Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology

The University of Akron is home to a highly regarded and fully APA accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology. Graduates are prepared for the practice of professional psychology and for academic and research positions in diverse settings. This full-time program is a offered through the Department of Psychology. It follows a scientist-practitioner model and is grounded in the humanistic tradition of counseling psychology, which emphasizes human growth, development, and an appreciation of environmental and cultural contexts. Coursework and practica are designed to provide a solid generalist foundation in counseling psychology, with an emphasis on individual counseling with late adolescents and adults. Specialized interests may be pursued through elective coursework and supplemental practica.

Required
Graduate school application
Graduate School application fee
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from each institution attended
Office reports of the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE Subject Test for Psychology is optional)
Current vita outlining educational and professional experiences
Declaration of intent outlining occupational goals, interests, and commitment to program (including reasons for choosing the field of counseling psychology and The University of Akron)
Minimum of three letters of reference attesting to success in the field and probable academic success at the doctoral level
Graduate school application
Graduate School application fee
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from each institution attended
Office reports of the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE Subject Test for Psychology is optional)
Current vita outlining educational and professional experiences
Declaration of intent outlining occupational goals, interests, and commitment to program (including reasons for choosing the field of counseling psychology and The University of Akron)
Minimum of three letters of reference attesting to success in the field and probable academic success at the doctoral level
GPA of 3.0 or above on all undergraduate coursework.
GPA of 3.25 or above on all psychology coursework (if applicable)
Preferred, Hold at least a B.A. in psychology or have completed 30 hours of psychology coursework
Earned scores of 151 (51%) or above on the Verbal Reasoning, 153 (51%) or above on the Quantitative Reasoning, and 4.0 (56%) on the Analytical Writing subtests of the GRE.
A minimum score of 79 on the internet-based TOEFL.
A minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The GRE Psychology subtest is not required. However, the GRE Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing scores are required.
The Counseling Psychology Program curriculum is a post-bachelor's-focused track, although we welcome submissions from all qualified applicants, including those with master's degrees. Students admitted with master's degrees are expected to take the bachelor's curriculum, with options for waiving select courses and potentially their thesis waiver project.
Students are not admitted to specific faculty members but to the program as a whole. However, students are welcome to identify any research or clinical interests that overlap with faculty members as part of their declaration of intent.
Admission to the CPP is competitive, with many more applicants than the limited number of openings each year, so actual grades and scores needed for admission are typically somewhat higher than the minimums specified.