Counseling Psychology (PhD)

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Program Description
Career Opportunities
Licensure and Accreditation
Admissions

Program Description

The PhD Program in Counseling Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Counseling psychologists are defined as those who enter into professional relationships with individuals and groups and bring to those relationships knowledge of psychology as a science, knowledge of counseling theory and research, a personally integrated theory of counseling, and an ethical responsibility.

The major principles underlying the Program in Counseling Psychology are a focus on a developmental understanding of clients; commitment to a health model of intervention; and appreciation of the gendered, cultural, and institutional contexts of people’s lives, as these contexts affect both clients and counselors.

The program follows the scientist–practitioner model of training and is organized in three areas: general psychology, including statistics and research methodology; counseling and vocational psychology; and patterns of learning experiences designed to meet the professional goals of program matriculants.

In addition to course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination to be admitted to candidacy, complete a full-year, full-time internship; have an approved dissertation proposal and dissertation; and pass a final oral examination of the dissertation.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the New York State psychology licensing examination and are prepared to practice in diverse settings such as colleges, clinics, hospitals, and community agencies, as well as pursue careers in research and teaching.

Licensure and Accreditation

Graduates of the program become fully qualified psychologists with specialized training in counseling and are eligible for licensure by the state. Learn more about licensure requirements in those states in which students are doing learning placements.

The Counseling Psychology program has been fully accredited since 1981 by the American Psychological Association, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington DC 20002-4242 (202-336-5979). Questions related to the program's accreditation status may be directed to this office.

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

Résumé/CV
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts
Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

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Program Requirements
Additional Program Requirements

Program Requirements

For completion of the doctorate, 69-72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree are required. Additionally, as part of undergraduate or other graduate work, 18 credits in psychology including a course in statistics are prerequisites to the PhD program. In the Counseling Psychology required curriculum (53-56 credits), students complete work in counseling theory and process, cross-cultural counseling, group counseling, abnormal psychology, psychological measurement, program seminar, seminar in counseling theory, clinical assessment, statistics and research design, and practica in individual counseling, clinical intake and diagnosis, and counselor training and supervision. Students also must take two counseling psychology specialty electives (6 credits); and statistics and research design electives (10 credits).

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
Major Requirements
APSTA-GE 2002	Statistics for Behav and Social Sciences II	2
APSY-GE 2001	Neuropsychology of Behavior	3
APSY-GE 2038	Abnormal Psychology	3
APSY-GE 2073	Research Design and Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences I	3
APSY-GE 2261	Emotional Development: A Cognitive Perspective	3
APSY-GE 2271	Survey of Developmental Psychology	3
APSY-GE 2524	Psychological Measurement	3
APSY-GE 2620	Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice	3
APSY-GE 2658	Lab in Individual Counseling Skills (only required if not previously taken)	3
APSY-GE 2682	Cross-Cultural Counseling	3
APSY-GE 3009	Departmental Seminar: Theories of Change in Applied Psychology	3
APSY-GE 3016	Internship in Counseling Psychology	0
APSY-GE 3031	Practicum in Clinical Intake and Diagnosis	2
APSY-GE 3103	Historical Perspectives of Psychological Theory	3
APSY-GE 3607	Supervised Advanced Counseling Practicum: Individual and Group I	2
APSY-GE 3608	Supervised Advanced Counseling Practicum II	2
APSY-GE 3610	Externship in Counseling Psychology	0
APSY-GE 3611	Counseling Psychology Program Seminar I	3
APSY-GE 3620	Forum in Counseling Psychology	0
APSY-GE 3629	Practicum in Counselor Training	3
APSY-GE 3633	Seminar in Counseling Theory and Research	3
APSY-GE 3665	Clinical Assessment in Counseling Psychology I	3
APSY-GE 3666	Clinical Assessment in Counseling Psychology II	3
Electives
APSY-GE ----	Counseling Psychology Specialty Elective	3
APSY-GE ----	Counseling Psychology Specialty Elective	3
Research Electives		10
Total Credits		72

Additional Program Requirements

Students also must complete departmental and state licensure course requirements covering measurement, history and systems, principles of learning, personality, developmental psychology, social psychology, and the biological basis of behavior (21 credits). In addition to course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination to be admitted to candidacy, complete a full-year full-time internship, have an approved dissertation proposal and dissertation, and pass a final oral examination of the dissertation.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/Term		Credits
APSY-GE 3009	Departmental Seminar: Theories of Change in Applied Psychology	3
APSY-GE 2038	Abnormal Psychology	3
APSY-GE 2073	Research Design and Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences I	3
APSY-GE 3665	Clinical Assessment in Counseling Psychology I	3
APSY-GE 3031	Practicum in Clinical Intake and Diagnosis	2
APSY-GE 2658	Lab in Individual Counseling Skills	3
	Credits	17
2nd Semester/Term
APSY-GE 3666	Clinical Assessment in Counseling Psychology II	3
APSY-GE 2682	Cross-Cultural Counseling	3
APSTA-GE 2002 or APSY-GE 3611	Statistics for Behav and Social Sciences II or Counseling Psychology Program Seminar I	2
APSY-GE 3620	Forum in Counseling Psychology	0
Counseling Specialty Elective ¹		3
	Credits	11
3rd Semester/Term
APSY-GE 3633	Seminar in Counseling Theory and Research	3
APSY-GE 2620	Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice	3
APSY-GE 3607	Supervised Advanced Counseling Practicum: Individual and Group I	2
APSY-GE 2271	Survey of Developmental Psychology	3
Research Elective		3
	Credits	14
4th Semester/Term
APSY-GE 2682 or APSY-GE 3611	Cross-Cultural Counseling or Counseling Psychology Program Seminar I	3
APSY-GE 3608	Supervised Advanced Counseling Practicum II	2
APSY-GE 2001 or APSY-GE 3103	Neuropsychology of Behavior or Historical Perspectives of Psychological Theory	3
APSY-GE 2261	Emotional Development: A Cognitive Perspective (or Research Elective)	3
Research Elective		1
	Credits	12
5th Semester/Term
APSY-GE 3629	Practicum in Counselor Training	3
APSY-GE 3610	Externship in Counseling Psychology	0
Counseling Specialty Elective		3
	Credits	6
6th Semester/Term
APSY-GE 2001 or APSY-GE 3103	Neuropsychology of Behavior or Historical Perspectives of Psychological Theory	3
APSY-GE 2261	Emotional Development: A Cognitive Perspective (or Research Elective)	3
APSY-GE 2524	Psychological Measurement	3
Research Elective		3
	Credits	12
	Total Credits	72

¹: APSY-GE 2657 Individual Counseling: Theory and Process must be taken as the first elective if a student enters without a counseling degree

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

Fulfill the multiple roles of professional psychologists.
Demonstrate a high level of ethical sensitivity and behavior in their professional roles.
Knowledgeable in counseling/clinical theory, research, and practice.
Are knowledgeable about the research process and the creation of new knowledge.
Attain awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively with diverse populations.
Understand optimal adaptive and maladaptive human functioning across the lifespan.
Have a professional identity of a counseling psychologist and who are able to acquire additional knowledge appropriate to this specialty.
Demonstrate understanding of how to maximize psychological flourishing within individuals and across populations and settings.

Policies

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Fieldwork Placement
STEM OPT Benefits for International Students
NYU Policies
Steinhardt Academic Policies

Fieldwork Placement

Be advised that fieldwork placement facilities that provide training required for your program degree, and agencies that issue licenses for practice in your field of study, each may require you to undergo general and criminal background checks, the results of which the facility or agency must find acceptable before it will allow you to train at its facility or issue you a license. You should inform yourself of offenses or other facts that may prevent obtaining a license to practice in your field of study. NYU Steinhardt will not be responsible if you are unable to complete program requirements or cannot obtain a license to practice in your field because of the results of such background.

STEM OPT Benefits for International Students

If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in this program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.