Counseling Psychology Grad Schools

Several schools in the Midwestern United States offer American Psychological Association-accredited counseling psychology programs. The University of Akron in Ohio, Ball State University and the University of Notre Dame--both in Indiana--all offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree in counseling psychology. The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota offers the Doctor of Psychology degree. The University of Akron has two programs for counseling psychology graduates, both of which train students in a generalist approach to counseling psychology. However, the University of Akron's Collaborative Program in Counseling Psychology gives students the opportunity to receive more hands-on experience since it uses an "apprenticeship" model.

University of Notre Dame's counseling psychology program is geared more toward individuals who want to follow academic and research careers. This program does provide foundations in assessing psychological disorders and devising treatment programs.

The Universities of St. Thomas in Minnesota and Ball State in Indiana both prepare students for careers as counseling psychologists. The University of St. Thomas offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in counseling psychology, which prepares individuals for licensure in the state of Minnesota as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). The school also has a Doctor of Psychology degree program and students are expected to hold a master's degree before applying.

Ball State's counseling psychology program allows students to choose a major area of focus so that students can develop an expertise in a certain area. Major areas of focus include couple and family counseling, neuropsychology and school counseling.

Southern United States

The University of Florida's APA-accredited counseling psychology program uses a generalist, scientist-practitioner model rooted in theories of human development across the lifespan. Students choose a minor area that complements the counseling focus, such as in crisis intervention, assessment, marriage and family therapy, health psychology or substance abuse. Graduate students here receive tuition waivers and stipends with graduate teaching and research assistant positions.

Auburn University in Alabama admits students with both bachelor's and master's degrees, though students who enter with a bachelor's degree do not receive the master's en route to the doctoral degree. Auburn's APA-accredited program consists of core coursework in general psychology, counseling psychology and research. The University allows students to informally "tailor" their training to be more practitioner-oriented or scientist-oriented.

The University of Georgia's counseling psychology program requires coursework and training in five major areas: clinical practice, counseling psychology foundations, supervision and instruction, research design and analysis and general psychology. The program has a spotlight focus on multicultural and diversity issues.

Georgia State University's graduate program can be completed in four years of study, but many students take longer. At GSU, students choose a major area of focus, such as health psychology, geriatric psychology, psychotherapy and clinical assessment. Students at Georgia State have "unique" training opportunities, such as the opportunity to take seminars in "hot" topics like traumatology, consciousness and adventure therapy.

West Coast

Colorado State University's APA-accredited Doctor of Philosophy program trains students to be proficient in the use of counseling and clinical techniques. Students choose an area of specialization during their training; available areas include a child, adult or family therapy emphasis. Students begin clinical practicum courses during the first year and begin to develop skills in interviewing clients. Colorado State's counseling psychology program emphasizes human development as well as concern for the human condition.

University of Denver's APA-accredited doctoral program is "highly selective" according to the program's website. The school trains students to work with diverse client populations and allows students to pursue individual interests through areas of specialization and electives. Specializations students can choose from include health psychology, adolescent and adult development, and applications of psychology to business.

New Mexico State University's APA-accredited doctoral program is housed in the school's College of Education. Students complete a clinical practicum course each semester throughout the four-year training program and a focus is on developing competencies to treat and work with culturally-diverse clients. A few major content areas in which students gain knowledge and skills include diagnosis and treatment planning, child and adolescent counseling, addictions counseling and vocational counseling. New Mexico State stresses the APA code of ethics throughout the program.

Resources for More Information:
American Psychological Association: Accredited Programs in Counseling Psychology