An Examination of Doctoral Preparation Information in the United States: A Content Analysis of Counselor Education Docto
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An Examination of Doctoral Preparation Information in the United States: A Content Analysis of Counselor Education Doctoral Program Websites Hongryun Woo 1 & Cynthia J. Mulit 2 & Kelsea M. Visalli 1
Published online: 14 March 2016 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Counselor Education (CE) program websites play a role in program fit by helping prospective students learn about the profession, search for programs and apply for admission. Using the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics’ nine categories of orientation content as its framework, this study explored the information provided on the 63 CACREP-accredited CE doctoral programs’ websites in the U.S. Content suggestions for CE program websites are provided. The purpose is to improve program fit via providing prospective students with thorough information about the CE profession, a department and its program. Keywords Counselor education . Doctoral students, Website information . Doctoral orientation . Doctoral application . Doctoral program fit . Doctoral program attrition, United States
Introduction A large number of doctoral programs exist in the United States, many of which offer degrees in counselor education (CE). Like other prospective students, CE doctoral candidates searching for programs that are a good fit typically conduct an examination of various promotional materials from the available programs. With the present state of technology, the search would inevitably include visiting program websites to seek out detailed information, such as mission statements, training standards, curriculum, faculty members, and students currently enrolled in the doctoral program, in order to know how the program might prepare them for their possible next career transition (Huddleston and Drexel 2006).
* Hongryun Woo [email protected]
1
Department of Counseling & Human Development, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
2
Counseling and Family Therapy, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Int J Adv Counselling (2016) 38:97–114
Despite the widespread use of websites for detailing professional program characteristics and facilitating application processes (e.g., Huddleston and Drexel 2006; Hui 2012; Matsumori 2011), CE doctoral programs have not publicly discussed the content and quality of program websites, specifically according to their role in providing initial orientation into the CE programs as well as the profession. One purpose of this study was to initiate professional discussion regarding how websites should be constructed to provide a high quality orientation and application experience for prospective CE doctoral students. Another goal was to aid CE programs seeking to improve program fit via fleshing out what constitutes essential information about the CE profession, a department and its program. Finally, prospective students reviewing this article will have an overview of types of information available on CE websites and a framework for evaluating the adequacy of CE program websites. Pursuant to those goa
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