Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Program (PhD)

Through the Ph.D. in Counseling program at Barry University, you will develop into an ethical and knowledgeable professional equipped with advanced competencies in counseling, counselor education, supervision, leadership, and advocacy. A distinctive feature of the program is its specialized focus on marital, couple, and family counseling, setting it apart from other doctoral programs in the field. As a doctoral student, you will engage in the design, implementation, and evaluation of research that makes a meaningful contribution to the counseling profession. The program fosters an inclusive and intellectually stimulating academic environment that promotes collaboration, mutual respect, and the exchange of ideas.

In alignment with the core values of diversity, equity, and multicultural competence in counseling, the Ph.D. program emphasizes social responsibility and integrates social justice as a central theme throughout its curriculum. The program is also deeply committed to community engagement, addressing a range of human, social, economic, and environmental challenges through service and outreach. The Ph.D. in Counseling program at Barry University is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the leading national accrediting body for counseling programs. This prestigious accreditation affirms that the program meets the highest standards of professional preparation in the field. Notably, Barry University’s Ph.D. in Counseling was the first doctoral program in South Florida to earn CACREP accreditation.

Congratulations on taking the first step to pursue your passion, advance your career, and make a difference in your community. We are committed to assist each student through the admission process.

Whether you transition straight from undergraduate studies to a graduate program or have been out of school for some time, we offer a welcoming and professional environment for graduate study.

With small class sizes, there is a considerable amount of personalized attention from your faculty and opportunities to build strong relationships with fellow classmates.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

Barry University's Financial Aid staff will assist you through the financial aid application process.

Financial Aid Programs

The PhD in Counseling Program and the Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Programs in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marital, Couple and Family Counseling, and School Counseling specializations are nationally accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Accreditation is a process whereby an educational institution (and/or a program within an educational institution) is assessed for educational quality based on already developed standards. Accreditation also serves as a statement to the public that an institution and/or its programs are committed to educational quality.

Our current in-person and online MS and Doctoral programs are CACREP accredited. As of March 1, 2023, the Counseling program obtained CACREP accreditation of our newly developed digitally delivered pathway for the following counseling specialty areas and program at Barry University: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S. degree); Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (M.S. degree); School Counseling (M.S. degree); and Counseling Education and Supervision (Ph.D. degree). The CACREP Board approved the substantive change without conditions. The accreditation for these specialty areas and the doctoral program now includes the fully digitally delivered pathway for program completion. The new digital delivery pathway includes digital synchronous learning and asynchronous learning options for students. As a CACREP accredited institution, we are committed to ensuring that the content and quality of all our Counselor preparation programs meet the standards set by the profession.