Psychology Home Page

Overview of the Counseling Program at Texas Tech

The Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Texas Tech University offers training in the professional practice of psychology. Our primary objective is to prepare students for positions as counseling psychologists in a variety of applied, academic, and research settings. The program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1964, and is grounded in a science- practitioner model of training. The doctoral program affords students an opportunity to develop competencies in the following areas: 1) understanding and application of various models of psychological theory, 2) counseling and psychotherapy skills, 3) psychological assessment, 4) research and methodology, and 5) professional ethics. Both research and practice are considered important.

The program recognizes the importance of both personal and professional development as integral aspects of training counseling psychology students. Additionally, the program is generalist in nature -- i.e., while remaining anchored in the basic values of the discipline, enough breadth and flexibility is available for students to tailor training experiences to match their interests, as well as the demands of a changing marketplace. Finally, the program seeks to establish a training environment that is conducive to promoting a positive learning experience.

The Counseling Psychology program is committed to fostering both knowledge of and appreciation for diversity in ourselves and our professional activities. This commitment is expressed by our inclusion of multicultural topics throughout the training program, including counseling psychology core courses, practicum experiences, and courses which focus primarily on diversity. In addition, the counseling psychology program strongly encourages applications for admission from member of diverse groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, gays/lesbians/bisexuals, people with physical disabilities, non-traditional ages, all socioeconomic groups, and members of other traditionally under-represented groups.

Counseling Psychology doctoral students are required to successfully complete certain courses to fulfill both departmental core requirements as well as requirements specific to the Counseling Psychology program. In addition, each student will successfully complete a qualifying examination, a master's level research project (commonly called a second-year project), and a dissertation. Students participate in practicum experiences beginning in the spring semester of their first year and are required to complete a year-long, predoctoral internship before graduation. Completion of the program typically requires three to four years of full-time coursework, one year devoted to finishing qualifying examinations and working on a dissertation, and one year of predoctoral internship.

Students in this training program are urged to obtain applied experience in a variety of settings and to seek opportunities for teaching and research collaboration. Graduates of the program are employed in a variety of settings such as university counseling centers, VA hospitals, outpatient clinics, community mental health centers, psychiatric and medical hospitals, prisons, university or college academic departments, and independent practice.

The doctoral program in Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University is accredited by the American Psychological Association through the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation (750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, phone: 202-336-5979).