Counseling Psychology Specialization, PsyD

The Psychology Department offers the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in counseling psychology, which trains graduates for the independent practice of assessment and intervention with individuals, couples, families and groups.

The Counseling Psychology PsyD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-COA) and meets the specialty guidelines for the delivery of services. For information about APA accreditation status, contact the APA Commission on Accreditation, c/o Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street NE, Washington, D.C. 2002-4242; 202-336-5979; www.apa.org.

The PsyD program emphasizes skills and competencies for the professional practice of psychology. There is a greater emphasis in the PsyD program on the application of psychology and the delivery of services and less emphasis on traditional research activities. The PsyD degree is designed to meet state academic requirements for licensure as a psychologist.

Admission Application Requirements

In addition to the requirements for graduate admission into Our Lady of the Lake University, applicants will provide:

1. Evidence of a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related discipline of at least 45 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree of less than 45 semester hours may apply but should expect to do leveling coursework in addition to the doctoral requirements
2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 in the master’s degree program
3. A satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years. The average scores of students admitted to the PsyD program can be found on the Psychology Department website.
4. A satisfactory score on the GRE Psychology subject test taken within the last five years. The average scores of students admitted to the PsyD program can be found on the Psychology Department website.
5. As felony convictions may limit practicum placements and the ability to obtain professional licensure after graduation, all students who enroll in the MS/PsyD program must submit criminal background checks. A national criminal background check, no older than six months prior to enrolling in the MS/PsyD program must be submitted by the last day of the first semester in the program. All admissions are conditional pending the submission of the criminal background check.
6. Three letters of recommendation from professionals, with at least one from a former professor who can attest to the applicant’s promise as a professional psychologist
7. Pertinent professional experience
8. Personal statement of background in psychology, expectations of doctoral program and professional goals
9. Satisfactory completion of the on-campus interview process

Admission Deadline

Students admitted to the doctoral program begin in the fall. All admission materials must be turned in to the Admissions Office no later than Jan. 15.

Admission Procedures

1. All completed admission files will be submitted to the PsyD admissions committee after Jan. 15
2. The PsyD admissions committee will review the files during the two weeks that follow the deadline
3. After an initial screening by the admissions committee, a selected number of applicants will be invited on campus for in-depth interviews. Notification regarding appointments for these interviews will be made by Feb. 1
4. All applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than March 1

International Students

An international student seeking admission into the PsyD in counseling psychology program should refer to the international admission section of this catalog for additional information on credentials needed for admission.

Academic Requirements

Doctoral degree students will be expected to complete the following requirements in addition to required coursework:

1. Written and clinical (oral) qualifying examinations
2. The written qualifying exam should be taken during the third or fourth year of doctoral level coursework and must be passed prior to the dissertation proposal defense. Students who do not pass the exam in two attempts will be dismissed from the program. The clinical examination should be taken during the third or fourth year of doctoral level coursework and must be passed prior to applying for internship. Students who do not pass the exam in two attempts will be dismissed from the program
3. Dissertation — a dissertation is required as part of the doctoral degree program. A student must register for at least nine semester hours of dissertation (PSYC 9395 , PSYC 9396  and PSYC 9397 ). If a student has not completed the dissertation by the end of the course sequence, PSYC 9198  must be registered for each semester until completion
4. Pre-Doctoral Internship — the pre-doctoral internship must be completed in one year of full-time or two years of part-time commitment. A student must register for three semester hours which will be PSYC 9190 , PSYC 9191  and PSYC 9192  during the internship. All internships must be approved by the training director.
5. Residency Requirement - doctoral students must attend classes on campus full-time (18 semester hours or more in one year) at least three consecutive years.

117 semester hours

The following courses are required of PsyD students. All courses carry three semester hours of credit except for Doctoral Colloquium I and II, Practicum (which is repeated 7 times) Management of Professional Practices, Selected Topics in Counseling Psychology, and Internship, which are one semester hour classes. Graduate transcripts are evaluated upon admission for possible awarding of credit for courses that may satisfy PsyD programs requirements. APA Standards of Accreditation require that students provide the syllabus for each course which they are seeking transfer credit.