Program Overview

Introduction to the Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin is one of the longest continuously APA-accredited programs in the country. This 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.

Program Overview

The program aims to prepare counseling psychologists who are sophisticated researchers and scholars, able to critically integrate research literature and to design and conduct methodologically rigorous empirical studies. The faculty are committed to honoring cultural identities and promoting a culture of belonging, respecting and valuing all aspects of human experiences and backgrounds.

Admissions

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 next application cycle: Ricardo Ainslie, Chris Brownson, Chris McCarthy, Jennifer Mootz, 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
  • Match between student and faculty interests

Mentoring

The Counseling Psychology faculty subscribes to APA’s 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.

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 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, students 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.

Program Aims

Four aims guide the program’s graduate training:

1. Prepare counseling psychologists who are sophisticated researchers and scholars.
2. Prepare counseling psychologists who are competent and well-prepared to enter applied practice.
3. Develop counseling psychologists who are socially responsible and ethical.
4. Develop culturally competent counseling psychologists who are aware of their own attitudes, values, beliefs, and biases.

Program of Work

Please note that 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).

• 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
  • EDP 382C.2 Social Psychology
  • EDP 382E.2 Biological Bases of Behavior
• Category III: Advanced Integrative Knowledge
  • Competency in AIK is demonstrated by submission of a paper that integrates two DSK areas in relation to a topic of interest.
• 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.

• 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 382E.2 Biological Bases of Behavior
  • EDP 385C Advanced Consultation, Collaboration, Supervision
  • EDP 194.16 Internship Colloquium

Research Competency Courses

• EDP 395R Qualifying Process (2 semesters)
• 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.
• EDP 1/393N Internship in Counseling Psychology (3 semesters required, APA accredited internship site)

Professional Interest Component Courses

Counseling Psychology students must complete two courses to meet the Professional Interest Component (PIC) course requirement.

• Examples of PIC courses:
  • 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.

Faculty

• Ricardo C Ainslie
• Chris Brownson
• Chris J McCarthy
• Jennifer Mootz
• Afroze Shaikh

Accreditation Information

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program at the University of Texas has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1953.

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: Ricardo Ainslie