Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program
Program Overview:
The University of Utah's Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program is an organized sequence of study in scientific and professional psychology that has received continuous accreditation from the American Psychological Association since 1957. The program is offered through the Department of Educational Psychology in the Graduate School of Education.
Counseling psychology is a professional specialty area within the science and profession of psychology. The specialty emerged shortly after World War II encompassing concepts and procedures from the vocational guidance, mental hygiene, and mental measurement movements. Students who complete the counseling psychology program develop comprehensive knowledge and skills in core areas of scientific psychology, psychological inquiry, and the professional practice of psychology. Upon graduation, students accept a wide variety of entry-level positions in higher education (academic departments or counseling centers), hospital and medical settings, community mental health centers and agencies, managed care organizations, departments of corrections, private agencies, and business and organizational settings and with diverse clientele.
General prerequisites for graduate study in the program include undergraduate and/or previous graduate preparation in psychology. Students' previous preparation should include a background in (a) general and experimental psychology, (b) human development, (c) neuropsychology, (d) normal and abnormal behavior, and (e) elementary statistics and research methods. Course work in philosophy, sociology, anthropology, mathematics, or education also may be helpful. The application of previous graduate course work to requirements in the doctoral counseling psychology program is decided through consultation with department faculty and by reference to Counseling Psychology Committee policy.
