Counseling Psychology

Prepare for licensure and independent psychological practice* with a strength-based curriculum that focuses on promoting functional behavior and relationships across the lifespan.  Learn how to help clients develop internal resources and access community services as a therapist, researcher, advocate, or consultant. Help clients remediate challenges and difficulties and prevent as well as diagnose and treat psychological problems.

This specialization emphasizes a developmental approach to addressing problems in living and mental disorders and focuses on research design and methods; vocational/career theory, assessment, and intervention; competence in multicultural issues and individual differences; ethical practice, including empirically supported therapeutic interventions, consultation, and supervision; and a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and scholarly contribution to the profession. Gain practical, hands-on experience through the Academic Year in Residence (AYR) as well as through supervised practicum and internship requirements.

* Counseling Psychology positions may require state licensure, additional experience, or other factors beyond successful completion of the degree program

Completion Requirements

• 160 total quarter credit hours
  • Courses (116 cr.)
  • Counseling practicum (12 cr.)
  • Dissertation (20 cr.)
  • Internship (12 cr.)
•  Academic Year in Residence
• Ph.D. residencies (4 four-day sessions)

Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Curriculum

^†AYR courses begin in the sixth quarter and end with the completion of the ninth quarter. These courses are blended with online and face-to-face components.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
	Quarter 1
PSYC 8003	Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling Psychology	5
PSYC 8215	Lifespan Development	5
	Quarter 2
PSYC 8344	Interventions I	5
RSCH 8100Y	Research, Theory, Design, and Methods	4
	Quarter 3
PSYC 8247	Social Psychology	5
RSCH 8200Y	Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis	4
	Quarter 4
PSYC 8316	Tests and Measurement	5
PSYC 8782	Psychopathology From a Counseling Perspective	5
	Quarter 5
PSYC 8224	Psychology of Work	5
RSCH 8300Y	Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis	4
	Quarter 6—AYR†
PSYC 8704	Ethics and Standards of Psychological Practice	5
PSYC 8340	Cognitive Assessment	5
	Quarter 7—AYR†
PSYC 8350	Personality Assessment	5
PSYC 8421	Multicultural Psychology	5
	Quarter 8—AYR†
PSYC 8208	Career Assessment and Intervention	5
PSYC 8345	Interventions II	5
	Quarter 9—AYR†
PSYC 8117	Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology	5
PSYC 8232	Consultation and Supervision in Psychology	5
	Quarter 10
PSYC 8725 OR PSYC 8356	Group Therapy OR Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy	5
RSCH 8250Y	Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis	4
	Quarter 11
PSYC 8281	Counseling Practicum I	3
PSYC 8238	Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior	5
	Quarter 12
PSYC 8207	History and Systems of Psychology	5
PSYC 8283	Counseling Practicum II	3
	Quarter 13
PSYC 8284	Counseling Psychology Practicum III	3
PSYC 9000	Dissertation I	5
	Quarter 14
PSYC 8285	Counseling Practicum IV	3
PSYC 9000	Dissertation II	5
	Quarter 15
PSYC 8226	Biopsychology	5
PSYC 9000	Dissertation III	5
	Quarter 16
PSYC 8700 OR PSYC 8660	Psychology and Social Change OR Leadership, Advocacy, and Social Change	5
PSYC 9000	Dissertation IV	5
	Quarter 17
PSYC 8286	Counseling Psychology Internship I	3
	Quarter 18
PSYC 8287	Counseling Psychology Internship II	3
	Quarter 19
PSYC 8288	Counseling Psychology Internship III	3
	Quarter 20
PSYC 8289	Counseling Psychology Internship IV	3

Course Descriptions

For assistance in deciding which online degree specialization fits your goals, request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.

Note on Licensure

The Counseling Psychology specialization in the Ph.D. in Psychology program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for psychology licensing exams. This specialization is designed to meet the academic licensure requirements of some state psychology boards. However, Walden University’s professional specialization in Counseling Psychology is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and has not received designation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASPPB/NR), which are requirements for licensure in some states. Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance on licensure issues, state-by-state educational requirements, and internship and practicum requirements; however, it remains the student’s responsibility to evaluate and understand the licensure requirements for the state or international location in which he or she intends to work as requirements vary widely. Walden University makes no representation or guarantee that the completion of a degree or coursework for graduate credit will permit the learner to obtain licensure.