Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology
Admissions Criteria
The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology is a four-year, full-time, cohort-based program with courses being offered in the fall, spring and summer. The curriculum consists of 88 credits of which 15 credits are completed by students through required courses in their Master's Programs and transferred into the Psy.D. program. The required courses are: Human Growth and Personality Development, Psychological Assessment, Psychopathology, Research Methods and Advanced Statistics, Counseling Theories, and Group Counseling. Although a three-credit course in Group Counseling is a prerequisite to the program, it is not accepted as a transfer course. In addition to these 15 credits in Master's-level courses, the curriculum includes 73 credits in doctoral-level coursework and supervision.
Faculty members regularly evaluate the progress of each student enrolled in the doctoral program. This review addresses both the student's progress toward the completion of the academic degree and the student's development as a practitioner. Students must continue to develop in both areas. Depending on the outcome of this evaluation, students may be required to take remedial action such as repeating course work, taking a leave of absence, etc. In unusual instances, the student may be terminated from the program as a result of the evaluation process. Rarely the behavior of a given student will suggest psychological impairment which, in the professional judgment of the faculty, would interfere with the person's ability to function as a mental health professional. In such a case, the program reserves the right to ask students to take remedial actions such as: seeking counseling, taking a leave of absence, or if necessary, withdrawing from the program.
Applicants to the Psy.D. program in counseling psychology are required to:
- Have completed a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology, Forensic Psychology and Counseling, or its equivalent,
- Have completed three credits in each of the following Master's-level courses: Human Growth and Personality Development, Psychological Assessment, Psychopathology, Research Methods and Advanced Statistics, Counseling Theories, and Group Counseling,
- Have a satisfactory degree of professional or applied experience,
- Submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (Psychology GRE Subject Test is optional),
- Submit a statement of professional goals: 3-6 pages, double-spaced, detailing the applicant's professional goals and including an autobiographical statement regarding the applicant's motivation for pursuing those goals,
- Submit three letters of recommendation from professionals who can comment on the applicant's qualifications for doctoral study: at least one letter must be from a professor attesting to academic capability and at least one must be from a practitioner attesting to professional capacity,
- Submit official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate work,
- Submit a curriculum vitae,
- Submit a completed application form.
Selected applicants are invited to interview with representatives of the Psy.D. faculty.
Student Learning Outcomes:
As a result of completing the Psy.D. program in counseling psychology, students will be:
- Able to apply theory and research in the study of personality and human development.
- Able to apply knowledge of neuropsychology, learning theory, and physiological psychology in the practice of professional psychology.
- Competent in conducting a diagnostic interview, and developing a diagnosis consistent with current DSM terminology.
- Knowledgeable about psychotropic medications and their use in the treatment of psychological disorders.
- Able to articulate a theoretical orientation that guides their individual and group
- psychotherapeutic and career counseling approaches.
- Able to apply the biopsychosocial model of mental and physical health in the delivery of professional services.
- Competent in implementing sound ethical and legal judgment in professional interactions with clients, supervisees, students, and research participants.
- Competent in implementing effective treatment plans and interventions, and evaluating the efficacy of psychological treatments and programs modifying them as necessary to enhance client outcomes.
- Able to apply knowledge about theory and methods of consultation and supervision.
- Proficient in conducting psychological measurement and assessment, addressing individual differences, and providing professional psychological services in a culturally-sensitive manner.
- Able to articulate a professional identity as counseling psychologists that reflects knowledge of the history and development of the field, the current systems of theory and practice, as well as the professional standards and ethics of the discipline.
- Competent in evaluating and integrating research into practice, evidencing a commitment to scholarly inquiry and a scientific approach to treatment.
- Knowledgeable about the mental health issues surrounding antisocial behavior and its treatment, as well as applications of that knowledge within the criminal justice system.
- Competent in applying the principles of health psychology and positive psychology in therapeutic and psychoeducational settings.
- Able to evidence a commitment to social justice in the planning and delivering of professional psychological services and the pursuit of social change on the local, regional, national and international level.
First Academic Year: 21 credits
Fall 9 credits:
| PSY702 | Reccent and Adv Theories of Personalit | 3 |
| PSY710 | Advanced Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY719 | Foundations of Counseling Psychology | 3 |
Spring 6 credits:
| PSY716 | Advanced Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY712 | CognitiveNeuropsychologicalAssessment | 3 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY700 | Clinical Applications of Human Develop | 3 |
| PSY714 | Adv Child and Adolescent Psycopathology | 3 |
Second Academic Year: 21 credits
Fall 6 credits:
| PSY726 | App Soc Jus Psycological Treatment | 3 |
| PSY732 | Doctoral Practicum I | 3 |
Spring 9 credits:
| PSY728 | Adv Res Meth Statistical Design | 3 |
| PSY733 | DoctoralPracticum II | 3 |
| PSY720 | Techniques in Counsel Psychotherapy | 3 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY708 | History and Systems Psychology | 3 |
| PSY734 | Doctoral Practicum III | 3 |
Third Academic Year: 19 credits
Fall 6 credits:
Spring 7 credits:
| PSY730 | Counseling Research Program Eval Res | 3 |
| PSY740 | Doctoral Project I | 1 |
| PSY706 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY742 | Doctoral Project II | 1 |
| PSY722 | Theories and Techniques of Career Couns | 3 |
| PSY731 | Program Mgt Consultation Supv for CPSY | 2 |
Fourth Academic Year: 12 credits
Fall 6 credits:
Spring 6 credits: