Doctoral Admissions Info SheetAdmission to the Doctoral program in Counseling is a two-step process. Each applicant must first apply to and meet the general admission requirements of UNT's Toulouse Graduate School. Then, applications for students who meet initial admission standards are forwarded to the College of Education for review. Admission to UNT's Toulouse Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Counseling Program. The second step is to apply to the Counseling program by completing the Counseling Program Application and documents listed below. It is a requirement of the Counseling Program that all applicants complete the GRE. There are no minimum scores required for the GRE. Counseling courses at both the Master's and Doctoral level require attendance.
Apply to Toulouse Graduate School
- Submit your application at ApplyTexas.
- Submit $75 application fee through ApplyTexas.
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university you have attended to the Toulouse Graduate School.
- Take the GRE and submit scores to the Toulouse Graduate School. There are no minimum scores required for the GRE.
Apply to Counseling program
Program Application Deadline
November 15 — for admission to the following Fall semester
A Master's Degree in Counseling is required to apply to the Doctoral Counseling Program.
Applicants must demonstrate exceptional potential for success in, and for contribution to, the field of counseling through outstanding quality of criteria described below.
- Complete the Application for Admission to the Doctoral Program in Counseling
OrDoctoral Specialty Areas
- Personal Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Purpose — The statement should address aspirations in the counseling profession, evidence of professional experience and creative endeavors that demonstrate a commitment to the counseling profession, and evidence if fluent in both English and another language.
- Video demonstration of counseling skills (submitted on DVD or flashdrive) plus theoretical orientation essay — This recording should be of a recent individual adult session of approximately 30 minutes in length. This demonstration should be an accurate representation of the applicant's counseling skills. Applicants have three options for completing the skill demonstration: 1) role-play video with volunteer "client," 2) video of an actual counseling session (client permission must accompany video), or 3) contact the Counseling Program Advisor to request permission to record a mock session at UNT with a volunteer doctoral student in advance of the application deadline. Along with the video, submit a brief (less than 1 page) theoretical orientation essay describing the theory used in the video session.
- Doctoral Assistantship Application (optional — if you choose to apply for assistantship)
Or
- CACREP equivalency worksheet (only if your master's program was not CACREP-accredited)
Note that it is to your advantage to complete and submit the CACREP Equivalency Worksheet and unofficial transcripts early. Once the Counseling Faculty review the worksheet in light of your transcripts, then you will be notified if you are eligible to pursue a doctoral degree in Counseling at UNT. If so, then you would need to complete the other admission requirements (i.e. applying to Grad School and submitting all other Program Application materials as listed above).
Your application packet should include the following items:
- Personal resume/curriculum vitae
- Statement of Purpose
- Video and Theoretical Orientation essay
- Doctoral Assistantship Application form (optional)
- CACREP Equivalency Worksheet
You are responsible for ensuring the application materials are submitted to the Counseling Program Office by the November 15 application deadline. You can submit your application materials via email to COE-Counseling@unt.edu, in person at the Counseling Program Office at Welch Complex 2, at 425 S. Welch Street, or you can send them via mail as identified below. If all application materials are not received by the deadline, the applicant will not be considered for admissions for that semester.
FedEx, DHL, or UPS
UNT Counseling Program
425 S. Welch St-Welch Complex 2
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Postal Service
UNT Counseling Program
1155 Union Circle #310829
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Written and Oral Examination Interviews
The Counseling Program will extend invitations for examination interviews sometime in December. Applicants receiving invitations will participate in written and oral examination interviews in mid-to-late January.
1. The written portion of the Doctoral Admission Exam is ordinarily from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Friday morning of the Spring semester. The Counseling Program will provide the exact date. The examination will be geared toward the body of counseling knowledge that a master's degree holder is expected to possess. A minimum score of B is required on the written interview section of the examination.
Distance consideration: Applicants are encouraged to take the written examination at UNT. However, applicants living far from Denton may apply to take the written portion remotely with an approved proctor. Permission is granted on a case-by-case basis. Contact the chair of the Doctoral Admissions Committee through the Counseling Program office for distance consideration.
To study for the written exam:
- Review the major counseling theories. Know the distinguishing characteristics of each theory. Be familiar with the perspective of each theory regarding the nature of humans, the development of normal and abnormal behavior, and the change process in the counseling of individuals and groups. Be prepared to cite sources from the professional literature to support your answers.
- Be familiar with the profession of counseling as reflected in the professional organizations and ethical requirements.
- Be prepared to provide an appropriate counseling response with rationale when presented with a clinical vignette.
2. Applicants will attend an oral exam consisting of one individual and one group interview to be held the same day as the written exam. This portion requires no specific preparation on the part of the applicant. A minimum score of B is required on the oral interview section of the examination.
Distance consideration: Applicants who live far from Denton may request a telephone conference interview in lieu of the in-person, on-campus Denton interviews. Permission is granted on a case-by-case basis; contact the chair of the Doctoral Admissions Committee through the Counseling Program office. Those applicants opting for the telephone interview must submit prior to the telephone interview a videotape of the applicant responding to a list of questions provided by the Doctoral Admissions Committee Chair.
Following the orientation and interview, you will receive a letter granting or denying provisional admission to the Doctoral Program in Counseling. Students granted provisional admission should contact the Counseling Program office for advising prior to class registration.
Students who have not been granted provisional admission will be administratively dropped from counseling program courses in which they enroll.
Provisional Admission
Individuals selected to proceed beyond written and oral examination interviews will be assigned a temporary advisor and granted provisional admission pending receipt of a satisfactory Criminal History Background Check by a date indicated on the admissions letter. Policy and procedures for completing this review are located on the resources page of this website. At this point, admitted applicants may apply for program and university scholarships. Students who have not been granted provisional admission will be administratively dropped from counseling program courses in which they enroll.
Admission to the counseling doctoral program is provisional until the student's progress is evaluated by the Counseling Program faculty upon completion of the first year of core counseling courses.
The student's progress is evaluated on the basis of the demonstration of academic performance, professional development, and personal development required for success as a professional counselor and counselor educator. A grade of "B" or better is required in each core counseling course. In May of each academic year, the faculty will review each provisional doctoral student's record.
After the progress review, the counseling faculty will recommend that the student continue with or without provisions, or will withdraw from the program. Upon faculty vote on final admission, each doctoral student will receive a written letter of acknowledgement regarding their status as fully admitted, conditionally admitted, or withdrawn.
