Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology

Counseling Area

Counseling Psychology Ph.D.

Program Information

Program Mission - Indiana State University confers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Guidance and Psychological Services with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. The program’s mission is to produce highly qualified professional psychologist who value a) scientific investigations, b) good critical thinking that increases problem solving skills, and c) highly effective intervention techniques. In addition, the program promotes interpersonal values, such compassion, self-awareness, genuineness, a commitment to justice, and an authentic appreciation for diversity, which supports and informs our professional relations with others.

The goal of our Counseling Psychology program is to educate skilled professionals in the scientist-professional model in order that they may assume the role of Counseling Psychologist in colleges and universities, research facilities, mental health centers, government agencies, private practice settings, hospital and related medical settings, and in the private corporate sector.

Although students must meet certain program requirements, our program is sufficiently flexible for students to pursue personal career goals through focused electives, independent study, and a variety of training experiences such as practica, fellowship assignments, teaching, research, and community and university work experiences. Faculty members represent a broad range of professional and research interests, theoretical perspectives, and treatment modalities. This faculty diversity, the small number of students admitted each year, and the individual attention, concern, and support of our faculty allow students to participate in personalized programs geared toward individual interests, needs, and career goals.

Program Philosophy - At Indiana State University, Counseling Psychology is seen as that area of applied psychology which helps individuals solve their problems by making more effective use of their resources. Toward this end, training and research focuses on facilitating the personal, interpersonal, educational, and vocational development of individuals, as well as on enhancing the environments in which they live. Our philosophy has its roots in the historical origins of Counseling Psychology. It also represents the current roles and practices of Counseling Psychologists. Attention is focused on an individual's assets and strengths as well as his or her liabilities and weaknesses. We emphasize human development, personalized assessment, and planned problem-solving while de-emphasizing pathology and dichotomies such as sick vs. well and abnormal vs. normal.

Licensure and Certifications - The Indiana State University counseling psychology doctoral program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1981. Inquiries about the accreditation status of the Counseling Psychology Program can be made to the APA's Committee on Accreditation (CoA):

American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation & Accreditation
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5979; Fax: (202) 336-5978
Email: apaaccred@apa.org; Website: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

The program is designed to qualify graduates to take the licensure exam in the USA and Canada.

Program Description - Indiana State University offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Guidance and Psychological Services with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. The doctoral program prepares students to assume positions in university teaching and research, counseling psychology positions in community mental health centers, and within state and federal government agencies and private practice. The program places a high priority on the scientist-professional model and expects students to become contributing psychologists in both areas of psychological practice. It provides each student with opportunities for sound instruction, individual study, supervised field work, professional project work and research. Each program is characterized by individualized attention and planning and is based on a close working relationship with the faculty and with other students. The specific program for each student reflects that student’s experience, needs, interests, and goals. It is planned jointly by the student, advisor, and his or her doctoral committee.

Admission Requirements - To be admitted to the graduate program leading to the Ph.D. degree, you must comply with all general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies, the School of Education, and the Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology. Potential students must complete an application for admission to both the School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology. The Committee may waive one of the listed criteria if other evidence of the applicant's promise to pursue the program is presented. However, it must not be assumed that meeting minimal standards guarantees admission to the program

Admission criteria include: 

  1. Scores of 500 or above on each of the General Tests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  2. GPA of 2.5 or above on all undergraduate work.
  3. GPA of 3.5 or above on all graduate work.
  4. A master's degree in Counseling or a related area.
  5. Career goals consistent with the profession of Counseling Psychology
  6. Applicants may be invited for a personal interview with Admissions Committee

Degree and Graduation Requirements - A minimum of 72 semester hours of approved course work (excluding dissertation and internship credit) is required for a Ph.D. by the School of Graduate Studies. In order to meet professional preparation standards and psychology licensure requirements in various states, counseling psychology students' programs of study invariably exceed 72 semester hours. The Ph.D. Degree is not granted solely on the collection of credits. A grade-point-average of 3.50 or better is required for admission to candidacy and graduation.

Students can transfer in previous graduate course work in order to fill a requirement area. Traditionally, "out of date" coursework has been defined as coursework taken more than seven years before enrolling at Indiana State University. Current policy exempts all coursework taken toward a graduate degree from this definition and gives the student's doctoral committee the option to include older coursework. The Dean of the Graduate School provides final approval of schedules of study. Often, prior to organizing a committee, students have questions as to whether a course will meet a requirement. The Director of Training or Committee Chair can usually give a clear indication as to whether a course will transfer into a given slot.

Three letters of recommendation are required with the potential student's application to the program.

Indiana State University requires graduates to exhibit research proficiency before graduation.  The Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology will determine standards and proficiencies in research, notifying students of these requirements early in their program of study.

Doctoral students must complete their degree within nine (9) years of enrolling, and within six (6) years of being admitted to candidacy. It should be noted that in the Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, this has never been an issue. Students typically complete their degree programs in four years, including their pre-doctoral internship.

Graduation Rates - Over the past 10 years graduation rates have been above 90%.

Placement Rates - All students who have graduated have been placed in professionally appropriate positions as professional psychologists.

Current Students - Students recently entering the Counseling Psychology doctoral program are a diverse group.  Ages typically range from 22 to 50, averaging in the late twenties to early thirties depending on the entering class.  Students come from no particular geographic area, and each entering class typically has an international student.  The predominant undergraduate major is psychology, but student backgrounds have included sociology, criminal justice, music, special education and even building technology.  Graduate degrees are almost exclusively in counseling and psychology. GRE scores normally are above 500 on verbal, quantitative, and analytical.  The student undergraduate GPA average is 3.3 and graduate GPA is 3.9.  In the recent past the majority of students have been women.  Indiana State University has a strong tradition of enrolling and graduating students of color.

Average GPA's, GRE's for Applicants and Students Admitted Into the Program
Click here to download the latest statistics in MS Word format

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