Counseling Psychology (PhD)
Loyola's PhD in counseling psychology has been accredited by the American Psychologist Association (APA) since 1984. The mission of the PhD program in counseling psychology at Loyola University Chicago is to graduate scientist-practitioner-oriented health service psychologists who identify with the field of counseling psychology and who are committed to promoting social justice in all their professional activities.
Curriculum
The PhD in Counseling Psychology requires 69 credit hours of coursework beyond a master's degree, written and oral comprehensive examinations, a culminating portfolio and a dissertation with oral defense. Students develop an area of research expertise by engaging in research with faculty throughout their doctoral study. A 2,000 hour pre-doctoral internship is also required.
For more information about the following items, please refer to the Counseling Student Handbook 2024-2025.
COURSEwork
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites | ||
| Ideally, students will have completed these courses or their equivalents prior to the start of the program. | ||
| Counseling Skills | ||
| Theory Counseling & Psychotherapy | ||
| Assessment in Counseling | ||
| Group Counseling: Theory and Practice | ||
| Multicultural Counseling | ||
| Practicum | ||
| Family Therapy I | ||
| Human Development: Cognitive, Aff & Phys Bases | ||
| Clinical Appraisal and Treatment Planning | ||
| Introduction to Research Methodology | ||
| Introduction to Educational Statistics | ||
| Psychology Core | 12 | |
| Students will complete 12 credit hours towards the Psychology Core by selecting courses to fulfill each area listed below. Courses may be used to fulfill more than one area. | ||
| One Course on Biological Basis of Behavior | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| One Course on Cognitive Basis of Behavior | ||
| Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Cognitive Social Psychology | ||
| Cognitive Development | ||
| One Course on Affective Basis of Behavior | ||
| Human Development: Cognitive, Aff & Phys Bases | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| One Course on Social Basis of Behavior | ||
| Social Psychological Theory | ||
| Cognitive Social Psychology | ||
| Social Development | ||
| One Course on History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| History & Systems of Psychology | ||
| One Course in Advanced Integrative Knowledge | ||
| Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Cognitive Social Psychology | ||
| Social Development | ||
| Cognitive Development | ||
| Counseling Psychology Core | ||
| CPSY 424 | Career Development & Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 435 | Selected Topics in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 527 | Prevention, Advocacy, and Outreach: Community-Based | 3 |
| CPSY 529 | Psychology of Immigration | 3 |
| CPSY 530 | Research Seminar in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 531 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| Methodology and Research Core | ||
| CPSY 450 | Research Methods in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| RMTD 430 | Psychological Measurement | 3 |
| Two additional advanced research methods or statistics courses | 6 | |
| Survey Research | ||
| Educational Evaluation | ||
| Introduction to Evaluation Theory | ||
| Educational Research II: Building a Body of Evidence Quantitative Method | ||
| Single Subject Design | ||
| Item Response Theory | ||
| Mixed Methods Research | ||
| Introduction to Linear Models | ||
| Multivariate Statistics | ||
| Hierarchical Linear Models | ||
| Meta-Analysis | ||
| Structural Equation Modeling | ||
| Professional Practice Core | ||
| CPSY 442 | Doctoral Practicum (two sections) | 3 |
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 482 | Personality and Intellectual Assessment | 3 |
| CPSY 532 | Advanced Theories in Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| CPSY 535 | Seminar in Supervision & Consultation | 3 |
| CPSY 536 | Supervision Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 615 | Internship: Counseling Psychology 1 | 0 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Three additional advanced courses in research methods/statistics, assessment, and/or college-level teaching. | ||
| Total Hours | 69 | |
- 1
Repeatable
Practicum
The Chicagoland area provides a wealth of clinical training opportunities for doctoral students in counseling psychology. Approximately half of our students seek training in university counseling centers in the city and suburbs, while the other half receives their clinical and diagnostic training in hospitals and community mental health centers. Students receive a generalist training, but through site selection can begin to acquire population-specific competencies in working with children, adolescents, families, veterans, gay/lesbian/bisexual clients, and other groups of individuals. Many of the practicum sites also contain APA-approved internship programs where trainees are provided with rigorous supervision and on-site seminars.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is an oral exam that provides students an opportunity to integrate all course work, individual reading, research, and applied training. The comprehensive examination committee will be composed of the student’s advisor (who will chair the exam) and two counseling psychology faculty members. Comprehensive examination performance will be evaluated by the committee using a rubric published in the Student Handbook and will evaluate student's understanding of profession wide competencies and program competencies.
Culminating Portfolio
The culminating portfolio represents the final pre-internship opportunity for students to demonstrate their integrative knowledge of health service and counseling psychology. The portfolio must be completed and submitted electronically by January 31 of the year the student applies for internship. Successful completion of this portfolio is required before leaving for internship. The following documents are required:
- Approved Dissertation Proposal
- Approved Clinical Case Study
- Approved Assessment Report
- Integrative Paper
- Social Justice Intervention Paper
Dissertation
Students will define an area of research interest and propose a research program leading to a written dissertation. Oral defense of the dissertation required.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 435 | Selected Topics in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 450 | Research Methods in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 532 | Advanced Theories in Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| Psychology Core Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 527 | Prevention, Advocacy, and Outreach: Community-Based | 3 |
| CPSY 529 | Psychology of Immigration | 3 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| Psychology Core Course or Research/Stat Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| CPSY 424 or CPSY 435 |
Career Development & Counseling 1 or Selected Topics in Counseling |
3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CPSY 442 | Doctoral Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 482 | Personality and Intellectual Assessment | 3 |
| CPSY 531 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| RMTD 430 | Psychological Measurement | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPSY 442 | Doctoral Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| CPSY 535 | Seminar in Supervision & Consultation | 3 |
| Research/Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| Psychology Core Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| CPSY 424 or CPSY 435 |
Career Development & Counseling 1 or Selected Topics in Counseling |
3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 530 | Research Seminar in Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| CPSY 536 | Supervision Practicum | 3 |
| Research/Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| Comprehensive Examinations | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| CPSY 443 | Clerkship | 0 |
| CPSY 533 | Proseminar | 0 |
| Research/Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| Research/Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| Psychology Core Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Culminating Portfolio, Dissertation, Pre-Doctoral Internship | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Culminating Portfolio, Dissertation, Pre-Doctoral Internship | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 69 | |
- 1
Students may also choose to take a Psychology Core or Research Elective in this term.
Responsible Conduct of Research
All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
- You will engage in independent scholarship on questions important to counseling psychology, and develop and evaluate interventions to promote positive human development.
- You'll be equipped to practice as a health service psychologist with competencies in research, ethical and legal standards, individual and cultural diversity, professional values and attitudes, communication and interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, supervision, consultation and inter-professional/interdisciplinary knowledge and skills.