Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program Aims and Objectives

Aim #1: Train entry-level health-service counseling psychologist

Objective 1: Provide training and experiential opportunities that facilitate the learning and mastery of domain-specific knowledge

Competencies:

1A1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of how biological, affective, cognitive, social, and human development impact mental health and wellness.   

1A2. Students will integrate biological, affective, cognitive, social, and human development factors in diagnoses, assessment, evidence-based interventions, and other professional practices of health service counseling psychologists.

1A3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of psychology and counseling psychology.

1A4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of quantitative and research methods and psychometrics.

1A5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of vocational theory and skills in conducting vocational assessment (program-specific goal).

Objective 2: Provide training and experiential opportunities that facilitate the learning and demonstration of profession-wide competencies

Competencies:

2A1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of research, ethical and legal standards, and individual and cultural diversity in coursework and training opportunities.

2A2. Students will demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills and professional values and attitudes of an emerging health service counseling psychologist in coursework and training opportunities.

2A3. Students will demonstrate assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation (interdisciplinary) skills in coursework and training opportunities.

2A4. Graduates will engage in health service counseling psychology professional activities in their employment and post-graduate training activities.

Aim #2: To prepare entry-level health service counseling psychologists who are prepared to and committed to working with underserved populations

Objective 3: Provide training and experiential opportunities that facilitate learning about and demonstration of skills working with underserved populations

Competencies:

3A1. Students will demonstrate knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the way(s) in which culture and context influence the behavior and functioning of individuals, groups, and organizations.

3A2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of multicultural counseling theories and theories of African psychology in coursework and training opportunities.

3A3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to underserved populations in their professional development, coursework, training, and experiential opportunities.

3A4. Students will demonstrate a commitment to social justice and advocacy in their professional development and experiential opportunities.

3A5. Graduates will engage with underserved populations in their employment and post-graduate training activities.