Bowie State Offers New Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision

Only School in USM to Offer Degree

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University now offers a new Ph.D. degree in counselor education and supervision this semester to address the dire need for more senior level counselors and administrators to work with students in the nation’s schools.  

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, with a specialization in Social Justice Counseling is unique within the University of Maryland. It will prepare students as future practitioners, supervisors, counselor educators and researchers in counseling. Bowie State joins Hampton University and North Carolina A&T as the third HBCU offering the degree.

The increased demand for mental health services within society has led to increased funding to expand services. For example, the Covid pandemic and racial killings of Black Americans caused an influx of individuals to seek mental health services. Reported disorders were for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, the increased need for services was met with long waitlists and low capacity for new clients. The demand continues to exist within the counseling field today.

The National Science Foundation reported in 2019 that 7% of all persons who have earned a Ph.D. are Black. This number is even smaller within the Counselor Education and Supervision profession identifying a continued need within the field for Black counselor educators.

“We’re in a unique position,” said Dr. Otis Williams, chair of the department of counseling and psychological studies at Bowie State. “We’re the oldest HBCU in Maryland and want to be known as the preeminent program for training counselors. Bowie State is positioned to fill the gap by training the next generation of counselor educators who will engage in social justice, leadership, and advocacy teaching, training, and preparation of counselors. The new program will help to increase the number of counselor educators within the counseling field and the number of competent Black counselor educators. These counselor educators will train and prepare diverse counselors who will enter the field and meet the growing mental health needs of students and others in public schools,” he said.

Graduates of the new Ph.D. program will be trained to work in a variety of fields in counseling including a mental health supervisor, researcher, school counselor director, department administrator, high school educator and other roles.

“I’m very optimistic about our doctoral program,” said Dr. Williams. “Once people know that Bowie State offers a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, I expect inquiries and applications for acceptance into the program to increase dramatically.”

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.