Doctor of Philosophy

Counseling Psychology

Become a Counseling Psychologist

Welcome! Our APA-accredited PhD Program in Counseling Psychology provides integrated scientist-practitioner training in psychology as a scientific discipline and in counseling psychology as an area of professional specialization.

Faculty are active researchers and practicing psychologists who help you develop into a multiculturally aware researcher and clinician applying evidence-based practices.

Our program enables you to pursue a professional career as a licensed psychologist in a variety of research, teaching, and practice settings including employment at research-oriented universities and colleges, community and college counseling centers, academic medical schools, Veterans Affairs medical facilities, and private practice.

Program of Study
Professional and Practical Training
Clinical Work and Research Experience
Graduate Student Funding
Special Opportunities
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Program of Study

Core Courses

Introduction to Counseling Theory & Practice
Advanced Career Development or Theories of Career Development in Counseling Psychology
Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology
Theory, Research, and Practice in Counseling Psychology I & II
Assessment in Counseling Psychology I & II
Group Counseling Research and Practice
Multicultural Counseling
Proseminar in Research in Counseling Psychology
Clinical Supervision and Consultation: Theory, Research, and Practice

Supervised Practica in Counseling Psychology

Pre-practicum in Counseling Psychology
Doctoral Practicum in Counseling Psychology I & II
Doctoral Practicum in Specialized Procedures

Statistics and Research Design Courses

Statistical Methods II
Research Principles and Methods in Counseling
Regression Analysis for Counseling Research
Multivariate Applications in Counseling Psychology or Multivariate Methods for Applied Researchers and Evaluators

Psychological Foundation Courses

History and Systems in Psychology, plus one course in each of the following bases of behavior:

Biological Bases of Behavior: Proseminar in Biopsychology or Introduction to Biopsychology and Psychopharmacology

Cognitive Bases of Behavior: Survey of Cognitive Psychology

Individual Differences: Individual Differences in Human Behavior

Developmental Bases of Behavior: Survey of Developmental Psychology

Social Bases of Behavior: Seminar in Social Psychology: From Basic Theory to Health-Related Applications; Social Psychology: Foundations in Professional Psychology, or Social Psychology I

Additional Requirements

Professional development activities, qualifying exam, research tool competence, professional internship, written dissertation, and oral defense.

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Dr. Alex Pieterse at [email protected].

This program is approved for licensure or certification in New York State and the institution has not made a determination regarding the educational requirements for any other state.

Professional and Practical Training

The PhD program at UAlbany requires you to complete scholarly scientific work in addition to doctoral practica in clinical settings.

Required Activities

Participate in professional development (teaching, research, etc.)
Present at a major counseling psychology conference
Submit a scientific manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal
Complete NYS-mandated training in child abuse reporting

Initial Training

In your second year, you complete practica at the University at Albany Psychological Services Center to develop counseling skills under the supervision of APA-licensed faculty via closed-circuit television systems.

Advanced Training

In your third year, you work more independently with clients in colleges, hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and community agencies during your advanced practicum in specialized procedures.

This provides you with deeper skills in service areas such as adult, group, and family therapy, psychological testing, outreach, crisis management, psychiatric intake, behavioral health care, chemical dependency and substance abuse, hospice, cognitive remediation, and adjustment counseling for people with acquired brain injury.

Advanced practicums have been completed at:

Albany Medical Center
Capital District Psychiatric Center
College of St. Rose Counseling Center
Greene County Community Mental Health Center
NeuroPsychological Rehabilitation Services
Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center

Clinical Work and Research Experience

Professional Internship

You complete the required, APA-accredited, 2,000-hour professional internship after completing your coursework and practica, and passing your qualifying exam. The internship involves counseling, supervisory, and/or research activities.

Recent internship sites included:

Arizona State University
California State University Long Beach
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX
NYU Medical Center
University of Florida
University of Pennsylvania
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Doctoral Dissertation

To earn your PhD, you conduct a qualitative or quantitative investigation of an issue related to counseling psychology. Your dissertation must present and analyze empirical evidence, and demonstrate your competence in problem conceptualization, research design, data analysis, and scholarly reporting. Following approval of your written dissertation, you complete a final oral defense of your work.

Graduate Student Funding

Doctoral Assistantships

All students entering the PhD program are guaranteed funding for their first year through a 20-hour per week research assistantship. Typically, second-year students receive an assigned teaching assistantship and third and fourth year students may apply for a desired teaching, clinical, or research assistantship.

Additional Opportunities

Career counselor in the UAlbany Career Services Center
Career services coordinator or graduate assistant at the UAlbany Psychological Services Center
Hotline coordinator and trainer in the UAlbany Peer Assistance Program
Multicultural Counseling and Case Manager, College of St Rose

Special Opportunities

International Exchange Program (Spain)

With some Spanish fluency, third year students and beyond may visit or train in Spain at the Union de Investigacíon en Intevencíon y Cuidado Familiar (UIICF), a clinical research unit directed by Dr. Valentín Escudero, a professor at the Universidad de La Coruña.

The program enables you to participate in international research, take interdisciplinary courses, and receive clinical training in approaches to family intervention for up to one year. Tuition costs are waived in exchange for 5-6 hours of research assistance per week.

Specialization in Health Disparities

You may complete a health disparities specialization through the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities.

Graduate Job Placements

Within three years of graduation, 96% of program alumni have become state-licensed psychologists. Most work in clinical settings, but some pursue academic careers, and about half of all alumni teach in some capacity.

Recent graduates have accepted job offers at:

Harvard University Counseling Center (Cambridge, MA)
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles, CA
Middle Tennessee Veterans Healthcare, Nashville, TN
Mt. Sinai Hospital (NYC)
National VA Trauma Center, Honolulu, HI
NYS Psychiatric Institute, New York City, NY
Pioneer Valley Mental Health Clinic, Northampton, MA
University of Florida, Gainseville, FL
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Group of PhD Counseling Psychology students

Program Faculty

Dolores Cimini

Senior Research Scientist

Professor

Professor

Director of Master's Programs, Counseling Psychology

[email protected]

Jessica L. Martin

Associate Professor & Division Director, Counseling Psychology

[email protected]

https://jmartinresearchteam.weebly.com/

Lisa McAndrew

Associate Professor

[email protected]

https://www.mcandrewhealthlab.com/

Susan D. Phillips

Professor

[email protected]

Alex L. Pieterse

Associate Professor & Doctoral Training Director, Counseling Psychology

[email protected]

http://www.resistracism365.org

Hung-Bin Sheu

Associate Professor & Department Chair

[email protected]

"UAlbany's counseling psychology program enabled me to create my own specialty track in health psychology. I gained skills as a clinician and researcher, and had the opportunity to take on leadership roles. It was a highly collegial atmosphere, and I developed great relationships with both faculty and students."

-Counseling Psychology Graduate

Accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

The PhD program in Counseling Psychology has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1980. As of July 2020, the following states accept APA-accredited doctoral programs as meeting the educational requirements for licensure in that state:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

New York, as well as the following other states, require additional education and experience in addition to graduation from an APA accredited program to meet the educational requirements for licensure in that state:

Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

New York requirements for licensure

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Phone: 202-336-5979
[email protected]

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: December 1
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: December 1
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

Transcripts from all schools attended
Three letters of recommendation
Official GRE scores*

We are still requiring the GRE general test for admission to our doctoral program for 2021. Please see the ETS website for in-person and at-home test taking options.

*Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, GRE testing is being held remotely. Anyone interested in applying to our doctoral program in Fall 2021 and unable to take the GRE remotely can contact the Acting Training Director, Dr. Myrna Friedlander ([email protected]), to discuss their personal situation.

Supplemental Documents

Resume
Statement of Goals
The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program. It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals.

Available information for International Applicants.

Special Notes

At least 18 credits of undergraduate psychology credit is required, of which it must include statistics and either abnormal psychology or personality.

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

PhD

Students will understand current theory and research in human development, learning, research design, measurement, and statistical analysis.
Students will be able to demonstrate that they can read and write critically and analytically about theory, research, and practice.
Students will be able to design and carry out rigorous and theoretically well-grounded empirical research that addresses important educational and developmental issues and problems.
Students will learn how to make significant contributions to the field through professional presentations in national and international forums and conferences, and through publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
Students will demonstrate effective teaching skills in higher education, or competence in other relevant professional contexts.

Careers and Advisement

The Pathways Into Education (PIE) Center is the central office on campus serving undergraduate, graduate, and prospective students interested in pursuing careers in education and programs leading to teacher certification.

Please call or email to schedule an appointment.

Graduate Advisement:
Email Graduate Advisement
(518) 442-3529