DOCTOR OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
DOCTOR OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
The Doctor of Professional Counseling (DPC) is a clinical doctorate designed to meet the career
advancement goals of professional counselors who wish to develop a niche through specialization and achieve parity with other allied health professionals. The DPC is intended to prepare master counselors for successful practice in a variety of clinical settings and leadership in professional organizations.
It is similar in concept to other clinical or practice doctorates including the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The DPC is based on a practitioner- scholar model of training in which there is an emphasis upon applications of research and evidence-based best practices in the counseling profession. Instead of a dissertation, the concluding or capstone course is a Project Demonstrating Excellence (PDE) in which there is a substantial contribution to clinical service to the community.
The Doctor of Professional Counseling offers a structured, yet flexible, supervised educational opportunity that foster collaboration among faculty members and students. Through learning contracts, internships, specialization courses, and the PDE, students are able to envision, design, and co-create a tailored educational path that meets their unique career aspirations and niche area(s) of clinical practice.
Introduction
The Doctor of Professional Counseling program embraces a practitioner-scholar model of training. This model emphasizes the practical application of scholarly knowledge with the
intention to equip participants to be professional counselors
(practitioner) that are wise and informed consumers of research.
The distinguishing features of the practitioner-scholar model include development of reflective skills, affirmation of multiple ways of knowing, learning by doing, incorporation of empirical data with clinical wisdom and awareness of the unique concerns of the target population and community to guide interventions.
This particular doctoral program points students toward competency within a selected area of specialization. They become familiar with the latest literature, standards of care, ethical practices, and opportunities for innovation in public
service. This practitioner-scholar model guides doctoral students as well as faculty members. Educators as continual learners themselves, are constantly reflecting on research and practice and ready to work with students in the creation of inspiring
learning environments. This is a cohort-based doctoral program
where 12 students are admitted to a group entitled Collective to Achieve Degree Requirements and Experiences (CADRE) and required to be enrolled continuously and year-round once they have entered the program.
The course of studies will be delivered using hybrid method of instruction combining intense clinical group and individual supervision, regular face to face lectures with weekly online mentoring and class discussions. The program promotes academic interactions between faculty and students that encourage the creation and integration of knowledge to positively affect the community and society. The emphasis on learning by doing and reflecting with mentors on those experiences constitute the heart of this doctoral program. The cohort or CADRE group will foster a learning community where participants can deepen their professional awareness, assessing and intervention skills and renew their commitment to practice counseling with excellence.
Model of Training
The Doctor of Professional Counseling requires a minimum of 72 hours beyond the 60 semester hours of the Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Counseling Psychology or equivalent degree program. Eighteen semester hours of coursework from the Education Specialist
(Ed.S.) degree in Counseling or post-Master’s degree program may be transferred to satisfy initial doctoral degree requirements.
Students with a 48 hour Master’s Degree are eligible for program admission but may be required to complete some leveling
courses.
Admitted candidates can choose an overall specialization in areas such as: 1) Mental Health Counseling, 2) Couple and Family Counseling, 3) Addictions Counseling, 4) Counseling with Children and Adolescents and 5) Pastoral Counseling.
Students are not limited to these specializations and may pursue more advanced interests or sub-specialization. The doctoral
program consists of several components: Core Courses (30 semester hours); Application Courses (12 semester hours);
Specialization Courses (12 semester hours); Internships (12
semester hours); and Concluding Courses (6 semester hours).
The final internship course, Internship IV, includes a Clinical Proficiency Assessment. The degree culminates in two capstone courses (6 hours): the Portfolio and Project Demonstrating
Excellence (PDE).
In the capstone courses, the student proposes, conducts, and reports the results of a meaningful participatory action research and/or program development and evaluation project in an
approved clinical setting. The Project Demonstrating Excellence is guided by the practitioner-scholar perspective in which
research findings are applied in a systematic matter to serve
clients in the community. The PDE will emerge from participation in professional development teams conducted in internship
sites, including the doctoral training clinic organized by the doctoral program to encourage clinical competency. The PDE is proposed in the semester before graduation and constitutes the comprehensive examination for the degree. The candidate for the degree also presents a portfolio of completed work and professional accomplishments.
Degree Requirements
Course Sequence
FIRST SEMESTER
COU 8501 Advanced Professional Career and Lifestyle Planning COU 8601 Professional Identity and Ethical Practice
COU 8602 Professional Growth and Wellbeing COU 8801 Doctoral Internship I
COU 8401 Introduction to Applied Research
COU 8502 Advanced Lifespan Developmental Processes COU 8503 Advanced Theories and Models of Counseling COU 8802 Doctoral Internship II
COU 8504 Advanced Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis and treatment Planning
COU 8603 Evidence Based Practice: Clinical Applications of Research
COU 8701 Specialization Seminar I COU 8803 Doctoral Internship III
COU 8505 Advanced Group Dynamics and Contextual Factors in Counseling COU 8604 Psychotherapy Integration
COU 8702 Specialization Seminar II COU 8804 Doctoral Internship IV
COU 8506 Advanced Systems Theory &
Transformational Models COU 8703 Specialization Seminar III COU 8805 Clinical Supervision
COU 8901 Project Proposal
COU 8402 Planning, Consultation and Leadership
COU 8403 Advanced Seminar in Counselor Education, Technology, and Professional Advocacy
COU 8704 Specialization Seminar IV
COU 8902 Project Demonstrating Excellence THIRD SEMESTER
FIFTH SEMESTER
SECOND SEMESTER
FORTH SEMESTER
SIXTH SEMESTER
Note: Selected coursework beyond the 60 semester hours of Master’s degree prerequisites may be considered for transfer and substitution. The total graduate hours for the degree will be at least 132 semester hours with at least 72 post-Master’s degree hours and 60 hours in coursework substantially equivalent to a CACREP-accredited Master’s degree.
Applicants for the Doctor of Professional Counseling degree program will be evaluated by the Doctoral Program Review Committee. Students will be selected to represent diversity and specialization within
professional counseling. A cohort of 12 students will be admitted to a group entitled Collective to Achieve Degree Requirements and Experiences (CADRE). Students complete the program in two years by
completing four scheduled courses or 12 semester hours each semester
Each applicant for Admission to the Doctor of Professional Counseling degree program must submit a complete application consisting of the following elements:
Applying for Admission
continue
An application for admission with all required information.
A $35.00 application fee (non-refundable; must accompany application).
One copy of all official transcripts from previous college work and any transferable graduate credit. A minimum GPA of 3.25 is required for graduate work completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
A score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or another standardized admission test indicating promise or
likelihood of benefitting from doctoral level studies. The minimum acceptable score on the admissions test will be determined annually.
Ideally, two (2) or more years of documented experience in professional counseling.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential or eligibility for the equivalent of an LPC in the state in which the applicant will practice.
An essay of at least 800 words describing personal and professional goals for seeking the Doctor of Professional Counseling degree.
A professional resume detailing relevant experiences.
Three letters of recommendation from professionals who can evaluate the candidate’s potential for success as a master counselor.
A portfolio of the applicant’s work as a professional counselor.
To begin with the application contact Dr. Stephen Southern at stephensouthern@msn.com
Applying for Admission (cont.)
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Candidates will receive clearance for graduation after successfully completing the following:
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s #OMPLETION OF ALL COMPETENCY ASSESSMENTS IN THE APPROVED SEQUENCE
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Graduation Requirements
Mississippi College is a private, co-educational, Christian university of liberal arts and sciences serving more than 5,300 students
from 39 states and 23 countries. Founded in 1826, Mississippi College is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Mississippi, second oldest Baptist university in the nation and the first co-educational institution in the U.S. to grant a degree to a woman. With more than 80 undergraduate areas of study, 16
graduate programs, a doctor of jurisprudence, a doctor of education leadership degree and a doctor of professional counseling degree, Mississippi College seeks to be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.
The Department of Psychology and Counseling at Mississippi has a long history going back to 1891 when Dr. William Sheldon Webb was appointed the first Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Ethics.
Since then the department has undergone many name changes and has offered courses such as General Psychology, Human Psychology, Educational Psychology, Mental Tests, Educational
Tests, Measurements, Child Psychology and Adolescent Psychology,
Social Psychology, Applied Psychology, Clinical Psychology Abnormal Psychology. This department in 1945 offered the first undergraduate degree in psychology and in 1950 the first master degree in counseling in this institution.
The Department of Psychology and Counseling currently offers at the graduate level three masters programs and the doctor of professional counseling. The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and Master of Science in Marriage and Family
Counseling are accredited by CACREP and the Master of Education in School Counseling is accredited by the by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
About Mississippi College
By embracing the Mission and Vision of Mississippi College the members of the university community are striving to practice and promote:
s &IDELITY s )NTEGRITY
s )NQUIRY AND KNOWLEDGE s 3ERVICE
s 2ESPECT s %XCELLENCE s 3TEWARDSHIP
Values
Mississippi College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelors, masters, education specialists and doctorate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane,
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Mississippi College.
http://www.sacscoc.org
Accreditation
To learn more about the Doctor of Professional Counseling degree program, please contact Dr. Stephen Southern.
Professor and Chair. Department of Psychology & Counseling.
Mississippi College. Fondren Institute. 2906 North State Street. Suite 204 Jackson, MS 39216.
Telephones:
(769) 524-4154.
(601) 488-4631.
(361) 876-2030.
Email: stephensouthern@msn.com
