The overarching aim of the Program is to prepare counseling psychologists in the scientist-practitioner model to assume roles as responsible, competent members of the professional psychological community. Such members understand the value of science and research for the practice of psychology and the value of applied practice for the science of psychology, and they have developed skills, knowledge, and self-understanding that allow them to help persons take responsibility for and control of their lives within the context of their development as human beings and the various systems and environments that impact their lives.
Additionally, professional psychologists are expected to demonstrate competence within and across a number of different but interrelated dimensions. Programs that educate and train professional psychologists strive to protect the public and the profession. Therefore, faculty, training, staff, supervisors, and administrators in such programs have a duty and responsibility to evaluate the competence of students and trainees across multiple aspects of performance, development, and functioning. It is important for students and trainees to understand and appreciate that academic competence in professional psychology programs (e.g., doctoral, internship, post-doctoral) is defined and evaluated comprehensively. Specifically, in addition to performance in coursework, seminars, scholarship, comprehensive examinations, and related program requirements, other aspects of professional development and functioning (e.g., cognitive, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, technical, and ethical) will also be evaluated. As such, within a developmental framework, and with due regard for the inherent power difference between students and faculty, students and trainees should know that their faculty, training staff, and supervisors will evaluate their competence in areas other than, and in addition to, coursework, seminars, scholarship, comprehensive examinations, or related program requirements.
These evaluative areas include, but are not limited to, demonstration of sufficient
Because counseling psychologists are working in increasingly diverse settings, the Program provides an intensive grounding in psychological theory comparable to that provided to students in other specialties. However, the philosophy of training maintains a strong emphasis on the approach to practice that distinguishes counseling psychologists from other professionals, as defined by APA Division 17: a focus on relatively intact rather than severely disturbed people; a focus on assets, strengths, and positive mental health regardless of the degree of disturbance; an emphasis on relatively brief interventions; an emphasis on person-environment interactions rather than an exclusive focus on person or environment; and an emphasis on educational and career development.
Rather than following specialized tracks within the program, students receive training in theory, research, and practice with a comprehensive generalist focus. Students may choose to further specialize through elective courses, internship and/or postdoctoral experiences that will expand on their training at Seton Hall. Past graduates have chosen careers in a variety of settings, including college and university counseling centers, health care and rehabilitation facilities, academic departments in universities, private practice and consultation, and business and organizational practice.
Students are admitted to the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program if they have completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, or with a master’s degree in psychology or counseling; transfer credits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Admission to the program is competitive. Students are admitted once a year for the Fall semester, with an application deadline of December 1st. The following must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, College of Education and Human Services, by all applicants:
Individuals may be admitted to the Ph.D. program in counseling Psychology with a B.A. in Psychology if they demonstrate strong academic promise (e.g., GPA, GRE scores, research experience, etc.), potential for personal growth (e.g., highly developed interpersonal skills, clinical experience, letters of recommendation, etc.), and a commitment to the profession of counseling psychology (personal statement). Students from historically under- represented groups are encouraged to apply.
Admissions decisions are based on all of the above, in addition to a personal interview for a small group of applicants. The program also focuses on students who have demonstrated interests in both research and practice. Further, because of the highly interactive nature of the classroom and practicum experiences, students in the program learn from one another, as well as from their professors and supervisors. Therefore, the program seeks to admit students who bring both well-developed interpersonal skills and a variety of personal backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences that may serve to enhance the professional and personal development of their peers.
Interested individuals are encouraged to read the Counseling Psychology Program doctoral student handbook.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Part 1: Discipline-Specific Knowledge | ||
History and Systems of Psychology | ||
CPSY 7100 | History-Systems of Psyc | 3 |
Basic Content Areas and Advanced Integrative Knowledge | ||
CPSY 6104 | Theories Learning Cogn Affect | 3 |
CPSY 6105 | Biological Bases-Behavior | 3 |
CPSY 6102 | Psychology-Human Devl | 3 |
CPSY 7515 | Social Psychology | 3 |
CPSY 6601 | Couple-Fam Dyn-Syst Perspect | 3 |
Research Methods, Statistical Analysis | ||
CPSY 7006 | Stat Theory - Computer App II | 3 |
CPSY 9001 | Univariate Exp Design | 3 |
CPSY 9002 | Applied Multivariate Stats | 3 |
CPSY 9004 | Special Topic-Research-Evaluat | 3 |
Subtotal | 30 | |
Part II: Profession-Wide Competencies | ||
Research | ||
CPSY 8001 & CPSY 8002 | Supv Rsch/ Counseling Psych and Supv Research-Counsel Psyc | 2 |
CPSY 9991 & CPSY 9992 | Diss Advise I and Diss Advise II *,** | 6 |
Ethical and Legal Standards | ||
CPSY 8010 | Eth and Lgl Iss in Couns Pych | 3 |
Individual and Cultural Diversity | ||
CPSY 8106 | SP TP-Multicultural Competency (1 credit in each of 4 years) ** | 4 |
Assessment | ||
CPSY 8520 | Sem-Psychopathology | 3 |
or CPSY 8519 | Atyp Behavior Chld:Assess Intv | |
CPSY 7502 | Individual Cognitive Assess | 3 |
CPSY 8502 | Indiv Cognitive Assess-Lab | 1 |
CPSY 8706 | Sem-Clinical Assess Techniques | 3 |
CPSY 9706 | Lab-Sem-Clin-Assess-Technique | 1 |
CPSY 7203 | Pract-Apt Int-Personality Test | 3 |
Intervention and Prevention, including Professional Values and Attitudes | ||
CPSY 9774 | Theory-Tech-Counsel-Psychother | 3 |
CPSY 8701 | Techniques Group Counseling | 3 |
or CPSY 8550 | Group Psychology-Child-Adol | |
CPSY 8703 | Seminar in Voc Psychology (also addresses vocational research) | 3 |
CPSY 8705 | Psychoed-Program-Consultation | 3 |
CPSY 8563 | Counseling Psyc Practicum I | 3 |
CPSY 9563 | Counsel Psyc Practicum-Lab | 1 |
CPSY 8564 & CPSY 8565 | Practicum-Counseling Psyc II and Practicum-Counseling III | 6 |
Intervention and Supervision | ||
CPSY 8566 & CPSY 8567 | Practicum IV and Practicum-Counseling V | 6 |
CPSY 9788 & CPSY 9789 | Internship in Couns Psyc and Internship in Counsel Psyc *** | 0 |
CPSY 8003 | Independent Study **** | 1 |
Electives | ||
Select six credits ***** | 6 | |
Subtotal | 64 | |
III. Dissertation Advisement | ||
Complete a minimum of six credits * | 6 | |
Subtotal | 6 | |
Total Hours | 100 |
The 6 credit hours for dissertation advisement are counted in the calculation of the 97 total credit hours in the curriculum for the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. Dissertation advisement will begin in the Fall semester of the student’s second year and continue for a minimum of two semesters (CPSY 9991 Diss Advise I-CPSY 9992 Diss Advise II). Enrolling for additional dissertation advisement credits will be determined in consultation with the student’s mentor. In addition, in order to stay continuously enrolled in the University after all courses and the Internship are completed, students must enroll in Dissertation Advisement (CPSY 9993 Diss Advise III-CPSY 9994 Diss Advise IV) until the dissertation is completed.
Students who have competed all courses and the Internship may, at the discretion of their mentor, register for THCN 8999 Thesis Cont - Doctorate: Thesis Continuation for one semester. Only registration fees are assessed for THCN 8999 Thesis Cont - Doctorate. Students who have successfully defended their dissertation but are not eligible for their degree until the subsequent semester must register for RGCN 8000 Registration Continuation for that semester. Proposals for the dissertation must be defended by July 15th of Year Three in order to be eligible for Internship.
Note: CPSY 8106 SP TP-Multicultural Competency is offered at least once every year, usually in the summer. Students are required to attend ad complete all assignments for this course whenever it is offered during their first 4 years in the Program. Because this course reflects current multicultural issues, no student will be excused, regardless of previous courses taken with similar content. However, students may have registration and fees waived for prior coursework, at the discretion of the Training Director.
Also addresses vocational research.
Only if placement starts in the summer.
Elective courses provide an opportunity for students to choose an area of either practice or research specialization, beyond the required coursework for the program. Students may count prior coursework toward their elective requirement, within the transfer credit policy.
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