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 from the Graduate Record Examination and the Psychology GRE Subject Test.
- 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 knowledge of affective, biological, cognitive, development, and social bases of behavior in the practice of health service psychology.
- Able to demonstrate knowledge and application of the ethical, legal, and professional standards and guidelines of professional practice of psychology.
- Proficient as science-informed practitioners in conducting professional assessment and treatment services, integrating research into practice.
- Able to articulate a professional identity as counseling psychologists which reflects the values, ethics, and professional standards of counseling psychology.
- Competent as effective practitioners with diverse clients, promoting health and empowerment across social and cultural context.
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to social justice as reflected in a broad range of professional activities.
First Academic Year: 24 credits
Fall 9 credits:
| PSY700 | Clinical Applications of Human Development | 3 |
| PSY702 | Recent and Advanced Theories of Personality | 3 |
| PSY720 | Techniques in Counseling Psychotherapy | 3 |
Spring 9 credits:
| PSY704 | Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY708 | History and Systems of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY716 | Advanced Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY701 | Social Aspects of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY706 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
Second Academic Year: 24 credits
Fall 9 credits:
| PSY710 | Advanced Psychometrics and Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| PSY719 | Foundations of Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| PSY732 | Doctoral Practicum I | 3 |
Spring 9 credits:
| PSY712 | Advanced Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY728 | Advanced Research Methods and Statistical Design | 3 |
| PSY733 | Doctoral Practicum II | 3 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY714 | Advanced Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY734 | Doctoral Practicum III | 3 |
Third Academic Year: 19 credits
Fall 6 credits:
| PSY726 | Applied Social Justice in Psychological Treatment | 3 |
| PSY735 | Doctoral Practicum IV | 3 |
Spring 7 credits:
| PSY722 | Theories and Techniques of Career Counseling | 3 |
| PSY730 | Counseling Research and Program Evaluation Research | 3 |
| PSY740 | Doctoral Dissertation I | 1 |
Summer 6 credits:
| PSY731 | Program Management and Consultation Supervision for Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| PSY742 | Doctoral Dissertation II | 3 |
Fourth Academic Year: 12 credits
Fall 6 credits:
| PSY736 | Doctoral Internship I | 3 |
| PSY744 | Doctoral Dissertation III | 3 |
Spring 6 credits:
| PSY738 | Doctoral Internship II | 0 |
| PSY746 | Doctoral Dissertation IV | 0 |