The University of Isfahan started admitting students to its PhD program in 2006 and 5 students were admitted to the PhD program in General Counseling in the first year. However, the University has continued to admit students to the subdisciplines of Family Counseling and job Counseling ever since. The students are required to complete 18 course credits and 18 research credit (Dissertation). The period of time the students are allowed to complete their course credits and to write their dissertation in completion of the requirements for receiving a PhD degree in Counseling is determined based on the PhD Bylaws enacted by the Higher Council of Educational Planning in their 74th meeting held on 27 February 1994. This period includes the two phases of passing their courses and writing their dissertations. In the educational phase of their studies the PhD stude