About

Are you interested in being a teacher, administrator, or clinician for treatment programs in the state and beyond? Do you want the freedom to choose the area of focus that most interests you?

The Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies of East Carolina University offers a PhD degree program in Counselor Preparation and Research to provide the student with the opportunity to specialize in an area including substance and clinical counseling, vocational evaluation, rehabilitation research, or an area of focus chosen by the candidate and approved by the program director.

The program is designed to meet two basic needs: doctoral-level faculty for rehabilitation counseling and substance-abuse programs in North Carolina and nationwide, and doctoral-level administrators and clinicians for rehabilitation counseling and substance-abuse treatment programs.

Financial support is available for doctoral students in the form of graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, graduate stipends, and doctoral student stipends and financial assistance packages. The program curriculum is designed to provide a individualized program of study for each doctoral student.

ECU Advantage

The faculty of the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies at ECU has the expertise and national reputation on each of the specialized areas in order to prepare doctoral students to become leaders in the higher education and applied service delivery fields. The Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies has a culturally and disability diversified faculty as mentors and role models to provide a very positive and enriching learning experience for its students. The emphasis on leadership development within ECU has distinguished our graduates as leaders for our state and nation.

The College of Allied Health Sciences is the largest university-based allied-health provider in the state of North Carolina. The college has eight departments, Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies, Biostatistics, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Services and Information Management, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies, and offers degrees on the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.


Delivering a comprehensive professional education that will prepare allied health graduates to make a difference in the health of the region, state, and nation was the primary reason for the creation of the College of Allied Health Sciences and its departments. Fueled by the growth and aging of our population, the demand for these highly skilled specialists is expected to greatly increase as healthcare continues to be a priority for our citizens.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: W. Leigh Atherton (4425-K Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6290; athertonw@ecu.edu)

The Counselor Preparation and Research, PhD, program serves as a national and international leader in the education of excellent and responsible counselor educators, researchers, supervisors, and administrators. The doctoral program is a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited counselor education and supervision program and is designed to meet the critical need for doctoral prepared leaders in the counseling field across the nation and world. The primary obligations of the doctoral program include  (1) extending the knowledge base of the counseling profession in a climate of scholarly inquiry; (2) preparing students to inform professional practice by generating new knowledge for the profession; (3) supporting faculty and students in publishing and/or presenting the results of scholarly inquiry; and (4) equipping students to assume positions of leadership in the profession and/or their area(s) of specialization.

Degree Requirements

The degree requires a minimum of 61 s.h. as follows: 

  • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
  • BIOS 7022 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
  • 3 s.h. of an advanced...
  • ADRE 7340 - Advanced Clinical Counseling Theories and Techniques
  • ADRE 7601 - Rehabilitation Administration and Leadership
  • ADRE 8050 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselor Education and Supervision
  • ADRE 8210 - Advanced Pedagogy in Rehabilitation Counseling
  • ADRE 8360 - Advanced Practicum
  • ADRE 8380 - Rehabilitation Counseling Supervision
  • ADRE 8420 - Advanced Assessment and Evaluation
  • ADRE 8550 - Advanced Research in Rehabilitation
  • ADRE 8810 - Doctoral Seminar in Rehabilitation Counseling (4 s.h.)
  • ADRE 8991 - Advanced Internship
  • ADRE 8992 - Advanced Internship
  • ADRE 8993 - Advanced Internship
  • ADRE 8994 - Advanced Internship
  • ADRE 9000 - Dissertation *(12 s.h. minimum)
  • 3 s.h. of an advanced statistic course approved by the program director
    • Note:

    *All students must complete doctoral comprehensive exams prior to enrolling in ADRE 9000.

    Retention Standards

    Good academic standing in accordance with ECU Graduate School guidelines is required. 

    Students not maintaining the criteria above may be placed on academic probation in accordance with Graduate School policies.

    In addition, the program has the following specific regulations:

    Students receiving a grade of U or C or lower in more than six semester hours of required or elective courses will be dismissed from the program in accordance with departmental policies. 

    In courses graded on the S/U system, the grade of Unsatisfactory (U) is assigned when the equivalency of a C grade or lower is earned. If a student receives a U grade in a course, the student may repeat the course one time. If an S grade is not earned on the 2nd attempt, the student is dismissed from the program.

    • Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all required courses for the degree to graduate.
    • A minimum grade of S or B or better must be earned in all required and elective courses;
    • A grade of U or C or lower must be retaken, with no more than six semester hours of U or C or lower grades being retaken.
      Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

      All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment requirement for this program is the successful completion of a doctoral comprehensive exam prior to enrolling in ADRE 9000. 

        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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