TWU Home > College of Arts & Sciences > Psychology & Philosophy > Counseling Psychology > Doctoral Program

Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program
APA Accredited: June 1995
For information on accreditation, please visit the APA website:
www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
Or contact them at:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Fax: (202) 336-5978

Philosophy and Goals of the Program
Program Costs and Financial Aid
Program Data
Application Procedures
Doctoral Curriculum
Recent Dissertation Titles
Doctoral Student Handbook


Email Questions about Doctoral Program: sstabb@mail.twu.edu

Information and Forms for Current Students:

Course Rotation (pdf) updated 4/27/07
Suggested Course Sequence (pdf)
Doctoral Handbook Under Construction--check back soon!
Practicum Manual (pdf)
Comprehensive Exams FAQ (pdf)
Comprehensive Exams Grading Sheet (pdf)

Forms:

PSY 6991 Supervised Field Work Evaluation Form (pdf)
Student Request Form (Word document)
Request For Transfer Credit Form (pdf)
Doctoral Degree Plan (Word document)
Master's Degree Plan for Doctoral Students (Word document)

Philosophy and Goals of the Program
 

The doctoral program holds strongly to principles that undergird the development of more traditional graduate programs in this specialization including normal growth and development and an emphasis on individuals' strengths rather than pathology. Emphasis is also placed on the study of the multiple contexts within which human beings grow and develop, i.e., the family, the school, the marketplace, and the multiple social settings and groups in our culture. The training model is that of a Practitioner-Scientist with emphasis on practitioner aspects. The student is trained to be particularly sensitive to and skilled in human interactions and multicultural issues as well as growth and change in human systems and the individual in her/his context. Coursework and practica focus on work with individuals and family systems. This work is informed by historically foundational training in assessment, psychopathology, and other core areas. Further, in accordance with the mission of the University to develop women and resources concerning them, the Counseling Psychology program emphasizes women's/gender issues.

This particular program's philosophy, curriculum, faculty and students, situated within the unique context of the TWU mission, attempts to create an atmosphere that is supportive, open, and flexible. The goal is to create a program which challenges without creating competition, promotes professionalism with a minimum of power hierarchy, incorporates and encourages student participation at high levels, and encompasses important emerging trends in the areas of gender, diversity, and family psychology while remaining solidly rooted in the foundations of Counseling Psychology.

The program faculty make a concerted effort to attend to students within a contextual framework, recognizing interpersonal, familial, institutional, and socio-cultural realities. Faculty strive to create an inclusive rather than exclusive environment, in which egalitarianism, self-direction, leadership, and respect for individual differences are promoted. Program students and faculty alike attempt to maintain open communication and clarity of expectations.  Applicants should be aware that, as is typical of graduate training in professional psychology, part of one's development as a psychologist entails personal growth in addition to academic learning.  As such, students may be expected to share appropriate personal material in various classes and practicum situations.  One example might be the discussion of a genogram in a family psychology class.

All doctoral students are expected to be enrolled full-time each long semester (fall and spring). Full-time status is defined as a minimum of nine hours, although 12 hours is encouraged. Because the present program emphasizes not only traditional competencies in Counseling Psychology, but also family and contextual psychology and women's/gender issues, the course work required for completion may be somewhat more extensive than in many other programs. Applicants who prefer a more traditional emphasis may wish to consider other programs.

[ Return to the Top ]

Program Costs and Financial Aid 

Teaching assistantships are offered by the Department of Psychology and Philosophy.  These require teaching or assisting with two courses, a 20-hour per week commitment with a stipend of approximately $11,124 for two semesters. 

Research assistantships are available with faculty members who have research grants. 

Other departments offer teaching and administrative assistantships for which psychology students may compete.  For example, computer labs on campus hire lab assistants, and residence halls hire dorm counselors.  Because of TWU's location within the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex, numerous opportunities exist for part-time employment. 

For 2006-2008, resident (in-state) graduate students are charged $168.00 per semester hour. Non-resident (out-of-state, international) students are charged $443.00 per semester hour. Check the graduate student catalog for further financial information.  

The Department offers scholarships and fellowships for excellence in teaching and service. Students may apply for departmental scholarships and university scholarships.  Graduate minority scholarships are also funded by TWU. 

For other financial assistance opportunities, contact:  

Financial Aid Office
PO Box 425408
Denton, TX 76204
(940) 898-3050
http://www.twu.edu/finaid/

Application Procedures
 

Our application deadline is December 15^th (starting December 15, 2007). Application materials must be received by both the Office of Student Records and the Psychology Department by December 15^th (starting December 15, 2007). Please plan accordingly and incorporate time for mailing when applying to our program. NOTE: Applicants to this program are required to have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (recommended to have a 3.5) in order to be considered a competitive applicant to this program. Further, we recommend a psychology GPA of 3.5. Applicants to the doctoral program must submit eight different items:

Items one through four should be forwarded to:

Office of Student Records Processing    

Texas Woman's University

P.O. Box 425589

Denton, TX 76204

(940) 898-3076 

1. A standard application form is required. Admission requirements for all psychology doctoral programs are specified in the Graduate Catalog. The catalog and graduate application form (only one application is necessary) are available on-line from:

 

http://www.twu.edu/admissions/apply.htm

 

(The Department of Psychology and Philosophy requires only the general graduate school application.)

2. A non-refundable processing fee of $30 ($50 for international students) in check or money order is required with all new graduate applications.

3. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended that show the completion of 18 hours of psychology, including: Introduction to General Psychology, Life-span Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Statistics, and Experimental Psychology. NOTE: all transcripts from all universities must be included (e.g., community college transcripts, study abroad transcripts, attending more than one university, graduate transcripts.) The Office of Student Records will not process your application unless all transcripts for all college courses are included with your application. Missing transcripts will render your application “incomplete.”

4. Graduate Record Examination scores: Verbal, Quantitative, and  Writing (Recommended minimum: V=500; Q=500). Applicants usually have an average GRE score of 1110-1150 for the verbal and quantitative sections.

Items five through eight should be forwarded directly to:

Dr. Debra Mollen
Counseling Psychology Admissions Coordinator
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Texas Woman's University
P.O. Box 425470
Denton, Texas 76204-5470

5. A brief cover letter indicating: (a) your intent to apply to the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology (please specify your desire to be admitted to this program in this letter); (b) a list of ALL undergraduate-level psychology courses that you have taken and what grades you have received in those courses; and (c) your GPA for all of your undergraduate level psychology courses (or your “Psych GPA”; please calculate the GPA for psych courses that you have taken and include this number in your cover letter).

• For more detailed information on calculating this GPA, click here.

6. Three letters of reference on letterhead from persons who have known the applicant in an academic or professional setting. (No special forms are required for letters of recommendation.)

7. A vita with special emphasis on training and work experience in the counseling area.

8. An autobiography (about 5, double-spaced, typewritten pages) describing the applicant's background, personal growth and development, future goals, and reasons for applying to the Counseling Psychology program. A genogram may be included as an addendum to the autobiography.

The deadline for receipt (not postmark, but receipt) of applications and all supporting materials is December 15^th (starting December 15, 2007). No application will be considered if the application file is incomplete on December 15^th (starting December 15, 2007). Please note that it is the applicant's responsibility to check with Student Records to ensure that all materials (GRE scores, all transcripts, application for admission) are received by the deadline.

Completed admissions materials that have been received by the December 15^th deadline  (starting December 15, 2007) will be reviewed, and a number of candidates will be invited to the campus for personal interviews during early in the spring semester. Travel costs are assumed by the applicant. Please be advised that the on-campus interview is a mandatory component of our admissions' process. We do not offer alternative arrangements for the interview. Of those interviewed, a limited number will be chosen and notified of their admission by approximately late February. International applicants are encouraged to apply and, if selected, may be offered the option of interviewing by phone.

[ Return to the Top ]

Doctoral Curriculum
 

(Click here to access the course rotation.)

CORE COURSES

• PSY 5304 - Advanced Psychological Statistics I
• PSY 5353 - Research Techniques
• PSY 6103 - Human Learning and Cognition
• PSY 6774 - Foundations of Social Psychology and Personality
• PSY 6133 - Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
• PSY 6204 - Advanced Psychological Statistics II
• PSY 6633 - Philosophical and Historical Foundations of Psychology
• PSY 6833 - Ethics in Psychology (also pre-practicum course or concurrent with first practicum)
• PSY 6383 - Cross Cultural Psychology
• PSY 6613 - Advanced Developmental Psychology

PRE-PRACTICUM COURSES

• PSY 5554 - Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy
• PSY 5674 - Theory and Practice of Family Psychology
• PSY 5513 - Advanced Psychopathology

GENERAL CURRICULUM IN SPECIALTY

• PSY 5313 - Psychological Tests and Measurements
• PSY 5423 - Cognitive Assessment (must be taken with PSY 6931)
• PSY 6931 - Pre-practicum in Applied Psychology (must be taken with PSY 5423)
• PSY 6443 - Personality Assessment for Adults
• PSY 6553 - Rorschach Administration and Interpretation
• PSY 5163 - Psychology of Women
• PSY 6923 - Supervised Practicum
• PSY 6923 - Supervised Practicum
• PSY 6923 - Supervised Practicum
• PSY 6923 - Supervised Practicum
• PSY 6583 - Neuropsychopharmacology
• PSY 6981 - College Teaching (1 credit hour)
• PSY 6961 - Research Team (1 credit hour)
• PSY 6961 - Research Team (1 credit hour)
• PSY 6593 - Advanced Family Psychology and Systems Interventions
• PSY 6853 - Supervision and Consultation in Psychology
• PSY 6613 - Advanced Developmental Psychology
• PSY 6803 - Seminar in Vocational Psychology
• PSY 6363 - Research in Counseling and Family Psychology
• PSY 6683 - Professional Issues in Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Family Psychology
• PSY 6933 - Internship in Psychology
• PSY 6933 - Internship in Psychology
• PSY 6933 - Internship in Psychology
• PSY 6983 - Dissertation
• PSY 6983 - Dissertation
• PSY 6993 - Dissertation
• PSY 6993 - Dissertation

ELECTIVES (Choose at least 2)

• PSY 5523 - Clinical Therapeutic Group Processes
• PSY 5693 - Psychology of Human Sexuality
• PSY 6923 - Supervised Practicum
• PSY 6903 - Special Topics: Advanced Psychodiagnostic Assessment

MINOR IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS

• PSY 5163 - Psychology of Women*

• PSY 6383 - Cross Cultural Psychology*
  (*NOTE: If different minor is negotiated, these two courses must still be taken.)

• PSY 6393 - Psychology of Violence, Trauma, and Abuse

Plus one other diversity-oriented class such as:

• PSY 6903 - Special Topics: Men's Issues in Psychology
• SPAN - Conversational Spanish
• FS 5443 - Multicultural Counseling
• SOCI 5643 - Racial and Ethnic Group in the United States
• SOCI 5443 - Race, Ethnicity, and Family
• NURS 6213 - Multicultural Women's Health Research
• NURS 6223 - Threats to Women's Health
• NURS 6903 - Feminist Perspectives on Women and Health Care
  
  Any course relating to such topics on gender, multiculturalism, violence, substance abuse, sexual orientation, gerontology, handicap/ablism, etc. may be used with permission of the Counseling Psychology Core Faculty.

RESEARCH TOOLS

• PSY 5304 - Advanced Psychological Statistics I**
• PSY 5353 - Research Techniques**
• PSY 6204 - Advanced Psychological Statistics II**
  (**NOTE: Already part of core courses.)
• PSY 6363 - Research in Counseling Psychology***
  (***NOTE: Already part of specialty courses.)

Plus 3 hours from the following list:

• PSY 6863 - Qualitative Research Methods & Program Evaluation
• CSCI 5793 - Statistical Computer Packages (Special emphasis on SPSS-X & BMDP)
• CSCI 5921 - Statistical Analysis with Computers
• LS 5573 - The Internet
  
  Other advanced CSCI and LS coursework as approved by core faculty.
  
  Any combination of PSY 6941 Applied Data Analysis in Psychology, and/or PSY 6921 Research Consultation in Psychology to equal 3 credit hours.

[ Return to the Top ]