statistics | 3 |
| CLES 901 | Proseminar I | 3 |
| CLES 902 | Psychology of Leadership, Persuasion and Influence | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 750AT | Introduction to Higher Education Teaching | 3 |
| CLES 801 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3 |
| CLES 904 | Psychology of Language and Discourse Processes | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| CLES 903 | Beliefs About Knowledge and Learning | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| CLES 905 | Research Methods and Analysis: Quantitative | 3 |
| CLES 906 | Research Methods and Analysis: Naturalistic | 3 |
| CLES 924 | Doctoral Internship: Teaching | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 907 | Cognition and Instruction | 3 |
| CLES 908 | Proseminar II | 5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 11 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| CLES 909 | Dissertation 1 | 5 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CLES 909 | Dissertation 1 | 5 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Upon approval of the dissertation proposal, continuous enrollment in at least 2 credit hours (fall and spring) is required.
Doctoral Qualifying Exam
Doctoral qualifying examinations must be successfully completed prior to the start of the dissertation.
Applied Learning — All Tracks
Students in both tracks of the PhD program in education and behavioral studies are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing the dissertation.