Academic Programs - Counseling Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Counseling and Student Personnel Services: Counselor Education and Supervision Focus
- Counseling and Student Personnel Services: College Student Affairs Focus
- College Student Affairs Administration
- Professional School Counseling
- Student Affairs Leadership
- Professional Counseling
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
Curriculum
The program’s course of study is well defined, requiring three years of on-campus graduate study beyond the Master’s Degree, and an additional year for an approved pre-doctoral internship. Rigorous research training and comprehensive clinical training are both emphasized in the program of study. Academic coursework focuses on the development of knowledge in the basic discipline of Psychology and the applied discipline of Counseling Psychology.
The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model and is designed to prepare counseling psychology students for a career in professional psychology. The program is represented by five colorful ribbons representing 1) Clinical Practice, 2) Counseling Psychology Foundations, 3) Supervision, Instruction, and Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) concentrations, 4) Research Design and Analyses, and 5) General Psychology Foundations and Electives. These ribbons are embedded in a background of Multiculturalism and Social Justice. The curriculum is presented in a color-coded fashion in order to represent the sequential and cumulative nature of the training.
Clinical Practice. Students enroll in content-based courses during their first year in order to prepare for a year-long practicum experience. During the second year, students receive training in individual and group psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and family therapy in The Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation (CCPE), the Department’s training clinic. The third year of training focuses on supervision and consultation, and the fourth year consist of internship training.
Counseling Psychology Foundations. Students are trained in the foundations of counseling psychology through coursework including assessment and psychodiagnosis, career theory, and a broad range of psychotherapy theories. Students are encouraged to participate with faculty members in state and national professional activities, e.g. Georgia Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
Supervision, Instruction, and Preparing Future Faculty (PFF). During their training, students may choose to pursue concentrations in supervision, college instruction, and Preparing Future Faculty.
Research Design and Analyses. The program is based on an integrated scientist-practitioner model. Training in research methodology and techniques of data analyses take place throughout the program. First, students enroll in specific coursework. They are also required to join a research team or to begin work with a faculty member. Finally, students are required to complete a doctoral research project during the first year and a dissertation to be completed before graduating from the program.
General Psychology Foundations and Electives. Because the program is psychological in nature, students complete coursework that capture the foundations and breadth of scientific psychology.
Multiculturalism – The program is committed to excellence in training with regard to multiculturalism and diversity and endorses the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists. The department offers two graduate courses in cross-cultural counseling (one masters and one doctoral). In addition to the stand-alone course, the program also strives to infuse multicultural principles and research findings pertaining to knowledge, awareness, and skills into each course. Efforts are also made to ensure that student psychologists receive supervised training with diverse clientele. Faculty research/training/service projects reflect the commitment to multicultural training.
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