No, it is not possible to transfer from the Counselor Education program to the doctoral program prior to completing the master's program. However, following completion of the master's program, some students will apply to the doctoral program at UT or elsewhere. The doctoral program at UT is a science/practitioner model that involves research as well as the practice of counseling psychology with the intention of becoming a licensed psychologist. Counselor Education at UT is a terminal master's degree that allows people to practice counseling and become an LPC. The practice component of the two programs has some overlap with students sharing some courses with the doctoral students. However, in general, the programs are considered separate due to different emphases. Occasionally, we have students from the master's program apply to the doctoral program following completion of their master's degree. The same admissions procedures are required for the doctoral program for Counselor Education students as non-UT applicants. If admitted, they will be required to take almost all of the doctoral courses with only a few courses earned in the Counselor Education program counting toward the doctorate. Students who seek a Ph.D. following the Counselor Education program often consider Ph.D. programs at other universities that require a master's degree for admission, such as the University of North Texas. These programs have fewer requirements than a program such as the Counseling Psychology program at UT which does not require a master's. We occasionally have people who want to pursue a doctorate in one of the other research specialties offered at UT, such as Human Development, Culture & Learning Sciences. Since these students already have a clinical practice degree through the Counselor Education program, they choose to do a program for the Ph.D. that is solely research and not practice-oriented. If students choose a non-counseling or non-clinical Ph.D. and choose to practice with their master's degree, they will practice as counselors and NOT psychologists.