Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Counseling Psychology has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1983 through its Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation. Our program follows the Boulder model for preparing scientist-practitioners, with an emphasis on social justice issues.

The doctoral program generally takes five years of full-time study (minimum of nine credit hours per semester) to complete if the student enters with a Master’s degree in Counseling.  This optimal timeline includes a one-year, full-time internship in an APA accredited site, which may require relocation to another city or state. 

A majority of our program graduates gain employment either in Mental Health Agencies, University Counseling Centers, or in federal facilities (e.g., VA or prison). Another large group of graduates engage in private practice. Some graduates pursue research or teaching positions in institutes of higher education. These first employment setting is typically closely related to the specialized type of experience gained from the student's internship year.

The University of Kentucky Counseling Psychology program closely follows the American Psychological Association guidelines for professional practice.   

A full description of the requirements for the PhD in Counseling Psychology are fully described in the program Handbook, which will be forthcoming on this site in Fall 2009.