Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
How many credits is the Counseling Psychology degree?
How many credits would I take per semester?
When are classes offered?
Can I work and go to school?
Are classes available online?
What are the class sizes?
What are my options for internship training?
Is the University of Utah program APA accredited?
Is the degree portable to other states?
What are the thesis and dissertation requirements?
What are the tuition costs?
Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs?
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Who do I contact for information?

Is there a specific area of focus in this program?

The training and education plan for the Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology is based on seven overarching principles: Science, Practice, Integration of Science and Practice, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Optimal Human Functioning and Adaptive Developmental Processes, Professional Identity and Development, and Legal and Ethical Issues. Counseling psychology as a psychological specialty facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders. Counseling Psychology students at the University of Utah are expected to choose a special proficiency (or proficiencies) they wish to pursue and complete coursework in that area. Some of the special proficiencies for which coursework is available include: Psychotherapy Process and Outcome, Assessment, Child/Adolescent Psychology, Family/Couples Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Feminist and/or Gender Psychology, Adult Lifespan Development and Aging, Health Psychology, Multicultural Psychology and Human Diversity, Applied Neuropsychology, Psychometric Theory and Test Construction, Substance Abuse, and Vocational Psychology.

How many credits is the Counseling Psychology degree?

Check with the department

How many credits would I take per semester?

Most students take between 13-16 credit hours per semester. Students in their 3rd year and beyond often work up to half-time in community agencies in professionally relevant positions.

When are classes offered?

Most courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters. There are a few course offerings (usually electives) in the summer. With respect to the times that courses are offered, a number of classes are offered in the late afternoon/evening and meet Monday through Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. However, some classes are offered only during day-time hours, making it difficult to maintain full-time, 8-5 employment obligations when taking those courses.

Can I work and go to school?

The Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology is designed to be a full-time program, with opportunities to work at graduate assistantships and field practicum placements. Some students work part-time at their previous places of employment, especially if that employment is in the field of counseling psychology. Many courses are scheduled during daytime hours, so a flexible work schedule would be required. During the second year of the program, the demands of courses, practicum, and research make working outside prohibitive.

Are classes available online?

Not presently. At this time, the nature of the coursework and professional preparation involves active attendance and face-to-face involvement in the curriculum and with other students. Our commitment to high quality programming involves fostering a close, collegial atmosphere with you, your instructors, and your peers. A rare exception exists for students who wish to take an online course as part of their special proficiency requirement.

What are the class sizes?

The majority of courses enroll from 10 to 20 students. It is our goal to keep class size small so that you can become personally familiar (and interact) with your other classmates. A few classes are made up of only the current cohort of 3-5 students.

What are my options for internship training?

During the 5th year of the program, after all coursework and practicum are completed, students go on a predoctoral internship, which is a paid, full-time training experience at a college or university counseling center, VA medical center or other hospital, a community mental health center, or a consortium. Internships are located across the country. Specific internship sites can be explored at the website of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers at www.appic.org.

Is the University of Utah program APA accredited?

The Doctoral program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, office of Program Consultation and Accreditation; 750 First Street, NE; Washington, DC 20002-4242; Phone: 202-336-5979/TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123; Fax: 202-336-5978.

Is the degree portable to other states?

Because the Doctoral program meets standards for licensure as a Professional Psychologist from the Utah State Department of Occupational Licensing, our graduates generally have little trouble obtaining licensure in other States and/or jurisdictions in the United States. Licensure is determined state by state. The Association of State and Provincial Licensing Boards (ASPPB) expedites portability across states (http://www.asppb.net/?page=CPQ).

Do I have to do a research thesis or Dissertation?

Students must conduct a Pre-dissertation Research Project during their first two years in the doctoral program. This project is typically conducted as part of the student's research advisor's research team and may be closely connected to the advisor's research. All students are required to complete a dissertation project under the supervision of a five-member committee chaired by a faculty advisor.

What are the tuition costs?

Exact, up-to-date tuition rates can be found by consulting the appropriate link below:
Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
Non-Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule

Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs?

In general, students in our program who wish funding are able to obtain it. The typical first-year student will be funded with a 20-hour per week research, teaching, or other graduate assistantship at the rate of $7750 per semester, which also comes with a tuition benefit that covers the full amount of student tuition and fees. It does not provide assistance for differential tuition. The program works with students after the first year to provide assistantships. In addition, students work at paid field practicum sites, teach on campus or at local colleges, and find other relevant work in the field. Our students are very successful in obtaining scholarships from the College of Education and the university, as well as from professional organizations.
College of Education scholarship information can be found here.

What do I need to know about applying to the program?

Most of what you need to know about the process of applying to the Counseling Psychology Program is contained within the standard application process for the Department of Educational Psychology. You can also visit the Information for Counseling Psychology Applicants page for details. When completing your application be sure to check the box to indicate your interest in being considered for the Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology.

What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?

Graduates of the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Utah work in a variety of positions, including as faculty members at colleges and universities, college and university counseling center psychologists, independent practitioners, research psychologists, psychologists at community mental health centers, psychological or educational consultants, the criminal justice system, and others.

Who do I contact for information?

The Program Director of Clinical Training for the Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program is Dr. Karen Tao at email: k.tao@utah.edu

You may also contact our Academic Coordinator, Laethan Lappin by email at: laethan.lappin@utah.edu or phone at: 801.581.6811

Counseling Psychology Information Sessions

These video conference information sessions will provide important information about our Ph.D. Program. Please review our program introduction video on this page before the information session. The video includes an introduction to our program, what professionals in these careers do, the job outlook, program requirements, admissions requirements, and the admissions process. The information session will primarily be a question-and-answer session about the program. Video Conference Times are in Mountain Time, so adjust if you are in a different time zone.

Please contact ed-cpasst@utah.edu and specify which date to participate.

Upcoming Info Session Dates/Times:

September 9th: 6pm-7pm MST
October 16th: 7:15pm-8:15pm MST
November 4th: 7pm-8pm MST