phd counseling psychology texas online

Education & Human Development

Educational psychology, how to apply.

The Department OF Educational Psychology

The Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY) is home to a variety of interrelated disciplines and degree options focused on human development and well-being in educational and community contexts. Our undergraduate programs prepare students to work with children and youth in a variety of community and school contexts. We also offer a range of professional master’s degrees geared towards professionals in schools, communities, and the corporate world. For those interested in doctoral studies we offer Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Educational Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and School Psychology.

Program Areas to choose from

Educational psychology, us news & world report 2023, number of online courses available, former student highlight, michele sheppard.

“When I started at A&M, it was unlike any other, they push you to be your very best. Being a single mom and going back to school was not always easy but you can do it!”

Master’s →

Bachelor’s →

Certificates →

Emphasis Areas

Educational psychology programs.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

EPSY offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Education and University Studies, with one of three focuses.

Undergraduate Studies

Graduate Programs

The department of Educational Psychology offers a range of professional graduate degree programs.

ONLINE EDUCATION

EPSY offers a wide variety of online programs and courses to many the diverse needs our students.

Online Education

Certificates

Undergraduate students have the opportunity to complete certificate programs while completing their degree requirements.

Upcoming Events

View all upcoming EPSY events

Doctorate in:

Counseling psychology, ph.d. in counseling psychology.

Our Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is designed to give candidates a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of their professional field and training in methods of research.

This degree is awarded based on a candidate’s grasp of the subject matter of a broad field of study and a demonstrated ability to do independent research. In addition, candidates must have acquired the ability to express thoughts clearly and forcefully in both oral and written languages.

This degree is not granted solely for the completion of coursework, residence and technical requirements, although these must be met.

• For a student who has completed a master’s degree, a DDS/DMD, DVM or MD at a U.S. institution, a minimum of 64 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
• For a student who has completed a baccalaureate degree but not a master’s degree or a U.S. DDS/DMD, DVM or MD , a minimum of 96 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Training Mission

The Texas A&M Counseling Psychology doctoral program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1981 and is grounded in the scientist-practitioner model.

We train ethical and clinically competent counseling psychologists, commensurate with current expectations from the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation for health service psychology.

This mission is realized with a curriculum that provides sequential and cumulative training in the classroom, the clinic and in field experiences that facilitate professional development, appropriately graded in complexity to balance support and expectations for students. We embrace the traditional values associated with counseling psychology with its emphasis on the use of theoretically-based, empirically-informed services to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Our program is explicitly attentive to multiculturalism, community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. The stated mission, themes and training sequence of the program is consonant with the strategic plan of Texas A&M University, reflecting its core values and mission to attain excellent in academic, research, service and teaching activities.

Where are our Graduates?

A recent evaluation of program graduates from the academic year 2008-2009 to 2017-2018 finds our graduates are currently in the following work settings:

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Program information is provided in compliance with C-20 Disclosure of Education/Training Outcomes and Information Allowing for Informed Decision-Making to Prospective Doctoral Students. Domain G of the Guidelines and Principles for Accreditation of Programs in Professional Psychology (G&P) requires that doctoral graduate programs provide potential students, current students, and the public with accurate information on the program and with program expectations.

Learn more.

Admissions Deadlines

• Applications are currently open and will close on December 1st for fall 2025 admissions.
• To be admitted into the Counseling Psychology program, students must follow all  graduate admission requirements .
• Prior to registration each semester, students are required to meet with their advisor (temporary or permanent). The registration advising form should be completed and given to the advisor each semester.

The CPSY program allows up to 3 courses maximum (9 credit hours) from other institutions. Courses are restricted to the following:

• Group Counseling
• Lifespan Development
• Counseling Techniques (limited to post-masters students who have had a practicum; information on practicum/internship sites and supervisor(s) evaluations required).

Course waiver requests are reviewed only for students accepted into the program. Submission of a course waiver request does not guarantee course(s) will be waived. Evaluation is based on determination of course equivalence and APA accreditation requirements.

Recommended GRE/GPA Scores

• Combined Quantitative and Verbal score = 1000 (old scoring system)
• Undergraduate and/or graduate GPA indicative of academic ability required for a rigorous doctoral program.

Submission Criteria

• Relevance of previous education and work experience.
• Professional activities, memberships.
• Scholarly activities.
• Recommendation letters.
• Relevant experience and skills (e.g., bilingual status, experiences working with people with disabilities, with under-served groups).
• Essay conveying career interests, goals, skills.

Admission Interviews

• Application reviews begin in December. CPSY faculty and a student representative evaluate each application. Qualified applicants are identified and invitations are extended for an on-site interview conducted at the beginning of the Spring semester.
• Arrangements can be made for Zoom and/or telephone interviews for those unable to attend.
• Interviews provide information about the program, the department, CEHD and the university, as well as opportunities to interact with program faculty and students. On-site interviews also provide qualified applicants the opportunity to see unique program resources such as the Counseling and Assessment Clinic and the Texas A&M Telebehavioral Care .

Post-Interview Process

Following the on-site interview, program faculty and the student representative determine which applicants will receive formal invitations to enter the program in the upcoming fall semester. Admitted students must notify us in writing by April 15 of their intent to accept our offer. Admitted students are assigned a temporary advisor and ongoing correspondence with the Academic Advising office commences.

Accreditation

Inquiries about the accreditation status of the Counseling Psychology Program can be obtained from the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA). The CoA can be reached at:

American Psychological Association Office of Program Consultation & Accreditation 750 First Street NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: (202) 336-5979 Email: [email protected]

Accreditation Status: Accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Program Details

• Students who complete the program obtain a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.
• Students entering the program with the baccalaureate degree may apply to receive the M.Ed. (non-thesis option) after completing the first 36 graduate credit hours required by the program.
• The doctoral degree plan includes a minimum of an additional 64 credits for all students, including the year-long internship. The program provides students with the training and education required by the states for eventual licensure as a psychologist.
• If you are seeking licensure verification of degree program through PsyPro, please indicate Dr. Kelly Lee ([email protected]) as the head of the degree program, as she is the current training director. Additionally, please send Dr. Lee an email so she can follow up with your request and gather additional information from you.

Degree: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology Degrees Offered: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Credit Hours: minimum 75 hours

Select College of Education and update credit hours.

Professional Licensure and Certification Disclosure Statements

Notice to students pursuing programs that may lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

The following programs may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student’s ability to apply for a professional license/certification upon the completion of the program. The U.S. Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) , requires an institution to disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state. The administrative departments that offer the programs have made the following determination regarding their curriculum.

We recommend students contact the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where they intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure/certification requirements before beginning the program.

It is important to emphasize that the State Boards of Psychology typically require additional training requirements and examinations for licensure. For a fuller summary of the requirements for licensure in each state, please visit the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board .

Program Handbooks

Program assessments, annual evaluation.

At the end of each Spring semester, program faculty evaluate each student to determine their timely progression through the program, as well as their progress in academic performance, clinical skills, and professional behavior. Faculty determine each student’s minimal level of achievement on each of the competencies expected of entry-level psychologists, as specified by the Commission on Accreditation.

Practicum Evaluation

Field supervisors evaluate a student’s performance during their field practicum on a form developed and used by the program faculty.

Peggy Brigman

Academic Advisor IV

View Directory Profile

Lizette Ojeda

Associate Professor

Linda Castillo

Timothy Elliott

Distinguished Professor

Charles (Chuck) Ridley

Carly McCord

Clinical Associate Professor

Timothy Lawrence

Assistant Professor

Nguyen Nguyen

Frequently asked questions.

• Doctoral 10

List of Bachelor Degree Equivalencies

Please view a brief  List of Bachelor Degree Equivalencies by Country . If you do not find your country listed and are unsure of your degree equivalency, please contact the Office of Admissions at  [email protected] .

Can my Application fee be waived?

Yes. This fee may be waived only in exceptional cases for low-income applicants and McNair Scholars. To receive the waiver, you must submit an awards letter from your current school’s financial aid office showing the award of a Pell Grant. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) from a current FAFSA can also be submitted to show financial need. McNair Scholars must submit a letter from their McNair Program Director verifying their status as a McNair Scholar in good standing to receive the fee waiver. Submit this information to the Academic Affairs Business Office and include your major of interest and term of application. Waiver of application fee is not available for international students.

Statement of Purpose Essay

All applicants must complete the Essay, Statement of Purpose and explain the following:

• Why you applied to this program
• Academic background and training
• Potential for graduate study
• Research experience
• Other relevant professional experiences

I want/need a Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship – how do I apply?

Please note that we cannot guarantee any financial assistance to any student. We will contact all admitted students about the process for applying for all available assistantships. This is a separate process from applying for admission. The department and programs will choose students to be nominated for Graduate Diversity or Graduate Merit fellowships. These fellowships are only open to U.S. citizens. Please do not ask to be nominated for one of these fellowships as the program will determine which students are competitive for these awards.

How do is submit my letters of Recommendation?

The  GraduateCAS  online application includes a Recommendations section where you must add your recommenders’ information. Once you have saved the recommendation requests, GraduateCAS will contact each recommender via email to request the completion of the recommendation form and letter of recommendation. We require three letters of recommendations and they must be submitted directly by recommenders through the electronic system.

Is there an admissions cycle for Spring semester?

No. For our Ph.D. programs we only have admissions in fall semesters.

What are the typical program costs?

Check out the cost of attendance estimator.

Please note, you must update the program hours.

For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance (COA), please visit our cost and tuition rates webpage ( https://aggie.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/cost-and-tuition-rates ). This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated COA information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.

Can you guide me through the application process?

How to Apply: Master’s Application Information | Doctoral Application Information

I live out of state. Do you accept out-of-state applicants?

Yes, we accept in-state and out-of-state applicants.

Is there any opportunity for financial assistance?

Yes, there are opportunities for financial assistance through the following departments: Office of Graduate Studies Financial Aid

Request Information

Tuition & fees.

For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance (COA), please visit our cost and tuition rates webpage ( https://aggie.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/cost-and-

tuition-rates). This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated COA information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.

Can't find what you are looking for?

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Counseling Psychology

Doctoral Program

Department of Educational Psychology

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program is one of the longest continuously  APA accredited  Counseling Psychology programs in the country. Our scientist-practitioner-based program prepares Ph.D. psychologists to work with both specific and general problems of human behavior in the context of a range of social processes and systems.

Our faculty are committed to honoring cultural identities and promoting a culture of belonging. We respect and value all aspects of human experiences and backgrounds and other dimensions and intersections of individual and group identity and culture. Our intentional commitments to these values inform research and practice among faculty and students and facilitate our work to train effective practitioners and influential scholars for the future of our profession and society. 

All prospective students must apply via the Graduate School  by  December 1 . Counseling Psychology typically invites candidates for online interviews at the end of January.

The following faculty will be reviewing applications and planning to admit students in the 2025 application cycle: Rico Ainslie, Chris McCarthy and Afroze Shaikh.

Student selection is based on multiple factors including:

• undergraduate grades,
• letters of recommendation,
• relevant professional activities,
• demonstrated interest and productivity in research, and
• match between student and faculty interests.

Recommendation letters and personal statements that reflect intellectual curiosity, tenacity, open-mindedness, interpersonal sensitivity and integrity are also highly valued. 

The Counseling Psychology faculty subscribes to APA’s (2017) definition of mentoring as a dynamic and reciprocal, personal relationship. Each student accepted into the Counseling Psychology program is assigned a core member of the faculty as an advisor/mentor based on student and faculty interests. Ideally, the mentorship/advising process provides: 

• both career and psychosocial mentoring functions, 
• a safe – harbor for self-exploration, and 
• a transformation in the mentee’s professional identity. 

The faculty advisor is responsible for assisting and guiding the student through the program. It is expected that the faculty advisor and student mentee will meet as often as needed to discuss the student’s progress in the program and any questions or concerns. Although the advisors will be the students’ primary research mentors, students may also choose to pursue opportunities to work with other faculty in the program and department. 

Practicum Training

Practicum training is an essential component of the scientist-practitioner model and our program. It is a developmental process that is sequential and graded in complexity. The first year of practicum training (generally the second year of the doctoral program) will involve more direct training and support from program faculty and include basic training in assessment and intervention via the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) – Counseling Psychology Training Clinic. 

In the third year of practicum (generally the fourth year of the doctoral program), you may apply to receive training in a hospital, VA, or community mental health clinic where they are supervised by on-site licensed psychologists, as well as their course instructor. 

Counseling Psychology students also have the opportunity to be considered for the competitive  UT Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars Program . 

Program Aims

Four aims guide the program’s graduate training: 

• Prepare counseling psychologists who are sophisticated researchers and scholars, able to critically integrate research literature and to design and conduct methodologically rigorous empirical studies
• Prepare counseling psychologists who are competent and are well-prepared to enter applied practice
• Develop counseling psychologists who are socially responsible and ethical 
• Develop culturally competent counseling psychologists who are aware of their own attitudes, values, beliefs, and biases, and how they may impact their professional activities

All four aims of the program rest upon competence in broad and general knowledge of  psychology as a discipline .  Discipline-specific knowledge  is articulated in the  APA  Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychologists   (APA SOA) .  Discipline-specific knowledge serves as a foundation and cornerstone to identity as a psychologist. 

Program of Work

Please note required coursework may vary from year to year. Current students should always defer to their Program of Work for course requirements and consult with their faculty advisor / Graduate Advisor for any needed clarifications.

Discipline-Specific Knowledge Foundations

All four aims of the program rest upon competence in broad and general knowledge of psychology as a discipline. Discipline-specific knowledge is articulated in the APA Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychologists (APA SOA). Discipline-specific knowledge serves as a foundation and cornerstone to identity as a psychologist. All students in APA-accredited doctoral programs are required to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline of psychology, broadly construed. This discipline-specific knowledge base includes:

• the history and systems of psychology,
• basic content areas in scientific psychology;
• integrative knowledge in scientific psychology; and
• methods of inquiry and research.

This foundation is obtained through the following course requirements for the doctoral counseling psychology program, which are completed in the initial three years of graduate study prior to admission to candidacy.

Category I : History & Systems

EDP 382D.2 History & Systems of Psychology

Category II : Basic Content Areas in Scientific Psychology

• EDP 382D.4 Psychology of Learning or EDP 382D.5 Motivation & Emotion
• EDP 382F.3 Life Span Development (This course includes coverage of the affective bases of behavior DSK knowledge area.)
• EDP 382C.2 Social Psychology
• EDP 382E.2 Biological Bases of Behavior

Category III : Advanced Integrative Knowledge

Advanced Integrative Knowledge (AIK) reflects the integration of knowledge gained across the above requirements. Competency in AIK is demonstrated by submission of a paper that integrates two DSK areas in relation to a topic of interest. Students are required to complete this paper at two time points – during the spring semester of their 3rd year and during the spring semester of their 4th year, submitted to their practicum course instructor. The description of this assignment and a grading rubric is included in the student syllabus for their practicum course.

Category IV : Research Methods, Statistical Analysis, and Psychometrics

• EDP 380C.2 Fundamental Statistics
• EDP 480C.6 Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data
• EDP 480C.4 Correlation and Regression
• EDP 381C.2 Research Design and Methods for Education and Psychology
• EDP 380.D.4 Psychometric Theory and Methods

Counseling Psychology Professional Coursework

Program Aims 2 & 3 require knowledge and competence in the delivery of health services in the specialty of counseling psychology. (See Profession Wide Competencies). This knowledge and foundational competence are acquired in the following required courses and required clinical experiences (practicum and internship):

Required Professional Courses

• EDP 384C.2 Theories in Counseling
• EDP 383C.30 Developmental Psychopathology
• EDP 384C.6 Helping and Counseling Skills
• EDP 383C.12 Assessment in Counseling
• EDP 385C.5 Professional Orientation/Ethics in Counseling
• EDP 384C.18 Multicultural Counseling
• EDP 384C.24 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Adults
• EDP 382D.2 History and Systems of Psychology
• EDP 385C Advanced Consultation, Collaboration, Supervision
• EDP 194.16 Internship Colloquium

Research Competency Courses

EDP 395R Qualifying Process (2 semesters). Note: While the QP process is required, enrollment in this course is optional.

EDP 398R En-Route Master’s Report (1 semester required for all doctoral students who entered without a Master’s degree)

EDP 3/6/999W Dissertation (minimum 2 semesters)

Clinical Experience Courses

EDP 384Q Practicum in Counseling : At least 5 semesters of practicum is required, including one summer semester and 4 long semesters, as described below. Students are required to register in the course if they plan on doing any practicum work for the practicum training to be counted as a training experience. Students must attend at least 4 long semesters of the practicum course (e.g. register and attend the seminar class). After the attendance requirement is met, students must still register if they are doing practicum work, but class attendance is optional.

Practicum Sequence

• Summer between 1st and 2nd years: Assessment practicum (requires registration in EDP 384Q, attendance in the seminar class is not required)
• 2nd year Fall and Spring: 2nd year Counseling Practicum with In-House CMHC/CP Clinic (requires registration in EDP 384Q and attendance of the practicum course)
• 3rd year Fall and Spring: Practicum with the CMHC (requires registration in EDP384Q, and attendance in practicum course is required if student is not planning to complete a practicum in 4th year)
• 4th year: Practicum is optional but often necessary for internship preparation (if student completes practicum: requires registration in EDP 384Q, and attendance in practicum course is required if student did not complete attendance requirement in previous years)
• 5th year: Practicum is optional

EDP 1/393N Internship in Counseling Psychology (3 semesters required, APA accredited internship site, selected through application, interview and APPIC Match process)

Professional Interest Component Courses

Counseling Psychology students must complete two courses to meet the Professional Interest Component (PIC) course requirement. These courses are defined as counseling-related courses taught by faculty members in the program. Students are required to take Career Development or Group Counseling as one PIC course. Both courses may be taken to fulfill this requirement, or a second course that meets the definition of a PIC course. Examples are listed below:

• EDP 384C.6 Career Development
• EDP 384D Group Counseling
• EDP 384C.14 Addictions Counseling
• EDP 384C Motivational Interviewing

Out-of-Specialization Courses

Out-of-Program: EDP and the Graduate School require that students complete 9 credit hours of courses outside their program area of study. Within EDP the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) imposes the following rules on this requirement:

• 3 credit hours may be met with the course, Biological Bases of Behavior;
• 3 credit hours may be met by a course outside the student’s program but within EDP;
• 3 credit hours must be taken outside the department.

Students may complete this requirement entirely with out-of-department courses if they prefer, and students who enter the doctoral program with a master’s degree in a related area may request a waiver of this requirement.

Dissertation

Dissertation : EDP 3/6/999W Dissertation, beginning the semester following advancement to candidacy. 6+ hours

The following faculty will be reviewing applications and plan to admit Ph.D. students in 2025:

• Rico Ainslie
• Afroze Shaikh
• Chris McCarthy

Explores the intersection of psychology and culture through such topics as the psychological experience of immigration, ethnic conflicts and the impact of violence within communities, and the relationship between individual and collective identity. ...

Accepting new students

Research interests include mental health public policy, college student mental health and suicide prevention, collaborative care models of behavioral health in primary care, and the intersection of mental health and academic success.

Supports the clinical training of doctoral students, teaches clinically-focused courses and prepares students for psychology internship training. Jane Gray does not serve as a research mentor for students in the School Psychology nor Counseling ...

My Coping and Stress in Education Lab conducts research at the intersection of health, psychology, and education. The focus of our work generally is on promoting wellness and optimal functioning in educational settings. Current work includes studie...

Research focuses on men and traditional masculinity, with a particular emphasis on men's mental health, depression, help-seeking patterns, and their underutilization of counseling services. Note: Dr. Rochlen will not be taking new students for t...

Focuses on suicide, healthcare access, mental health service use, and aging

Accreditation Information

Accreditation

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of Texas has been continuously accredited by the  American Psychological Association  (APA) since 1953; the program’s next re-accreditation site visit will be in 2033. Accreditation status may be confirmed by APA via:

Education Directorate  Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First St. NE  Washington, DC 20002-4242  Phone: (202) 336-5979 

TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123 Fax: (202) 336-5978 Email:  [email protected]

Student Admissions, Outcomes, Other Data

Affiliated Lab

Coping and Stress in Education Research Team

Explores the intersection of health, psychology, and education by researching how to promote wellness and productivity in educational settings.

Additional Information

See also 

• General  FAQs
• Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student Handbook
• Certification and Licensing Requirements for Working in Other States  

At a Glance

Program Starts : Fall

Deadline to Apply : December 1

Schedule : Full-time enrollment required until admitted to candidacy

Credit Hours Required : 98

Program Location : On Campus

GRE Required? No

Area Chair Chris McCarthy

Find out information about the admission process and application requirements.

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Start your application today to take the next steps toward your future as a Longhorn.

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Educational Psychology News

Discover the exciting research and work being done by faculty and students in the Department of Educational Psychology. 

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College of Education

Counseling psychology doctoral program.

The University of Houston's Counseling Psychology doctoral program generates new knowledge and trains community-engaged change agents. We provide our students the tools they need to help others navigate the modern world. Our students have the opportunity to contribute to unique research opportunities in behavioral health, multiculturalism and social justice. Situated within one of the nation's most diverse cities, we have developed relationships with a variety of unique practicum locations, including several within the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical center.

Note: This Ph.D. program does not require the GRE if you have either a GPA of 3.0 or higher from your undergraduate studies or if you have a master’s or terminal degree.

• PHLS Directory
• Mission & Values
• Student Profiles
• Graduate Profiles

About the Program

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program trains psychologists to become health service psychologists and psychological researchers. Our nationally recognized and competitive program offers a challenging curriculum, a supportive student environment, student-faculty mentorship, excellent and diverse sites for clinical training, and multiple opportunities for research.

The following faculty are currently accepting new students:

Dr. blake allan, dr. virmarie correa-fernández, dr. marcel de dios, dr. robert h. mcpherson, dr. nathan grant smith, option: health psychology emphasis.

For those Counseling Psychology doctoral students who wish to add a Health Psychology Emphasis to their doctoral training, there is additional coursework that can be integrated into your program. This 15-hour minor includes three courses (two required and one elective) and two semesters of clinical health psychology practicum (which can be one of the practicum placements already included in the doctoral program). Hence, this is only an addition of nine credit hours. It is also possible to gain exposure to this topic by taking one or two courses. For more details on this option, please see pages 11-12 of the doctoral program handbook available on this website.

• Accredited American Psychological Association since 1987
• 5 - 6 years to complete the degree
• Counseling Psychology Student Handbook
• Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data
• UH Graduate School

What will I learn while attending the counseling psychology program?

Students develop professional leadership, ethical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills through:

• Candidacy research project
• Comprehensive exam
• Dissertation

Since degree plans change periodically, students will follow the degree plan that is in place at the time in which they complete an official, approved degree plan. Students enter the program with either a Master’s or Undergraduate degree. Please see page 13 of the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program Handbook for the most current sample degree plans.

What can I do with my degree?

The program offers the preparation necessary for students to apply for licensure as psychologists in Texas. Our graduates are employed in settings such as:

• Colleges and University Psychology Departments
• University and College Counseling Centers
• Community Agencies
• Private Practice
• K-12 schools

Important Counseling Psychology Documents and Resources

The following is a collection of important documents:

• Evaluation of Practicum Student Competencies
• Sample Practicum Contract
• Supervisor Evaluation Form
• Practicum Hours Log

Counseling Psychology Faculty

The following is a list of current counseling psychology faculty:.

Counseling Psychology Program

Faculty Profile | Email

Dr. Consuelo Arbona

Dr. chakema carmack.

• PHLS Homepage
• Our Programs

The Counseling Psychology faculty's research ranges from stress and coping in the LGBTQ community and tobacco cessation to minority stress and health disparities. Visit the PHLS Research Portal to learn more about our diverse interests and discover faculty pursuing answers to the questions that matter to you.

Feel free to contact faculty directly to learn more about their research. You can find contact information in the Research Portal or by visiting the COE Faculty Directory .

• PHLS Research Portal

Financial Aid

All Counseling Psychology doctoral students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the UH and the College of Education. To learn more about how to fund your graduate studies, visit the Graduate Funding page .

Graduate Tuition Fellowship

Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF) provides tuition remission for 9 credit hours, during the academic year, to students who enroll in at least 9 credit hours. During the summer term, GTFs are contingent upon available budget. Not all years in the graduate program may be covered by this program.

Assistantships

Graduate appointments are usually available to students during the first two years of graduate studies. The program doesn't cover mandatory fees or course fees. Not all years in the graduate program are covered by this program. 

To learn more about funding your education, contact the COE's College of Graduate Studies at  [email protected]  or call 713-743-7676.

• COE Financial Aid and Scholarships
• UH Graduate Funding
• UH Graduate Financial Information

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and one of the nation's most diverse cities. This fact benefits our students and faculty both personally and professionally. Home to more than 100 different nationalities and where more than 60 different languages are spoken, Houston is the perfect environment to practice what you're learning in the classroom. The city also boasts more than 12,000 theater seats and 11,000 diverse restaurants featuring cuisines from around the globe (Don't know where to start? Just ask a Houstonian, and they're sure to bombard you with at least a dozen places to eat.) 

Houston is bustling with culture, energy and offers something for everyone inside and outside the classroom.

(Background photo: “ Metropolis ” by eflon is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .)

• Student Housing & Residential Life
• Greater Houston Partnership - Welcome to Houston

Ready to Apply?

Are you ready to apply to the University of Houston Counseling Psychology doctoral program ? Yes? You can learn more about the application process by visiting the College of Education's Graduate Admissions page  or jump right into the application process by visiting the UH's How to Apply to Graduate School page .

If you need more information about the Counseling Psychology program, we are here to help. You can always contact the COE Office of Graduate Studies by phone at 713-743-7676  or by email .

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program is a member of UH's Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences department .

Training and Program Director:  Dr. Consuelo Arbona

UH College of Education Stephen Power Farish Hall 3657 Cullen Blvd., Room 491 Houston, TX 77204-5023

Undergraduate: [email protected] or 713-743-5000 Graduate: [email protected] or 713-743-7676 General: [email protected] or 713-743-5010

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The Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 (202) 336-5979 [email protected] http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/

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Counseling Psychology Ph.D.

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Why Earn a Counseling Psychology Ph.D.?

The Counseling Psychology Program at UNT endorses the scientist-practitioner model of training and affirms the value of integrating practice and science throughout a psychologist's training and career-long participation in the profession. The program is committed to the idea that human problems are the result of complex interactions of biological influences, environmental factors, and developmental changes in the person.

We are also committed to the affirmation of diversity and social justice in the broadest sense, and specifically in psychology as it relates to the alleviation of stress and promotion of mental wellness. We highly value the dignity and worth of individuals inclusive of their gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, age, physical and mental abilities, political or spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic class, and other identities. As such, we recognize and incorporate these values and principles in the training and practice of counseling psychology.

We provide you with opportunities to:

• Build competencies in numerous areas, including self-awareness, psychological assessment and multicultural counseling
• Cultivate a deep understanding of scientific methodology
• Gain experience in the profession
• Psychological research
• Comprehensive psychological assessment
• Mental disorder diagnosis
• Mental health treatment plans
• Psychological interventions

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Highlights

What can you do with a counseling psychology ph.d..

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology prepares you for work as an independent professional in a research, academic or applied setting.

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Courses You Could Take

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Clinical Psychology Ph.D.

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Counseling Psychology Doctoral Degree

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Aim 1: develop a professional identity as a culturally-competent health service counseling psychologist.

Aim 2: demonstrate clinical competencies for ethical interventions and culturally-sensitive evidence based psychological practice.

Aim 3: engage in original and empirical investigations of psychological phenomena and apply current scientific knowledge and methods to professional practice.

Aim 4: be sensitive and responsive to the complexity and intersectional nature of individual and cultural diversity, understanding how they affect psychological well-being and clinical practice, and working toward diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Aim 5: develop knowledge in the foundational areas of general psychology and in counseling psychology theory, research, and practice.

Program Faculty

Counseling Faculty to see the descriptions of all Counseling Psychology faculty on one page

Values, Principles, and Emphases

The Counseling Psychology Program faculty is committed to the core values, perspectives, and emphases that maintain our uniqueness as a specialty. Please see more information regarding the core values, perspectives, and emphases of Counseling Psychology as a specialty at APA Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology webpage. We hold a positive developmental perspective that views human problems as occurring within a complex interaction of an individual's native endowments, contextual factors (e.g., culture, environment, relationships), and developmental changes the person experiences across their life. From birth to death, the process of living involves change and, at times, crises. Although personal crises can befall anyone at any time, counseling psychologists realize that economic, legal, educational, and other systems disadvantage some people more than others, increasing risk for psychological distress for the former and possibly creating protective factors for the latter. Thus, although we believe the psychological well-being of individuals depends upon the degree to which they can successfully adapt to the challenges they face, counseling psychologists recognize that the adaptability to, and severity of, challenges often are influenced by societal, environmental, and situational factors that are outside of individuals' direct control.

Counseling Psychology has also been unique in applied psychology because of its strong interest in the preventive aspects of mental health and the greater concern of the Counseling Psychologist with the nonpathological aspects of a client's condition (e.g., Counseling Psychology's emphasis on the client's strengths and the procedures that might be used to help the client recognize and optimize them; its attention to basic interpersonal processes). The faculty of the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of North Texas has maintained these emphases while recognizing that Counseling Psychologists today must also be able to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals who have more severe problems in functioning and/or meet criteria for a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. When working with these individuals, however, we assess how individual and cultural diversity, strengths, and developmental issues may affect their presentation, counseling process, etc.

In particular, the Counseling Psychology Program faculty recognizes and values the role that all forms of diversity have in shaping our clients and ourselves, our subjective experiences, perceptions, values, and the contexts in which we are embedded. Our educational activities and everyday interactions are enriched by a sense of humility and acceptance of one another; as members of the Counseling Psychology community, we aspire to learn from each other in an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect. The program expects that students will be respectful and supportive of all individuals, including, but not limited to clients, staff, peers, and faculty who are different from themselves in racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds; national origins; religious, spiritual, and political beliefs; physical abilities; ages; gender identities; sexual orientations; and physical appearance, as well as other aspects of diversity. By valuing diversity in all its forms, we hope to promote thoughtful discussion, research, and intervention related to social justice issues. At the same time, we understand that growth and development of multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills is a vital and ongoing process for everyone, including all faculty and students, that unfolds over time and through education, training, and self-reflection. Students enter the program with varying experiences of cultural diversity and are expected to take on the challenge of examining their own cultural identity and understanding ways in which their cultural context interacts with the experience of clients and others with whom they work. Continuing enhancement of multicultural competence is a necessary and personal journey in our community requiring openness to learning about each other as well as accepting others' individual processes.

The scope of developmental life issues that engage the interest and practice of counseling psychologists leads them to develop research interests of a very broad nature. In addition to developmental studies and studies of a social-psychological nature, counseling psychologists engage in process research, prevention and resilience research, studies of the profession and training, measurement issues, career development, family systems and relationships, performance enhancement, health and wellness outcomes of underserved communities, and the psychology of spirituality. We are fortunate at UNT to have such broad research interests well represented across the research programs of our faculty. The Counseling Psychology Program faculty believes that a strong foundation based on empirically derived knowledge is essential to expand the discipline of psychology, promote valid techniques in applied settings, and foster students' ability to think critically as they apply the perspectives of counseling psychology.

PhD Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology requires a minimum of 99 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree, including a one-year, full-time paid pre-doctoral internship. Students who are admitted with a master's degree in a closely related field and able to devote themselves full time to their studies may complete the program in five years. Most students take about six years.

General Core Studies

Doctoral students are required to demonstrate competency (grade of B or better) in all course work:

PSYC 5090 Social Psychology

PSYC 5640 Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior

PSYC 5700 Quantitative Methods I (including a lab)

PSYC 5710 Quantitative Methods II (including a lab)

PSYC 6030 Biological Bases of Behavior

Counseling Core Requirements

PSYC 5010 Human Development

PSYC 5420 Assessment I (including a lab)

PSYC 5430 Assessment II (including a lab)

PSYC 5470 Vocational Psychology: Developmental Aspects

PSYC 5680 Foundation of Counseling Psychology

PSYC 5690 Legal and Ethical Issues in Professional Practice

PSYC 5780 Psychopathology

PSYC 6022 Application of Counseling Methods

PSYC 6060 Group Psychotherapy

PSYC 6300 Theory and Application of Multicultural Counseling

PSYC 6620 Supervision

PSYC 6630 Series on Psychotherapy

Counseling Practicum

The applied training experience in Counseling Psychology begins on campus in the first semester. The bulk of applied training occurs at the Psychology Clinic and the University Counseling and Testing Services. The Psychology Clinic practicum team is composed of first, second, and third year students and the supervising psychologist. In the second and third year of the required practicum sequence, students divide their training between the Psychology Clinic and the University Counseling and Testing Services. After successfully completing the required on-campus practica, students are required to do at least two semesters of external practicum at a site of their choosing.

Elective Cluster

Doctoral counseling psychology students are admitted to one of the following 3 elective clusters: child and adolescent therapy , sport psychology , and culture, identity, and well-being.  It is critical to note that although clusters provide students more training opportunities to develop knowledge and competencies in particular areas, they only affect a small portion of the doctoral curriculum. All students in the program are trained by the program's faculty to be a counseling psychologist.

During their first year, doctoral students formulate a thesis research project to complete during their second year. Students are also encouraged to involve themselves in faculty members' research. Second- and third-year counseling psychology students take on increasing responsibility in research projects that will culminate in the student's completion of a dissertation.

A full-time, calendar-year internship is required. Internships are independent of academic training programs. Students bear the responsibility for applying for and gaining acceptance to internships. View the sites where UNT Counseling Psychology students have obtained internships in recent years.

Evaluation of Knowledge and Skills

Throughout training, the counseling program faculty members assess each student's progress. Evaluation focuses on development of general knowledge in the field of psychology and the specialty area of counseling psychology, competence in the delivery of applied services, skill in scientific investigation, and appropriate interpersonal and ethical functioning. Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory and continuous progress in these regards may be terminated from the counseling psychology program.

Financial assistance

The Department of Psychology and the Counseling Psychology Program strive to support our doctoral students. Generally speaking, we are able to provide a financial support package to all of our students for at least 4 years which includes 20-hour assistantships and partial (usually 50% or more) tuition waivers in each long semester. Additionally, competitive scholarships and fellowships are available in the department and from the graduate school on campus.

The Psychology Clinic is used for practicum training. The clinic includes psychotherapy and assessment rooms and rooms with one-way mirrors for live observation of individual and group sessions. The counseling psychology program also uses training resources at the University Counseling and Testing Services. Both practicum sites are equipped with state-of-the-art digital video equipment to facilitate supervision and training.

Student Body and Program Statistics

The rate of attrition from the counseling psychology Ph.D. program has been very low in recent years. At this time the program has a larger percentage of women than men. Our students are diverse in age, geographical locations of home, undergraduate/master training programs, cultural & ethnic backgrounds, and interests. Most facilities on campus, including the Department of Psychology, are accessible to students with disabilities. The Ph.D. program usually admits 8 students annually and has about 45-50 students at any given time. The internship placement rate in the counseling psychology program has been 100% in recent years.

The Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology at the University of North Texas provides student, education and training outcome data, and financial information in response to directives from the APA Office of Accreditation. The information provided includes data concerning applicants, admitted students, internship acceptance rates, time to program completion, licensure, student attrition rates, and financial costs.

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Ph.D Program

Students’ graduate work will largely consist of courses, seminars, reading, and research in their graduate area, and all graduate students should discuss their proposed coursework with their area head prior to registration. There are, however, some departmental requirements that everyone must satisfy. These requirements are primarily designed to insure that students acquire a reasonable breadth of experience within psychology.

Core Courses :  All students are expected to take at least three departmental core courses from at least two of the three content groups listed below.

Core Course Content Groups

PSY 383C Functional Neuroanatomy

PSY 383T Principles of Sensory & Behavioral Neuroscience*

PSY 391N Learning and Memory

PSY 394  Behavioral Neuroendocrinology               

PSY 396D Clinical Psychopharmacology

(B)      

PSY 380E Vision Systems

PSY 387C Human Language Processing

PSY 387N Perceptual Systems

PSY 387S Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience*

PSY 394U.3 Introduction to Cognitive Science

PSY 381E Introduction to Psychophysiology

PSY 386D Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Neuroimaging Data

PSY 385N Fundamentals of Personality Psy      

PSY 385P Fundamentals of Social Psychology*

PSY 388D Individual Differences 

PSY 395S  Fundamentals of Developmental Psy (B or C)*

PSY 380F  Evolutionary Psychology

PSY 394V Social Neuroscience

PSY 394V Theory and Explanation in Social Psychology

PSY 396  Advanced Behavior Pathology*

* APA approved for Clinical students.

First year students must take at least one core course, and must take all core and quantitative courses, on a letter grade basis. Students should complete the core course requirement by the end of the third year. Core courses may be taken on a credit/no credit basis during the second and third years. 

Quantitative Courses:  All students are expected to take two quantitative (statistics) courses.  At least one quantitative course must be taken during the first year. Most first-year students will take PSY 384M-Advanced Statistics: Inferential. The graduate areas may specify which courses should be taken and impose additional quantitative requirements.

First Year:  First year students must take at least nine hours of course work per semester.  During the first year, at least one course must be a departmental core course, at least one must be a statistics course, and at least two must be other substantive courses (which can include other core or statistics courses) that have formal evaluation requirements such as a final exam. In addition, all students are expected to become involved in research activities during the first year. Areas may require their students to register for the research course (390), area seminar courses, and to take additional courses or seminars as deemed necessary for the education of the student.

Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants:  All students employed by the  University as a TA or RA must take at least nine hours of coursework each semester that will count towards the graduate degree. (3 hours in summer session).

An ethics course must be completed prior to being accepted into candidacy. It is expected that the ethics course will be taken in the first or second year. The ethics course may be taken in Psychology or in another department with Graduate Office approval and may vary in number of hours. 

Courses:  Areas may require their students to take certain courses. Some of these required area courses may overlap with the departmental core courses.

Many areas have research or paper requirements.

See  Areas of Study  for more information.  

First Year Evaluation: First year students are formally evaluated by their areas and then by the entire faculty at the end of the first year. The evaluation considers grades and relative performance in core courses and statistics courses, performance in non-core courses, research aptitude and motivation, and professional competence. Outcomes include "pass" with continuation in the PhD program, "probation" with reevaluation, or "fail" with possible option of completing an MA degree.

Competency Evaluation: Each area is required to evaluate its students at the end of their second year or third year to determine their competence in their area of specialization.  The specific form of this evaluation is determined by the areas and varies widely.

The ten courses (30 hours) required for the MA degree must include: a core course from two of the core course content areas; a statistics course; and the thesis courses (698A and 698B). The thesis courses may not be taken simultaneously. Core courses in the core content areas that do not include the student’s own graduate study area may be counted as supporting work courses. An empirical thesis is required. 

The Graduate Adviser’s office has a policy statement, Admission to Candidacy, which you should consult; it describes the departmental and Graduate School requirements and procedures for admission to candidacy. The required course work for admission to candidacy includes three core courses from at least two of the core content areas, two quantitative courses, and appropriate training in the student’s area of specialization.  Discuss area requirements with your area head.

You may not receive TA and/or GRA support for more than 14 long semesters.  Students must complete their doctoral degree in seven years.  If they do not, subsequent courses will be billed at the non-resident tuition rate, regardless of the student’s residency status. No Departmental funding is provided after the sixth year. 

The primary goal of graduate training in the Department of Psychology is to prepare students for academic or other scientific careers in research and teaching. Students develop expertise in one of several areas of specialization: Behavioral Neuroscience; Clinical Psychology; Cognition, Brain, and Behavior; Developmental Psychology; Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology; Perception, Brain, and Behavior; and Social Psychology. The program culminates in the PhD degree.

The length of time required to obtain a PhD varies from area to area, but students are expected to proceed as rapidly as is commensurate with an adequate breadth and depth of training. For a student in clinical psychology, a reasonable goal is six years of graduate work, including the internship; for a non-clinical student, four to five years is feasible.

Only students who wish to earn a doctorate are admitted. Most students enter the program with only a bachelor's degree. Some of these students earn a master's degree while progressing to the doctorate; others do not. Some students enter the program with a master's degree from another institution. These students must follow the same general sequence (outlined below) as students entering with a bachelor's degree. The time required to complete the program is, perhaps, one semester less for students who enter with a master's degree from another institution.

Although graduate training at The University of Texas at Austin is highly flexible, there is a general structure for a student's progress to the PhD. All graduate students must satisfactorily complete two advanced statistics courses and a total of three core courses from at least two of the three content groups listed here: (A) physiology and learning (B) perception, cognition, and cognitive development; and (C) abnormal, social, personality, developmental, and individual differences. To be admitted to doctoral candidacy a student must have completed the core courses and statistics requirements and successfully present a formal proposal to their dissertation committee.

During the first year, students take two core courses, a statistics course, and other courses prescribed by the faculty in their areas of specialization. At the end of the year, the faculty formally evaluates the progress of all first-year students. During the second and third years, students complete the departmental requirements, deepen their knowledge and research experiences in their selected area, and satisfy area requirements. These requirements can take any of a number of forms, at the discretion of the area faculty, ranging from a research project to an examination. Programs beyond the third year are largely tailored to the individual's needs and interests and culminate in the planning and execution of a dissertation which gives evidence of the student's ability to carry out independent investigation in his or her major field of interest.

While giving general direction to the student's graduate career, this structure allows latitude for interdisciplinary collaboration. Graduate students in Psychology frequently take courses and work with faculty in other departments such as Educational Psychology, Computer Sciences, Zoology, Mathematics, Linguistics, Sociology, Human Ecology, Pharmacy, and Public Affairs.

Although graduate work is formally supervised by the Committee on Graduate Studies, in many respects the Department of Psychology functions as a cluster of semi-independent interest groups, each with its own specifications for graduate training within the general outline given above. Consequently, an introduction to the department as a whole is best accomplished by briefly surveying the areas that comprise it.

This program description is intended to give general information and the statements in it do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. All monetary and general figures are subject to change.

Portfolio in Applied Statistical Modeling

Located in the department of statistics and data sciences (sds), the primary goals of this portfolio program are to:.

• Offer a cohesive course of study for graduate students seeking to enhance the statistical modeling component of their research and to prepare for successful careers upon graduation;
• Provide a forum for graduate students from across UT to work together and exchange ideas regarding the application of statistical modeling methods to a broad range of areas; and
• Leverage the existing expertise of faculty members in departments across UT whose research focuses on statistics at foundational and applied levels.

Students must complete 12 semester hours of courses as follows in the  Course Requirements . Students are expected to obtain the consent of a Portfolio Adviser (selected from the list of faculty members affiliated with SDS) soon after entering the program to advise their course selections and guide their independent study.

For more information, please see the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences'  Portfolio in Applied Statistical Modeling  webpage.

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• Toolkit for Healthy Mentoring Relationships
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2024-2025
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2023-2024 
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2022-2023
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2021-2022
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2020-2021
• Psychology Doctoral Handbook 2019-2020

Psychology Doctoral Programs in Texas

Home to the largest medical center in the world and some of the longest-accredited and most distinguished doctoral psychology programs of their kind, Texas has demonstrated that it places a high value on psychology, psychologists and the students working to complete doctoral programs in psychology.

With faculty at the state’s schools credited with hundreds of prestigious awards and thousands of academic articles published in scholarly journals, Texas’s psychology students are well positioned to become leaders in their field after earning a doctoral degree.

Psychology students in Texas also enjoy a full range of support when it comes to scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. With skilled academic counselors in your corner, choosing between a PsyD vs PhD in psychology will be easier than you might think. In fact, PsyD programs in Texas are widely available, and many universities here offer both options.

What you do with a PhD in psychology is up to you, but in most cases, psychology doctoral programs in Texas are designed specifically to provide a pathway to becoming a fully licensed, independent psychologist. A PsyD in Texas meets those requirements just as well as a PhD.

As part of the National Alliance on Mental Health, Texas relies on licensed psychologists to improve counseling services and the quality of life for individuals and their families coping with mental health issues. Whether working towards a PhD that follows a traditional clinical research approach or a PsyD built around the experiential-practitioner model, psychology doctoral programs in Texas lead to meaningful careers that contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities statewide.Students who are currently in search of doctoral programs in psychology in Texas stand to benefit from the state’s numerous, top-ranked universities, known for offering some of the most prestigious degree programs anywhere in the country.

Here we present a comprehensive list of APA-CoA accredited psychology degrees in Texas. While considering these programs, look for schools offering concentrations that align with your career goals and with prerequisites for a doctorate in psychology that you may have already satisfied in your undergraduate program.

Psychology Doctoral Programs: Texas (A – Z)

Baylor university, college of arts and sciences, psychology department.

Chartered as a private, Christian college in 1845, Baylor is nationally recognized for its broad range of studies and strong research foundations. In addition to conferring a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, the university offers 34 doctoral programs, including a doctorate in clinical psychology. Baylor enjoys national rankings by organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger and Fiske. Further, its psychology department and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology have been recognized by groups such as U.S. News and the National Research Council.

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

This degree prepares doctoral candidates with the “clinical and conceptual competencies” necessary to provide professional, effective, responsive mental health care. The program’s foundations rely upon interdisciplinary team collaboration, research and evaluation protocols, psychological assessment, intervention techniques and treatment therapies, consultative approaches, patient management and supervision strategies. The degree requires five years of rigorous classroom instruction and on-site training, including: taking advanced core psychology and research classes, working in supervised practicum and internship settings, and participating in applied, research-based lab experiences leading to completion of an independent research project or dissertation.

Also offers:

PhD in Psychology

Accreditations

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)

Baylor University Attention: Gary Elkins, Ph.D. Graduate Program Director One Bear Place 97334 Waco, Texas 76798-7334 (254) 296-0643 or (254) 710-2417 [email protected]

Our Lady of the Lake University

Psychology department.

Our Lady of the Lake University is a private, Catholic institution serving the greater San Antonio community since 1895. OLLU prides itself on offering a wide variety of programs to students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The university has earned national recognitions in recent years from U.S. News & World Report, Diverse Magazine, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education and Washington Monthly Magazine. OLLU’s philosophy of excellence in education infuses all of its programs, including those in psychology. The university’s highest degree in psychology is offered as a doctorate in counseling and has garnered acclaim for providing proficient Spanish speakers the opportunity to earn Certification for Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations in addition to their doctorate.

Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology

OLLU’s Psy.D. program prepares its graduates to serve individuals, couples, families and groups as competent, independent practitioners using appropriate assessment, intervention, counseling and followup protocols. Candidates entering the program must possess a master’s and complete 117 hours for the doctorate, including three hours for an internship and nine hours for a dissertation. Up to 39 approved courses from the master’s degree may be transferred as credits to the doctoral program. In addition to a concentration in Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations, candidates may elect to concentrate in: Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy, or Behavioral Health. The Psy.D. in Counseling also requires written and clinical evaluations in addition to a pre-doctoral internship. To establish residency for Texas licensure, doctoral candidates must take at least 18 or more semesters hours of full-time study yearly for three consecutive years.

Our Lady of the Lake University Psychology Department 411 S.W. 24th Street San Antonio, Texas 78207 (210) 431-3914

Joan Biever, Ph.D., Graduate Psychology Program Chair [email protected]

Sam Houston State University

College of humanities and social sciences.

Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University operates on the motto, “The measure of a life is its service.” This guiding principle forms the core basis of all educational opportunities provided at SHSU, including curricula that is grounded in research, creativity, and experiential learning. In addition, the university has earned recognition from the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a “Doctoral Research University”. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is a good example of a doctoral program founded on research principles. Graduates from this program are trained to be licensed professional clinicians who possess a broad knowledge base in scientific psychology and demonstrate competencies as both research clinicians and clinical practitioners.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

This doctorate requires 108 hours of study from classroom instruction, research, and experiential learning in applied settings. Candidates are also expected to complete a dissertation while being enrolled full-time. Coursework and applied practice have a strong forensic foundation to prepare graduates to work within the legal system, intervening on behalf of the client while providing professional interpretation to the court system of psycho-pathology that affects behavior. Candidates gain experience working with multiple faculty mentors in inpatient and residential settings. This includes private psychology practices, neuro-psychiatric facilities, residential and group homes, correctional institutions and the university’s own Psychological Services Center. Graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure and work varied mental illness profiles including those who have: traumatic brain injuries, personality disorders, gender and minority issues, addictive behaviors, behavioral abnormalities, adolescent disorders, and troubled individuals.

Sam Houston State University Office of Graduate Admissions Dr. Mary Alice Conroy Huntsville, Texas 77341 (936) 294-3806 or (936) 294-1971 [email protected] or [email protected]

Southern Methodist University

Dedman college of humanities and science, department of psychology.

Southern Methodist University’s motto of “World Changers Shaped Here” encapsulates its dedication to preparing students for real-world careers that uplift, nurture and sustain communities. Located near Dallas, SMU is world renowned for its research facilities, state-of-the-art programs and interdisciplinary instruction emphasizing 21st-century leadership skills. The university has been classified as having high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and also consistently fares well in U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Clinical Psychology doctorate program uses research in the field with clinical training as a two-pronged approach to therapeutic psychology practice. Cutting-edge digital observation equipment, virtual reality technology, and innovative psycho-physiological assessment complement traditional experiential training and instructional methods.

This Ph.D. program stresses the scientist-practitioner model, which views the contributions of research and clinical practice of equal importance when assessing and treating mental health conditions. Two areas of focus are offered to program candidates: Health, or Family and Child. Each focus area helps candidates hone their skills sets with regard to their area of interest by completing supplementary coursework and practica experiences in addition to required core material for the degree. The average time for degree completion is six years, requiring approximately 50 hours of coursework with additional time spent in research and clinical training experiences. Practicum and pre-doctoral internship sites are available at public health agencies, correctional facilities, schools, medical centers, rehabilitation clinics, behavioral and counseling centers, and private practices. Program candidates must also complete several written documents, including a thesis, research article review, and a dissertation.

Southern Methodist University Department of Psychology PO Box 750442 Dallas, Texas 75275-0442 (214) 768-7792

Ernest Jouriles, Ph.D., Chair [email protected]

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M boasts of being the Lone Star state’s first public institution of higher learning. Since opening its doors in 1876, TAMU has grown into a world-class research facility with global recognition from organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly and Kiplinger. Part of its driving force behind education is to produce “developing leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good.” This sentiment aptly describes the school’s psychology programs, which offer multiple specialized doctoral degrees in the field.

Clinical Psychology PhD

This degree combines clinical and practitioner models to impart research and practice competencies of psychology to its graduates. The program requires 96 credits from core psychology classes and from a variety of research, practicum and internship experiences, culminating in a dissertation. Students are also encouraged to choose up to two specialization areas such as: child and adolescent psychology, couples and family psychology, interpersonal processes, diversity and cultural issues, quantitative methods, assessment, forensics, prevention, gerontology issues, and neuro-behavioral sciences. The program is designed to be completed in five years with full-time enrollment.

Counseling Psychology PhD

The counseling Ph.D. program heavily incorporates field-based learning experiences to model assessment and therapeutic approaches. The goal is for graduates to provide research-driven services that promote public health and well-being in a personalized manner. Settings for practicum and internship experiences include child and family guidance centers, public health centers, outpatient veteran’s clinics, medical facilities, preschool programs, juvenile justice centers, correctional institutions, and university sponsored counseling centers. The program is approximately 109 credit hours taken over four to five years in the primary areas of: psychology core classes; research courses and experience, including a dissertation; counseling techniques; and practitioner placements.

School Psychology PhD

This Ph.D. programs specifically emphasizes counseling within schools to address the academic, social and behavioral needs of children and adolescents. The curricula span a five-to-six-year time period with numerous practicum and internship opportunities, including a research apprenticeship and dissertation. Practicum experiences begin the very first year of training, working with public school students. This hands-on, experiential framework provides candidates with the opportunity to put theoretical psychological practices into immediate use in real-world situations. The program requires 100-112 credit hours of study and experiential learning that covers: basic psychological sciences, research and statistics, professional school psychology instruction, and work in specialization areas.

Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-423

John F. Edens, Director of Clinical Training 207 Psychology Bldg, 4235 TAMU (979) 845-2581 [email protected]

Kristie Stramaski, Academic Adviser II 704 Harrington Tower (979) 845-1833 [email protected]

Dr. Cynthia Riccio, Professor 716B Harrington Tower (979) 862-4906 [email protected]

Texas Tech University

Department of psychological sciences.

As a comprehensive research university, Texas Tech offers diverse, cutting-edge programs that are nationally recognized for their academic excellence. TTU prides itself on being student-centric, providing personalized instruction for its students to complement their learning experiences. This attention to individualized programming especially enhances TTU’s graduate psychology offerings, landing them at 132 for U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 national rankings.

Clinical Psychology Ph.D.

With equal emphasis on the scientific and practice aspects of psychology, the clinical psychology doctorate prepares graduates for work as licensed clinical practitioners, research psychologists or teaching professionals. Instructional coursework and training opportunities occur in on-campus and off-campus settings. Successful students enjoy conducting research as much as doing clinical work with patients. Candidates work closely with a faculty mentor throughout their program which covers 100-135 credits spanning six years. Candidates take core coursework and practicum experiences in years one through four, complete their dissertation in year five, and participate in an extended internship in year six.

Counseling Psychology Ph.D.

The counseling psychology doctorate prepares graduates for work as professional practicing psychologists within a variety of settings, including hospitals and medical health groups, psychiatric and rehabilitation programs, outpatient clinics, community mental health facilities, independent practices, university counseling centers, and correctional institutions. Curricula requirements include study over a five-year period that includes a minimum of 102 credit hours in core psychology and research instruction with additional hours for practicum, internship and dissertation completion.

Texas Tech University 2051 Psychological Sciences Building Lubbock, Texas 79409-2051 (806)-742-3711

Joaquin P. Borrego, Jr., Ph.D. Director, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program [email protected]

Sheila Garos, Ph.D. Director, Counseling Psychology Division [email protected]

Texas Woman’s University

College of arts and sciences, department of psychology and philosophy.

Though traditionally noted for focusing on higher education for women, TWU is actually a co-educational university promoting a wide variety of degree program choices, including the field of psychology. Their mission strives to turn out graduates who will be global leaders in their profession while serving their communities. In 2014, TWU was recognized nationally for its student diversity by U.S. News & World Report and Poder Hispanic magazine. This diversity attracts a broad candidate pool that enriches TWU’s psychology doctoral programs.

Using the practitioner-scientist model, the counseling doctorate provides a strong foundation for clinically based practice of psychology in a wide variety of public and private community settings. Graduates are prepared to work with individuals, family groups and diverse populations who experience mental health issues affected by neurological, social, cultural, and institutional factors. The program involves completion of roughly 130 credits in behavioral psychology, neuroscience, research and statistics, ethics, cross-cultural ideologies, assessment, therapeutic approaches, and professional issues. Additionally, candidates must participate in supervised practicum and internship experiences and complete a dissertation.

School Psychology Ph.D.

The focus of the school psychology doctorate guides graduates towards identifying and working with high-risk student populations, as well as becoming counseling resources for school staff, families, and students at all levels of instruction. Graduates may work in community agencies, educational facilities, or in academic and research positions at institutions of higher learning. Candidates will take a minimum of 121 hours of coursework focusing on school psychology principles, cognitive and academic assessments, research design, human development, cross-cultural influences, social and emotional issues, peer interactions, and family support. The program culminates with several practicum and internship placements and completion of a dissertation.

Texas Woman’s University Department of Psychology and Philosophy CFO 702 P.O. Box 425470 Denton, TX 76204-5470

Sally D. Stabb, Ph.D. Director, Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology (940) 898-2149 [email protected]

Dr. Denise Maricle Director, Doctoral Program in School Psychology (940) 898-2260 [email protected]

University of Houston

Department of educational psychology.

The University of Houston is a public university and exists as the flagship institution of the broader University of Houston System in the state of Texas. Houston is often thought of as the chief academic rival to the University of Texas, and offers many of the same programs and benefits to today’s doctoral psychology students. The school’s Carnegie-rated high level of research activity works well for the doctoral program, giving psychology students the ability to conduct guided research in an area of their choosing. While they conduct this research, they’ll take courses taught by the top professors in Houston and the most seasoned psychologists in the state of Texas. Top-ranked access to job fairs, high post-graduation job placement, and a role in academia, await students who choose this program over competing options.

Clinical psychology students participate in on-campus research at the University of Houston research labs, where they’ll work on everything from focus groups to case studies in the defense of a thesis. A faculty panel will hear their defense and recommend them for graduation at the conclusion of the program when their research meets the department’s high standards. In the classroom, students will cover medical ethics and the nature of inpatient disorder care, and they’ll learn about innovative new methods for treatment that can actually prepare patients for outpatient services, more routine counseling, and effective, independent daily management of their psychological disorder.

Counseling psychology at the University of Houston is focused largely on how to handle specialized cases, including post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses resulting from combat situations or trauma in the home. Students must complete a practical internship alongside a seasoned counselor, where their work experience will count for several credits of on-campus study. Classroom experiences will focus on rare disorders and unique circumstances where more routine disorders are acquired. Counselors will be prepared for work with more challenging patients, as well as academic settings, by the time they present their research, defend its thesis, and move to graduation.

School psychologists at the doctoral level are far more interested in the root causes of psychological trauma in the school environment, and that remains true at the University of Houston. This program is far more theoretical and philosophical than those in counseling or clinical services, with an emphasis on the origins of school violence and bullying, the impact of a turbulent home life on school performance, the nature of school performance on student mental health. All students must be placed into a school psychology department under supervision, and they must conduct and present research and a thesis prior to graduation from the Houston-based program.

Accreditation

• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

University of Houston Department of Educational Psychology 4800 Calhoun Rd. Houston, TX, 77004 Phone: (713) 743-2255

University of North Texas

Department of psychology.

The University of North Texas is another high-activity research institution, funded by public funds, that focuses largely on the sciences and numerous engineering fields. Though the university offers a full range of programs in a wide array of disciplines, its science-heavy focus has netted the northern Texas institution with as much as $30 million in annual research appropriations. Students benefit from this exceedingly high level of research funding in several ways. The university offers innovative on-campus labs and test facilities, provides research-oriented doctoral students with a high level of funding and a stipend, and therefore offers one of the best-ranked psychology doctoral programs in the southwest. UNT’s professors at this level all hold doctoral degrees, and many of them are published psychological researchers who have contributed significantly to the field.

The clinical psychology program prepares students for work in hospitals and clinics, dealing with patients who may require inpatient care to deal with severe depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other major psychological issues that require more careful observation and skilled treatment. As a result, they’ll take advanced courses in diagnosis, treatment, clinical ethics, and more. The University of North Texas’ program will also require a practical work experience during the second year of the program, a research-based thesis, defense of the thesis in order to move to candidacy, and a long-term medical residency, prior to eligibility for graduation.

Counseling services allow psychological professionals to deal with patients largely in an outpatient, casual setting. As a result, coursework in this program is designed to help patients deal with everyday trials and tribulations that might affect their precarious mental state or otherwise interact with mild or low-level psychological disorders. The program is focused primarily on treatment, rather than diagnosis, but also teaches students about rare disorders that they might encounter as high-level counselors. A medical residency is not required, but a practical counseling experience must be pursued. The program also requires on-campus research, a thesis, and defense of that thesis prior to eligibility for the PhD.

University of North Texas Department of Psychology 1155 Union Circle #311280 Denton, TX 76203 Phone: (940) 565-2671 Email: [email protected]

University of North Texas and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center Consortium

The collaboration between UNT and its North Texas Health Sciences Center is significant, in that it offers one of the most unique degree programs for psychology doctoral students. The consortium offers a health psychology doctorate that is different from programs at all other top-ranked, research-oriented universities in the Lonestar State. This focus prepares students for clinical work in hospitals, serving patients whose health directly impacts their state of mind. The system’s unique collaboration and its programs has earned rave reviews from national rankings and fellow psychology instructors, and ensures graduates are among the most competitive for jobs in academia and clinical practice, especially in hospitals and clinical settings.

Clinical Health Psychology PhD

This clinical program is easily one of the most comprehensive in the country. Students must complete a research-oriented thesis and a long-term medical residency, but they must also devote themselves to classes that are uniquely health-oriented. They’ll learn about the impact on common medical issues, and even terminal diseases and death, on a patient’s psychological well-being. Students will also learn how to treat inpatient disorders that are considered severe, and they’ll learn the ethical considerations associated with handling terminally ill patients, inpatient residents, and diagnosis of unique problems that meet at the intersection of health and psychology.

Also Offers:

PhD in Counseling Psychology

University of North Texas and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center Consortium Department of Psychology 1155 Union Circle #311280 Denton, TX 76203-5017 Phone: (940) 565-2671 Email: [email protected]

University of Texas at Austin

College of liberal arts.

UT’s College of Liberal Arts offers three strong programs in doctoral psychology, taught by nationally published and top-ranked faculty who are among the best in the country. The University of Texas consistently ranks as one of the most prestigious “Public Ivies” in the country, with graduates who enjoy one of the highest job placement rates after completion to the program and defense of their thesis. The system gives students practical experiences and networking opportunities far superior to virtually anything else at any other public, research-oriented state university.

Clinical psychology students focus on the nature of treatment in a hospital setting, especially for those patients who need long-term, inpatient care. Students will take courses that focus on the ethics of this type of treatment, the impact of severe psychological disorders on patients’ ability to respond to counseling and prescription treatments, and the role of family, outpatient counseling, and long-term managed care, on psychological improvement and long-term outcomes. A long-term medical residency is required, as is a thesis based on research conducted in campus labs alongside a supervising professor.

Counseling services require psychologists to be seasoned professionals that understand both common causes of these issues and rare disorders. That’s where this program comes in. Coursework required of doctoral students emphasizes rare psychological disorders and lesser-known causes of more common problems among today’s patients. They’ll also study the ethics of child treatment, parent and family counseling, prescription drug use, and referral to more in-depth or inpatient treatment facilities. All students must complete a counseling internship, and they must successfully defend a thesis based on their research in campus labs during the course of their doctoral program.

This program is heavy on research and practical experience. All students must complete a yearlong internship with a current, doctoral-level school psychologist, where they will interact with students and perform under supervision. On-campus, students must engage in a research topic of their choosing that relates to school and student psychology. They must use this research as the foundation for a thesis, which a faculty panel will hear and approve prior to graduation. Coursework focuses on the origins of bullying and school violence, the impact of heredity and home environment on student psychology, and the impact of student psychology on their ability to learn.

University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts Austin, TX 78712 Phone: (512) 471-3434 Email: [email protected]

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Students who prefer to join the UT community, but don’t live in or around the Austin metropolitan area, benefit directly from UT’s partnership with Southwestern Medical Center. Located in Dallas, this teaching hospital is designed to prepare students for careers in both clinical practice and academic venues. The program requires extensive research, offers in-hospital clinical appointments over several years’ time, and fully funds all research and student stipends throughout the full duration of the doctoral program.

Based at an actual hospital, this program requires all students to engage in a long-term medical residency that will familiarize them with the nature of inpatient psychological care. The program also requires research in a hospital-based lab, which will yield a thesis that must be defended to a student-selected faculty panel. Coursework focuses on medical ethics and inpatient treatment, as well as courses in counseling and how to prepare patients for reemergence into the outside world as their psychological disorder becomes more manageable for outpatient counselors to address.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Department of Psychology 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75390 Phone: (214) 648-3111 Email: [email protected]

A doctorate in psychology can lead to any number of amazing jobs, in Texas and beyond. Check out our list of the highest paying psychology careers .

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Counselor Education , Doctorate of Philosophy

Available: On Campus

Welcome to the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education at SHSU! Here is who we are:

• CACREP accredited to prepare graduates as counselor educators in graduate programs.
• Students can receive special training to be leaders in school counseling programs.
• Our cohort model supports our students to achieve a higher graduation rate than the national average.
• Doctoral students conduct and complete a major research study, called the dissertation, that is related to counseling and that reflect students’ research interests.
• Develop advanced counseling skills and supervision skills at our counseling clinics located at The Woodlands Center and the main campus in Huntsville.
• Highly dedicated faculty teaching face-to-face and online courses at both the main campus and The Woodlands Center.
• Courses structured to accommodate students who work full time.
• Diverse faculty with a wide range of academic expertise and research interests. Three American Counseling Association fellows. Publish and presentations for national and international associations and conferences. Leadership in state and national associations.
• Faculty collaborate with students in research, conference presentations, and publications.
• Research and training at the Center for Research and Training in Trauma.
• Certificate in Play Therapy.
• Research and teaching assistantships available. Support for making presentations at conferences in-state and nationally.

Program Components

Cohort model.

The Ph.D. Counselor Education program follows a cohort (group) model, in which students take all core classes with the same group of colleagues throughout the program. Doctoral students feel a strong sense of support from cohort colleagues and completion rates are higher for cohort members.

In a typical semester, doctoral students enroll for 6 semester hours or 2 courses. Students have the option of taking 9 semester hours or 3 courses a semester. In order to keep pace with the cohort and make progress in the course sequence, students are expected to take the minimum required 6 semester hours.

Comprehensive Exam

After 6-8 semesters of coursework, students take a comprehensive written examination. In addition to synthesizing course information, students demonstrate competencies in research tools.

Dissertation

Upon completing coursework, a dissertation is required to obtain a doctoral degree. A dissertation is an individual, independent research study that a student conducts under the guidance of a Dissertation Advisor and a committee of two other professors who are familiar with the topic or method of study.

Program Breakdown

Application deadlines.

• Fall: March 1

Please note that application deadlines will occasionally change. Please contact the program director (listed in the contact section) for confirmation on application deadlines.

Contact Info

Office of admissions.

• Graduate Admissions Website
• 936.294.1971
• [email protected]

Program Advisor

• Dr. Yvonne Garza-Chaves
• 936.294.3106
• [email protected]

Program Assistant

• Rachel Norton
• 936.294.4857
• [email protected]

Counselor Education

• College of Education
• Graduate Program

Counselor Education - Ph.D. in Counselor Education

The Counseling programs at TTU are nationally accredited by CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).

The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 93 hours (including the required 12 hours of dissertation credit). By Texas state law, doctoral students must complete a residency requirement consisting of two consecutive semesters of 12 hours of course enrollment each semester.

Faculty are involved in local, state, regional, and national professional counseling organizations. Faculty support and encourage students to be involved in professional organizations. Faculty foster an environment of appreciation and respect for differing values, beliefs, and backgrounds. Faculty subscribe to the ethical standards and values recognized by the counseling profession, and they expect students to learn and follow the same ethical standards. Faculty support and encourage the application of ethical practices and policies ensuring access and excellence in Counselor Education.

Request More Information

Program Overview

The College of Education offers both a Master’s of Education and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education. The Master’s program offers two tracks: School Counseling, which is a 48-hour program; and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which is a 60-hour program. The Doctoral program requires a minimum of 93 hours.

• Admitted Ph.D. Handbook

Degrees Offered

Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D. - Counselor Education

Offered: face-to-face

Career Opportunities With This Degree

Completing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education prepares the student for a professional career as faculty members, administrators, private practitioners, researchers, supervisors, and consultants at the highest degree of professional expertise.

Application Materials

College Transcripts – Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the Graduate School application . Information on submitting official transcripts will be provided to you by the Graduate School. Grade reports or unofficial transcripts from university web portals will not be accepted. Please redact the Social Security Number anywhere it appears on your transcript. If documents are written in a language other than English, a copy of a complete and official English translation must be provided with the original language records.

Required Supplemental Application Materials

Resume, GRE Scores, Applicant Statement, 3 professional recommendations. These references include, but are not limited to, the following: past professors, boss, director, and volunteer supervisor employed but the organization. References that are not acceptable include, but are not limited to, spiritual leaders, people under your supervision, past students, neighbors, anyone related to you, and personal friends.  Download a comprehensive list of requirements.

• Due to ongoing accessibility concerns, the Graduate School has suspended GRE test score requirements for applications through at least Summer 2025. For more information, please contact the Graduate School .

The Admission Rubric Form will be used to evaluate applicants who apply to the program. Please use your personal statement and resume to address the areas the rubric evaluates.

• Master's Admission Rating Form
• Ph.D. Admission Rating Form

Application Process

Please visit the Graduate Application Process for more information on how to apply.

This program requires official GRE scores. Scores must no more than 5 years old at the time of application. Official GRE scores must be sent from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the Texas Tech Graduate School. To register for the examination please visit the GRE Testing website . Texas Tech University's code is 6827.

Course Rotation

Please see the Admitted Ph.D. Handbook for information about the Course Rotation.

Please note, we have no control over when the EPSY courses will be offered.

Semester in which the program can be started

The Ph.D. program typically begins in the fall semester. However, students may begin taking the non-counseling requirements (foundations, minor, research) if they wish to begin the program in another semester.

Estimated Hours to Completion

93 hours minimum

Allowable Transfer Hours

Transfer credit . A maximum of 30 hours from an approved Master’s Degree program may be transferred at the Ph.D.-level. Courses may be transferred only if a similar course is available from Texas Tech University.

Applications for the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education must be submitted no later than January 15 of the year the prospective student wishes to begin the program in the Fall semester.

Tuition & Fees

Use the Student Business Services Tuition Estimator to estimate your costs.

Orientation Materials

Download the Ph.D. orientation materials

Dr. L.J. Gould [email protected]

L.J. Gould, Ed.D. Admissions Coordinator Office of Graduate Admissions & Enrollment [email protected] 806-834-4224

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College of Education    > Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences    > Counseling Psychology, PhD

Accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1987, the Counseling Psychology doctoral program trains psychologists to become health service psychologists and psychological researchers. Through our challenging curriculum and supportive student environment, it is our goal to develop psychologists who are skilled in the practical practice of psychology, produce graduates who have a solid foundation of psychological science, and produce graduates who display ethical behavior and professionalism.

The program offers the preparation necessary for students to apply for licensure as psychologists in Texas and other states and provinces. Our graduates are employed in settings such as hospitals, colleges and university psychology departments, university and college counseling centers, community agencies, clinics, private practice, and K-12 schools.

For more information, please see http://uh.edu/education/degree-programs/counseling-psyc-phd/ .

Admission Requirements

• See also:  University Admission Requirements    

The College of Education takes into consideration a number of criteria when determining admission, including prior college or university performance, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and statement of intent. All applicants must abide by the minimum qualifications for admissions to a master’s or doctoral program.

All graduate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission to the University. For more information, visit  http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/english-proficiency/ .

An applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required materials for the evaluation of admissions are received by the College before the program’s deadline. If the application is not complete by the program’s deadline, it will not be evaluated for the admissions.

Full details of the online application process can be found at  www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/how-to-apply .

Applicant checklist:

• Complete online graduate application including statement of interest, resume/CV, writing sample, letters of recommendation, and application fee payment.
• Official transcripts from all previous college/university work sent to the UH Graduate School.
• an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher (on a 4‐point scale), or
• a master’s or terminal degree.
• International students have additional documentation requirements that can be found at  www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/ .

Grade Point Average Requirements: Admission requirements for the College of Education require a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.6 for undergraduate coursework or over the last 60 credit hours of coursework. The College requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for graduate coursework. Typical students admitted to the Counseling Psychology doctoral program usually have higher GPAs than the College minimums. The College’s admission committees evaluate all credentials submitted by applicants to determine a student’s ability and potential to succeed in graduate study. In addition, the committee is interested in applicants’ potential to contribute to their program of study and the University community as a whole.

Degree Requirements

Program Total Credit Hours Required: Minimum 102.0 credit hours (Total of 105.0 with Health Minor/Emphasis)

The PhD in Counseling Psychology requires no less than four years of full-time study, a minimum of 102 credit hours, and the completion of all required coursework, candidacy research project, comprehensive examination, practicum, dissertation, and pre-doctoral internship. Beyond the required curriculum, students may pursue additional coursework within the Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences and the Department of Psychology with the consent of their advisor/faculty related to their individual research interests and career goals. Students who do not complete the optional health emphasis need to take additional 6 credit hours to reach the minimum of 102 minimum required hours. Similarly, students who can waive Master level pre-requisite courses need to take additional credit hours to reach the minimum of 102 minimum required hours. These additional credit hours could include dissertation and/or practicum hours above the minimum required.

Foundational Courses

18.0 Credit Hours

Required Courses

(15 Credit Hours)

• PHLS 6330 - Human Growth-Developmnt Credit Hours: 3.0
• PSYC 6338 - Fndtns of Social Psyc Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 7317 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8351 - Hist & Philosophy of Psyc Syst Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8364 - Professional Practice in Psyc: Ethics, Law, & Professional Issues Credit Hours: 3.0

Select from the Following:

(3.0 Credit Hours)

• PSYC 6308 - Foundations of Neuropsychology Credit Hours: 3.0
• PSYC 7342 - Bio Bases of Behav Credit Hours: 3.0
• PSYC 8397 - Selected Topics in Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0

Selected Topic(s):

• Theories and Research in Social and Personality Psychology

Research Design, Statistics, and Measurement Courses

Minimum 24.0 Credit Hours

(15.0 Credit Hours)

• PHLS 8302 - Research Methods in Psychological and Educational Research Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8319 - Inferential Statistics in Psychological and Educational Research Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8322 - Intermediate Statistical Analysis in Psychological and Educational Research Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8324 - Multivariate Analysis in Psychological and Educational Research Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8300 - Advanced Educational & Psychological Measurement Credit Hours: 3.0

Candidacy Research

Minimum 3.0 Credit Hours

• PHLS 7398 - Candidacy Research Credit Hours: 3.0

Doctoral Dissertation

Minimum 6.0 Credit Hours

Students must enroll in dissertation credits the term they defend their dissertation proposal. Once students enroll in dissertation credits, they must continuously enroll in dissertation every subsequent Fall and Spring term, until the dissertation is completed (final defense). Summer enrollment in dissertation credits is required only if during the summer months the student conducts the dissertation’s proposal or final defense or actively engages in dissertation work involving the use of university facilities.

• PHLS 8399 - Doctoral Dissertation Credit Hours: 3

Counseling Psychology Specialty Courses

Minimum 54.0 Credit Hours

The Program’s curriculum includes a series of courses developmentally sequenced to help students gain knowledge in the core foundations of psychology as well as in the specialty discipline of Counseling Psychology. Prior to their first term in the Program, students with a master’s degree work with their advisors to determine if they need to complete any master’s level prerequisite courses, based on a review of their degree transcript. All students accepted directly from the bachelor’s degree need to complete the master’s-level pre-requisite courses described below. Even though students do not need to complete all master’s-level prerequisite courses prior to taking doctoral-level courses, students are expected to complete master’s-level coursework prior to enrolling in doctoral-level coursework in the same area.

Master Level Pre-Requisite Courses

12.0 Credit Hours

• PHLS 6325 - Theories of Counseling Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 6335 - Intro To Grp Couns Thry Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 6345 - Atypical Growth & Behavior Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 6391 - Counseling Methods and Techniques Credit Hours: 3

Doctoral-Level Courses

27.0 Credit Hours

• PHLS 7330 - Adv Thrys of Counseling Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8305 - Supervisn in Counseling Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8334 - Research Counseling Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8337 - Multicul Iss Coun Psych Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8339 - Sem in Career Coun Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8341 - Professional Seminar Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8347 - Assessment of Cognitive Abilities Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8349 - Advanced Psyc Assessment II Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8357 - Clinical Interventions in Counseling Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0

Clinical Training

15.0 Credit Hours

Counseling Psychology doctoral students receive clinical training primarily through practicum experiences and a pre-doctoral internship. Students are required to enroll in  PHLS 8393    every term (Fall, Spring, and Summer) they participate in practicum. During the internship year, enrollment in  PHLS 8193    is mandatory during the Fall, Spring, and summer terms.

• PHLS 8393 - Doctoral Practicum in Psy Credit Hours: 3.0 12.0 hours required (minimum of two years) 
• PHLS 8193 - Internship in Psychology Credit Hours: 1.0 2.0 hours required (1.0 credit each semester)

Counseling Psychology: Health Psychology Emphasis/Minor

9.0 Credit Hours

Students may choose to add an optional Health Psychology Emphasis/Minor to their coursework. Eligibility to add this emphasis/minor includes completion of:

• additional nine (9.0) credit hours of health psychology didactic coursework, and
• two (2) practicum courses (i.e., 6.0 credit hours) focused on health psychology.

6.0 Credit Hours

• PHLS 8306 - Health Psychology Research, Prevention, & Interventions Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8307 - Health Disparities Credit Hours: 3.0

Health Psychology Elective

3.0 Credit Hours

• PHLS 8309 - Gene by Environment (GxE) Determinants of Health Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 8308 - Stress and Drug Abuse: Research & Health Outcomes Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 6322 - Dimensions in Women’s Health Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 7300 - Program Evaluation in Health Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 7306 - Health Disparities Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 7324 - Cancer Education Credit Hours: 3.0
• PHLS 7325 - Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health Credit Hours: 3.0

Practicum Experiences in the area of Health Psychology

Eligibility to add the Health Psychology Emphasis includes the completion of two (2) semesters of practicum in health psychology, in addition to the coursework described above. Please note, no additional practicum courses are required for the Health Psychology Emphasis (i.e., it is only necessary that the student pursuing this option demonstrate completion of two semesters of practicum in a health-related setting among the 12 credit hours of practicum required for the degree). To clarify further, these two semesters are not included in the 12-credit hour requirement for completion of the track, since students are required to complete practicum experiences as part of their doctoral training.

Academic Policies

• University of Houston Academic Policies    
• College Academic Policies    

Counseling Psychology Practicum

Enrollment in several terms of practicum and the year of pre-doctoral internship constitute the formally organized clinical training experiences in the Counseling Psychology Program. Students are typically required to complete a minimum of 2 years of practicum (12.0 Credit Hours of PHLS 8393   ). However, students who enter the program with a master’s degree may choose to complete only 1 year of practicum (6.0 Credit Hours), although many students choose to go beyond this requirement because of the competitiveness of internship.

Annual Review

The program’s faculty conducts an annual review of the student’s progress and provides the student with written feedback regarding this evaluation. With the exception of students whose graduation is imminent, all currently enrolled students (including those who are on internship) are required to participate in the annual review.

Program Completion Time Limits

Students must complete their programs within 10 years of their term of first enrollment. Students who are beyond their 7th year in the program are considered to be making unsatisfactory progress; therefore, as part of the annual review process, students in the seventh year or beyond must provide their advisors and the Director of Training a detailed timeline for completing their remaining work.

Counseling Psychology Pre-Doctoral Internship

The pre-doctoral internship year in counseling psychology represents the capstone clinical experience for students in the Program. During this year, students work full time (2,000 hours) as paid psychology interns in an approved professional setting where they receive regular supervision. Students are required to apply to APA-accredited internship sites as these programs regularly engage in the pre-doctoral training of counseling psychologists and meet all expected standards of training quality.

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Professional Counseling

The Graduate Program in Professional Counseling at Texas State University is designed to provide the necessary training and course work to meet most academic requirements for credentialing and professional work in schools and mental health agencies. We believe that a well-prepared counselor is involved in and committed to a process of intentional growth that promotes pro-social autonomy, lifelong learning, and ethical behavior. These ideals are fostered within a dynamic and multi-modal learning setting in which diversity, critical thinking, self-in-context, scholarship, praxis, and the creation and integration of knowledge are celebrated.

       The Professional Counseling Program at Texas State University received its initial national accreditation in 2000 from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). All three emphasis areas of the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling are accredited with CACREP through March 31, 2032, with a progress report required in May 2025. The program is headquartered in San Marcos with courses rotated across the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses.  

       The M.A. Degree in Professional Counseling offers three concentrations within the program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC); Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (MCFC); and School Counseling (SC). Each concentration meets the academic requirements for licensure and certification set forth in Texas. Depending on concentration, program graduates are eligible to apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, or Certified School Counselor in Texas.  

       All students in the Professional Counseling Program are assigned to individual faculty advisors, according to the concentration under which they have been admitted to the program. Students are encouraged to meet with their individual faculty advisor early in their matriculation to plan their course of study, as well as during their time in the program. As the program's Graduate Advisor, I work in conjunction with faculty advisors and Texas State's Graduate College to assist students in moving through the program to graduation.

       We encourage you to utilize the information we have made available on our websites, starting with our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions .  Simply hover on Professional Counseling in the bar above, and select each available website from the drop-down menu. 

On behalf of the Professional Counseling Program, we look forward to working with you throughout your professional journey!

Maria Haiyasoso, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT, NCC

Program Coordinator and Graduate Advisor, Spring 2024

Welcome to the Professional Counseling Program

Contact information:.

Administrative Assistant :

Program Email : [email protected]

Location : Education 4012

Phone : (512) 245-2579

COUNSELING STUDENT ORIENTATION

Fall 2024 - IN PERSON on San Marcos campus:  

Saturday, september 7 from 10am-12pm      , registration link will be included in an email to all active students.  , ♦s a v e  t h e  d a t e♦, spring 2025 - in person on round rock campus: , saturday, january 18 from 10am - 12pm   , grad college resources.

Click above to explore the Grad College Resources and New Student Orientation Canvas page (NGSO) and learn more about graduate studies at Texas State.

We welcome you to explore the Professional Counseling Program:

• * Mission & Vision Statements
• * Program Standards
• * Admission to the Program
• * Frequently Asked Questions
• * Outcomes Assessment of Program
• * CACREP Vital Statistics Report
• * CPCE & NCE Program Results
• * Graduation Rates by Specialty area