Ph.D. Counseling Psychology

In the Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program, doctoral students work closely with faculty to conduct and publish significant peer-reviewed research on mental health issues, in addition to gaining extensive clinical experience that culminates with a one-year full-time internship at an approved site.

Our faculty have significant research expertise in such areas as socio-emotional development of young children, attachment and family relationships, process and outcomes of interventions, liberation psychology career development interventions, undocumented and documented migration, gerontology, sexual assault prevention, LGBTQ issues, intimate partner violence, trauma-informed schools, experiences of racism, masculinity, Asian American concerns, and the intersection of identities. 

The doctoral program embraces multiculturalism and social justice, preparing students to conduct research and work with people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, religions, ages and socioeconomic statuses. 

Alumni have gone on to become university faculty members or staff psychologists at counseling centers. Many work in hospitals or in policy fields, while others become psychologists in private practice.  

Students are highly involved in research, teaching apprenticeships, and clinical practice. As part of a research apprenticeship with a faculty member, students are immersed in the advisor’s lab early in the program. Students go on to complete an empirical qualifying project that is the equivalent of a master’s thesis. Later, they research and write their doctoral dissertation with supervision from a faculty mentor. Candidates typically conduct additional research with their faculty mentor and other faculty members. Faculty mentor students in presenting their research and scholarship at national and international conferences, as well as in publication. Among the requirements, doctoral candidates complete a college teaching apprenticeship where they work closely with a faculty member to develop effective pedagogy. Students have completed their practice in university counseling centers, hospital settings, VAs, and community clinics. 

The full-time program requires 99 credits, which includes 30 master’s level credits plus 69 doctoral level credits. A student who enters the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program while already holding a master’s degree in the field may be exempted from taking up to a total of 30 credits of required master’s level coursework if the student’s advisor approves, based on a review of the student’s transcript and course syllabi. 

Students entering with a bachelor’s degree have 10 years to complete all the doctoral degree requirements while those entering with a master’s degree have seven years. Typically, most students complete the program in much less time (5-6 years). 

All Counseling Psychology doctoral students are evaluated based on professional competencies expected to be demonstrated by counseling psychologists (see APA Education Directorate, 2013, and Campbell et al., 2013)