Counseling Psychology, Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

When applying to the counseling psychology program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

• Online application
• $50 application fee
• Goals statement (upload with the application)
• Resume (upload with the application)
• Writing sample (upload with the application)
• Three letters of recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
• Proof of completion of a bachelor’s degree (and master’s degree, if relevant)
• Official transcript(s): graduate (minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA if no master’s). Submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Admissions — Graduate School | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302.
• GRE scores: An official score (within the past five years) on the Graduate Record Examination General Test is required for admission to Ph.D. programs in the College of Education and Human Development (institution code = 5251).

When you apply, in your cover letter, please indicate one or more faculty who might be a good fit as your mentor.

• Don Davis: Program Coordinator. Positive psychology, including relational virtues (humility, gratitude and forgiveness); cultural humility in psychotherapy; religion/spirituality as an aspect of cultural diversity.
• Tamara Turner (practicum coordinator): Exposure and response prevention, motivational interviewing, psychological assessment.
• Jeff Ashby: Stress, trauma, resilience and coping, perfectionism, religiosity/spirituality, child therapy.
• Kenneth Rice: Perfectionism, risk and protective factors associated with stress, psychological assessment and measurement.
• Cirleen DeBlaere: Mental health correlates of marginalization stressors (e.g., discrimination, internalized oppression and stigma); multicultural orientation in therapy, clinical training and supervision, and leadership; equity in mental health and wellness.

Application essay
Your essay should describe your match with our program, including:

1. Why a Ph.D. in counseling psychology is the best fit for your career goals
2. How this program will help you meet your career goals
3. How your background matches characteristics we seek in applicants
4. Your research interests and how they relate to those of specific faculty who you would like to work with

Preferences for interviews are given to applicants with:

1. Research interests aligned with those of faculty
2. Relevant research (e.g., publications or presentations) and clinical experience in alignment with stated training goals, as well as relevant professional or volunteer experiences that involved helping others
3. Evidence of conscientiousness, work ethic, and adaptability (e.g., high GPAs in prior academic work)
4. Evidence of leadership ability, including initiative, self-direction, creativity, the ability to contribute to the field, etc.
5. Evidence for aptitude to complete the research requirements of the degree, including work on an independent research project, collaboration on a research team (and supporting references), and high GRE scores.
6. Evidence of writing skill (applicants provide a writing sample, and we also include a writing activity in our interview process).
7. Complex understandings of multiple cultural perspectives and experience with diverse cultural populations.
8. Strong letters of recommendation with specific evidence of ability to take on high trust roles and demonstrate initiative.

Please note that our program uses a wholistic review process. Doctoral training in Counseling Psychology requires practice at earning trust with clients and professionals with a broad range of values and cultural backgrounds. Counseling Psychology has a unique emphasis on methodological rigor (especially in terms of measurement, interdisciplinary theory) and cultural contextualization.

Although CEHD requires GRE scores for all programs, please note that all information (including GRE scores) is evaluated in the context of culture, nation of origin, and language. GRE scores are one of many ways that applicants can demonstrate their potential as a psychologist.  Even if a potential applicant has an area of weakness (e.g., low GRE scores, low GPA, or lack of research experience), candidates have the opportunity to showcase qualities (see list above) that we desire in future doctoral students. In the information provided to potential applicants, we provide additional guidance for applicants with more specific questions related to the admissions process.

 

Program of Study

A. Core Area (18)

The Core Area consists of 15 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of Social Foundation of Education and Psychology of Learning coursework.

Research Core (15 hours)

Choose one course (3):

• EPRS 8500 Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education (3)
• EPRS 8530 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education (3)

Required (12):

• A two-course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (see below for specific tracks/courses)
• Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee

Quantitative Methodology

• EPRS 8540 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education II
• EPRS 8550 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education III (3)
• EPRS 8820 Program Evaluation and Institutional Research (3)
• EPRS 8830 Survey Research, Sampling Principles and Questionnaire Design (3)
• EPRS 8840 Meta-Analysis (3)
• EPRS 8660 Bayesian Statistics (3)
• EPRS 9550 Multivariate Analysis (3)
• EPRS 9560 Structural Equation Modeling (3)
• EPRS 9570 Hierarchical Linear Modeling I (3)
• EPRS 9571 Hierarchical Linear Modeling II(3)
• EPRS 9900 Research Design (3)

Qualitative Methodology

• ANTH 8010 Qualitative Methods in Anthropology (3)
• EPRS 8510 Qualitative Research in Education II (3)
• EPRS 8520 Qualitative Research in Education III (3)
• EPRS 8640 Case Study Methods (3)
• EPRS 8700 Visual Research Methods (3)
• EPRS 9120 Poststructural Inquiry (3)
• EPRS 9400 Writing Qualitative Research Manuscripts (3)

Single-Case Methodology

• EPY 8850 Introduction to Single-Case Methodology (3)
• EPY 8860 Applications of Single-Case Methodology (3)

Historical/Philosophical Methodology

• EPSF 9850 Historical Research in American Education (3)
• EPSF 9930 Philosophical Analysis and Method (3)

Measurement Methodology

• EPRS 7920 Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment (3)
• EPRS 8920 Educational Measurement (3)
• EPRS 9350 Introduction to Item Response Theory (3)
• EPRS 9360 Advanced Item Response Theory (3)

Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning course (3)

Choose One Course (3):

• EPY 8200 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Cognition and Intellect (3)
• EPY 8220 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization (3)

B. Major Area (50-51)

Required (38):

• CPS 8350 Biopsychology and Medication (3)
• CPS 8370 Advanced Career Counseling (3)
• CPS 8450 Advanced Group Counseling (3)
• CPS 8530 Professional Issues and Decisions (3)
• CPS 8650 Advanced Counseling Theory (3)
• CPS 8660 Applied Practice II: Professional and Rehabilitation Counseling (6)
• CPS 9480 Supervision of Counseling Services (3)
• CPS 9680 Doctoral Internship (3)
• CPS 9920 Research and Publication (2)
• CPS 9962 Counseling Psychology Seminar (6)
• PSYC 8500 History of Psychology (3)

Select one course (3):

• PSYC 8510 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
• EPY 8220 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization (3)
  (If EPY 8220 is completed to satisfy the Core area requirements, PSYC 8510 must be completed to satisfy this requirement. EPY 8220 can only be applied to one area of study. It cannot satisfy both the Core Area and the Major Area.)

Select one course (3):

• CPS 8100 Psychobehavioral Diagnosis (3)
• CPS 8540 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology Assessment (3)

Required (3):

CPS 9665 Assessment Practicum (3)

Select one course (3-4):

• CPS 9410 Assessment of Intelligence (3)
• CPS 9420 Adult Personality Assessment (3)
• PSYC 8030 Assessment II (4)

C. Cognate Area (18)

Required (9):

• CPS 8340 Advanced Multicultural Counseling Strategies and Intervention (3)
• CPS 9660 Applied Practice III (6)

The cognate area provides the students an opportunity to enrich their preparation as counseling psychologists with further study in a related area of expertise. The students must select one of the following cognate areas (9): child and family, clinical assessment, health psychology, human sexuality, psychotherapy, multicultural, geriatric psychology, organizational development, rehabilitation psychology, or research methodology. Students should contact their Doctoral Advisory Committees for a program outline for Counseling Psychology. The program outline describes the course sequencing and describes additional cognate course requirements.

D. Dissertation (15)

Required (15):

CPS 9990 Dissertation (15)

Program total: Minimum of 101-102 semester hours

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. Stipends in the Counseling Psychology program begin at $12,000 per year and range up to $27,000 or higher, depending on the funding source. Funding also includes tuition remission. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university. Please keep in mind that our stipends come with tuition remission, so tuition estimates provide an indication of the value of an offer to study within our program.

Student Resources

• CPY Student Handbook
• Counseling Psychology Ph.D. FAQs
• APA Division 17
• Georgia Psychological Association
• APPIC
• EPPP
• Atlanta Visitor’s Bureau
• GSU Women’s Study Institute Video
• 2013-2023 CPY Student Admissions Outcomes and Other Final Data

Faculty

Don Davis, Program Coordinator
Jeff Ashby
Kenneth Rice
Cirleen DeBlaere