McKay School of Education > CPSE > Ph.D Program > Required Courses

Ph.D Program: Required Courses

I. Psychology Foundation Courses

 Psych 510 History and Systems of Psychology (3)

 And at least one 3-semester-hour class must be taken from each of the following areas:

1.  Biological Basis of Behavior (select at least one)

• Psych 583 Biological and Health Psychology (3)
• Psych 584 Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
• Psych 585 Human Neuropsychology (3)
• CPSE 608 Biological Bases of Behavior (3)

2.  Cognitive-Affective Basis of Behavior (select at least one)

• Psych 560 Learning Theory (3)
• Psych 565 Motivational Psychology (3)

3.  Social Basis of Behavior

• Psych 550 Theory and Research in Social Psychology (3)

4.  Individual Differences

• Psych 540 Personality Theory (3)

II. Quantitative/Research Skill Courses

The Quantititative/Research Skill component of the Ph.D. program requires 21 semester hours of instruction in statistics, computer use, research methodology, and psychological measurement.

1.  Statistics (8-9 credits) or one of the following suggested elective research skill courses:

• Stat 511 Statistics Methods in Research 1 (3)
• Stat 512 Statistics Methods in Research 2 (3)
• CPSE 790R Advanced Seminar in Counseling: Qualitative Research (0.5-3)
• Psych 512 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
• Stat 537 Generalized Linear Models (3)
• Soc 706R Advanced Statistical Methods [SEM] (3)

2.  Research Methodology (9 credits)

• *CPSE 672 Empirical Inquiry in Education (3)
• CPSE 750 Research Theory and Methods in Counseling Psychology (3)
• CPSE 749 Data Analysis/Stat (3)

3.  Psychological Measurement/Psychometrics (3 credits) or either of the following:

• IP&T 752 Measurement Theory (3)

Equivalent or substitute courses must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the graduate coordinator.

III. Psychological and Educational Assessment Area Courses

•  *CPSE 647 Psychometric Foundation and Assessment of Intelligence (3)
•   CPSE 725 Objective and Projective Personality Assessment (3)

IV. Professional Core in Counseling Psychology

1.  Required courses:

• *CPSE 606 Psychoeducational Foundations (3)
• *CPSE 646 Counseling Theory & Interventions (3)
• *CPSE 644 Career Development and Assessment (3)
• *CPSE 648 Group Counseling and Intervention (3)
• *CPSE 649 Human Growth and Development (3)
• CPSE 702 Philosophy and Theories in Counseling Psychology (3)
• CPSE 710 Ethical/Legal Standards and Issues (3)
• CPSE 715 Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders (3)
• CPSE 744 Advanced Career Counseling (3)
• CPSE 746 Supervision and Consultation (3)
• CPSE 748 Advanced Theory of Group Counseling (3)
• CPSE 751 Counseling Multicultural and Diverse Populations (3)

2.  Suggested elective professional core course:  CPSE 790R Adv Seminar in Counseling (3) (Various Topics)

3.  Additional courses related to counseling psychology in any discipline (e.g., psychology, sociology, marriage and family therapy, organizational behavior and special education) are encouraged. They may be taken as elective specialty courses with the approval of the student’s advisory committee.

V. Spirituality/Psychology Integration Courses

1.  Required course

• CPSE 656 Spiritual Values and Methods in Psychotherapy (3)

2.  Suggested elective courses in spirituality/psychology integration

• Psych 614R Values and Mental Health (3)
• Rel 630 Graduate Seminar in Indian and Chinese Religions (3)
• Rel 631 Graduate Seminar in Monotheistic and Japanese Religions (3)
• Rel 641 Graduate Seminar in Christian Theological Thought (3)
• Soc 525 Sociology of Religion (3) 

VI. Practicum Training

• *CPSE 679R Adv Practicum in Counseling (3)
• CPSE 776R Advanced Practicum I in Counseling Psychology (6)
• CPSE 777R Advanced Practicum II in Counseling Psychology (6)
• CPSE 778R Counseling Psychology Clerkship (6)
• CPSE 779R University Teaching Practicum (3)

VII. Dissertation

•  CPSE 799R Dissertation (18)

VIII. Internship

• CPSE 780R Pre-doctoral Counseling Psychology Internship (8)

* These courses or their equivalent may be taken as part of a student’s master’s degree program. Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree should follow the recommended sequence for these courses.