The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology is designed to prepare students to become Health Service Psychologists who are grounded in both scientific inquiry and clinical practice.
The Counseling Psychology program embraces the scientist-practitioner model and incorporates the American Psychological Association's Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology and Accreditation Operating Procedures. The program incorporates the model adopted by the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP) and is influenced by the model for training in counseling psychology outlined by Murdock, Alcorn, Heesacker, and Stoltenberg (1998).
Following the scientist-practitioner model, the program provides rigorous training in psychological theory, research methodology, clinical assessment, and therapeutic intervention. Students gain real-world experience through supervised practica in diverse clinical settings and provide vital mental health services to rural and underserved populations through the department鈥檚 Psychological Services Clinic. The program emphasizes multicultural competence, ethical practice, and the integration of science and service to address the mental health needs of individuals and communities.
