Counseling Psychology Ph.D. FAQs
Is there a longer list of questions addressed at information sessions?
Is a master’s degree required for admission?
No, we currently admit students with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Can I be enrolled part-time?
No, students accepted into the program must be enrolled full-time.
Are students funded? If so, for how long? And, for how much?
Yes! Historically, all of our students have received funding for the duration of their studies. Students have been funded via departmental
Graduate Research Assistantships (currently $12,000 stipend per year and tuition remission), Dean’s Fellowships ($27,000 stipend per year and tuition remission), and external grants (at least $12,000 stipend per year and tuition remission).
Are there teaching opportunities?
Yes! Students are given the opportunity to teach in person and/or online. Students usually teach entry-level career development and diversity undergraduate courses.
How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at GSU?
Length of training varies on whether you have a prior master’s degree in a counseling psychology-related field. The average student takes approximately four to five years post-master’s degree and five to six years post-baccalaureate to complete the program. This includes a full year of pre-doctoral internship and a completed dissertation.
What practicum opportunities are available for students?
Our students are sought after by local college counseling centers (e.g., Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory), local hospitals and private practice groups that focus on psychological assessments.
Do I need prior clinical experience?
Prior clinical experience is not required.
How much prior research experience do I need?
We operate from a scientist-training model. Thus, students should demonstrate a commitment to research and scholarship. Having publications, presentations of research at local and national conferences and being a member of research teams can help to demonstrate this commitment and will make your application more competitive. In our recent report to APA, we stated, “The Counseling Psychology program’s mission to produce Scientist-Practitioners of Counseling Psychology to work in academic, research and applied settings, is consistent with the missions of the department, college and university.”
What type of things are students doing after they complete the doctoral program?
Our students are employed in a variety of settings, including academic appointments, staff psychologist positions at college and university
counseling centers, staff psychologist positions at VA hospitals and positions in private practices.
How many students are usually accepted?
We tend to accept between four to six students each year. The number of students accepted varies by faculty needs and funding availability.
Where do students go for internships?
We have an excellent record of a 100% match rate since 2008! Our students have been matched with a variety of APA-accredited internship sites, such as Emory University Counseling Center, Georgia Institute of Technology Counseling Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Wilford Hall Air Force (United States Air force) and Trenton Psychiatric Hospital.
What’s the best thing about the CPY program at GSU?
A program is only as good as the faculty and students who make up the program, and we have great people in this program. Our faculty are passionate about their work and invested in strong mentorship. Our students not only represent an impressive diversity of identities and experiences but they are also actively involved in research, clinical work and service to the department and community.
What are the characteristics of successful students in the program?
Our thriving students seem to share several characteristics. They are developing a clear sense of their professional goals and are self-motivated to achieve them. They are good citizens of the program, department and profession. They work hard and enjoy being a part of a team, and have a strong interest in the science of psychology with an interest in contributing to the research base of counseling psychology. They apply steady energy to developing their identities as writers, researchers and therapists.
How are admissions decisions made? What’s most important?
We look at a combination of prior educational performance, GRE scores, research, practical experience and potential fit with a faculty advisor. We have a very strong applicant pool and use a two-phase admission process. Individual faculty have the initial primary responsibility over admission decisions for their research team, but final admission decisions are then made by the entire faculty.
How do I know if a faculty member is accepting a student?
We recommend emailing faculty directly to see if they will be accepting a student.
How can I learn more about a research team?
We recommend reviewing faculty profile webpages, research team webpages and emailing students directly about their experiences on particular research teams.
Do you allow on-campus visits before formal interviews?
Campus visits can occur, but would be at the faculty member’s discretion and generally, faculty have discouraged such visits during the admissions process. The main reason for this hesitation is that we as a faculty want to be sensitive to financial disparities that may preclude some students from traveling to campus for more than the single visit associated with our invited interviews. There is considerable information available on the web about the program, students and each of the individual faculty members, so potential applicants should make efficient use of all available technology. However, the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services does host regular information sessions on our doctoral programs of study (Email: [email protected] or phone: 404-413-8200). Prospective students can also email the current Program Assistant and Secretary of the Counseling Psychology Student Organization, D’Asha Barnes Daniels: [email protected].