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The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at The University of Memphis is a full-time program designed to train psychologists who promote human development in the areas of mental health, emotional and social learning, career development, and decision-making in a rapidly changing environment. Students complete three years of coursework and a fourth year of predoctoral internship. The majority of the students complete their dissertations prior to or during the internship and graduate at the end of their fourth year. The program is administered through the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research, College of Education. The program was granted full accreditation by the American Psychological Association effective December 11, 1992.
Philosophy
Training is organized around the scientist-practitioner model of critical thinking and emphasizes responsibility and commitment to human welfare. Didactic and experiential activities and coursework are designed to anchor students firmly within the discipline of psychology. The program emphasizes research, development, prevention, and remediation as vehicles for helping individuals, families, and groups achieve competence and a sense of well-being. The department has a strong commitment to training professionals to work with diverse populations in urban settings.
Program Objectives
In accordance with the missions of the University, College, and Department, the Counseling Psychology program prepares professional psychologists who, upon graduation, are expected to become licensed and assume leadership roles in their communities. Students are expected to acquire: (1) an identity as a counseling psychologist; (2) a knowledge foundation in psychology, research, counseling, psychological evaluation, and ethical, legal, and professional standards; and (3) skills in research, practice, and teaching. The program is individualized to meet the students' goals. Graduates are prepared for positions in various settings including counseling centers, mental health centers, hospitals, private practice, academia, and businesses.
Faculty Research Teams
Faculty run research teams that provide students with opportunities to gain experience with the research process, present at conferences, and publish. Current teams are studying secondary trauma with crisis and emergency workers, multicultural and early family career issues, wellness, domestic violence, spirituality, and masculinity. For examples of collaborative research, see the Program Highlights link in the left sidebar.
Student Information
The program admits between 7 and 9 students each year. Applicants are admitted once each year and are expected to begin coursework in the Fall semester; applicants for Spring admission are not considered. Applicants to the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in counseling, psychology, or a related mental health field and often have had substantial counseling work experience. Students are expected to spend a minimum of three years in residence in Memphis and then complete a predoctoral internship in their fourth year. Students complete 78 hours of coursework in the substantive areas of psychology and counseling psychology, 12 hours of dissertation credit, and 9 hours of internship credit. Graduates from the program are employed in academic departments, counseling centers, hospitals, community mental health agencies, corporations, and private practices.
Program Resources
The Department has classrooms, group rooms, offices, video equipment, and personal computers available to students. The Memphis urban area provides a wide variety of field training sites including mental health centers, hospitals, college counseling centers, criminal justice agencies, rehabilitation agencies, and private practice.
Student Financial Aid
Support is available through Graduate Assistantships in research, teaching, or administrative work. The Department Chair, Dr. Doug Strohmer, makes assistantship assignments. Selected community training sites appropriate for professional counseling psychologists offer paid external placements that provide experience, training, and monetary stipends through University-funded grants for some students. Regent Graduate Minority Fellowships are available. Details are available in the Graduate Catalog. Eligible students may also apply for available grants and loans.
Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
The following master's level courses (or their equivalents) are prerequisite to admission in the doctoral program:
- Group Processes
- Theories of Counseling
- Career Counseling
- Assessment Techniques
- Practicum
- Statistics/Research
Applications for both the Graduate School and Department program must be completed. Please refer to the Graduate School for the Graduate School admissions information or contact:
Office of Admissions
The University of Memphis
Administration, Suite 215
Memphis TN 38152
(901) 678-2531
Application for the Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology Program may be obtained by writing or calling:
Counseling Psychology Program
Dept. of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
The University of Memphis
100 Ball Hall
Memphis TN 38152
(901) 678-2841
You may also download the above .pdf file for the application (you must have Adobe reader to access this file) and complete and return the application in the mail to the Departmental address above.
All applications must be received no later than January 15 to be considered for the fall admission date. For more information regarding the Counseling Psychology program, please contact Dr. Suzanne Lease
Additional Information
Memphis, with a population of approximately one million, is one of the South's largest and most attractive cities, offering an array of affordable housing, cultural attractions, and a variety of opportunities for training and professional development. More detailed information about the city's cultural and recreational opportunities is contained in the current Graduate Catalog and at Portal Memphis.
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