Beginning in the fall 2025 semester, the School of Education at North Carolina Central University will offer a new doctorate in counseling, counselor education, and supervision. According to the university, there are just five programs of its kind at historically Black colleges and universities in the United States.
North Carolina Central University has been developing the new doctorate since 2022. A key component of the program is a focus on practice-based learning and integration with the HBCU’s community counseling clinic. Students enrolled in the doctoral program will complete internships in multiple professional domains, engage in a three-article dissertation model, and participate in telehealth services and outreach to underserved communities.
Currently, the new degree has been approved by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Next, the program will seek accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, a critical step for ensuring students receive professional opportunities after graduation.
“Our graduates will be prepared in five key areas: advocacy, leadership, counseling, counselor education, and supervision,” said Kyla Kurlan, associate professor and inaugural director of the new program. “I see so much potential for greatness. The opportunities are great and part of that comes from the passion our faculty have.”
The doctorate in counseling, counselor education, and supervision is the HBCU’s second doctoral program, joining its existing degree in integrated biosciences.
