Purpose

The purpose of the Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling program is to prepare counselors via the integration of a biblical worldview, relevant research, and focused application to serve as educators, administrators, researchers, supervisors, and consultants who demonstrate the highest level of competence and scholarship. Programmatic emphasis on ethical, evidence-based, and biblically grounded practice offers an innovative approach to understanding today's increasingly complex and diverse society.

Program Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (Ed.D.) program will be able to:

• Synthesize a wide array of theories and relevant research from a biblical worldview.
• Assess and incorporate ethical standards in the helping professions.
• Compare and contrast current research involving individuals with a broad array of presenting problems in the areas of community, pastoral, and marriage and family counseling.
• Formulate theoretical interventions in all core curricular areas of counseling utilizing a biblical worldview and a research-based awareness of industry best practices.

Program Specific Admission Procedures

In addition to the general admission requirements, specific admission procedures for the Ed.D. are listed below. Submit the following items to the Office of Graduate Admissions prior to registering for any graduate courses. Where noted, forms are available online at: http://www.liberty.edu/apply.

1. Academic Records. Applicants must submit an official transcript indicating successful completion of a master’s degree program from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions from all schools previously attended.
2. A master’s degree is required before enrolling in doctoral-level coursework.
3. Applicants lacking a graduate-level statistics course will be required to complete CEFS 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3 c.h.), or EDUC 518 Educational Research and Assessment (3 c.h.) , or its equivalent.
4. Ed.D. applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in their Master’s degree for entrance to the Ed.D.
5. TOEFL scores for students who speak English as a second language (score of 600 paper-based test, 250 computer-based test, 80 internet-based test).
6. Contact information for two recommendations may be requested as an additional requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer of Credit

All graduate transfer credits are subject to the approval of the Department of Community Care and Counseling Graduate Admissions Committee for the Ed.D. Such courses must carry a grade of at least a B- and be comparable to Liberty University graduate courses. Transfer credit will only be considered from institutions or schools accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. With approval, up to 27 semester hours may be transferred into the Ed.D. program. It is the responsibility of each applicant to supply official transcripts along with a written request to have credit applied to the degree program. Transfer credits must have been completed within the previous seven (7) years. Credit for life experience and for correspondence courses will not be awarded at the graduate level.

Course Requirements

The Ed.D. program requires completion of a minimum of 57 hours of post-master’s Ed.D. doctoral-level coursework including program orientation, core courses, cognate courses, and dissertation coursework, research, and defense.

Dissertation

Before the student begins his/her dissertation research, the doctoral dissertation committee must approve the research proposal. The dissertation is expected to exhibit scholarship, reflect master of technique, and make a distinctive contribution to the field of knowledge in which the candidate has specialized. A faculty committee of at least two (2) members, comprising a chair and at least one (1) other approved member is responsible for the general supervision of the doctoral dissertation. A defense of the dissertation is required for final approval.

Once students enter the dissertation phase of their degree, they must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until they complete all degree requirements. If they do not, they will break enrollment, and they will be required to apply for readmission if/when they wish to resume the pursuit of their degree. They will have to complete their degree under the Degree Completion Plan (DCP) in effect at the time of their readmission.

Time Limits For Degree Completion

The time limit for completing the degree from the date of admission to the program is seven (7) years for the Ed.D. Only in unusual circumstance may the student be granted an extension. Granting of an extension of time will usually result in additional requirements. Any student who does not complete coursework within the permissible time limit, for any reason including discontinues enrollment, must reapply for admission. A student may reapply only once, and will be subject to the current standards and curriculum. The Ed.D. Graduate Committee in the Department of Community Care and Counseling will determine if any previous courses are sufficiently time sensitive and must be repeated. Beginning with the date of readmission, the student’s time limit for degree completion is determined by the number of hours remaining.

Scheduling Intensive Courses

All Ed.D. in Community Care and Counseling courses are offered online. Four (4) courses are “intensive optional."

Optional Intensives

EDCO 711 Advanced Group Counseling (3 c.h.), EDCO 735 Statistics (3 c.h.), EDCO 745 Intermediate Statistics and Research (3 c.h.), EDCO 900 Dissertation Design (3 c.h.)/EDCO 810 Dissertation Design (3 c.h.). Please note that these are offered only if enrollment is sufficient.

Delivery Format: Online Only

• Church Counselor
• Marriage and Family Counselor
• Outpatient Care Therapist
• Outpatient Therapist
• Social Worker
• Trauma Counselor