Counseling Psychology (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Counseling Psychology program, housed within the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies (HDPES), is an APA-accredited program designed to train professional psychologists in the Scientist-Practitioner model consistent with APA-accreditation guidelines.

The Program embodies a balanced training experience in the science of psychology, theoretical foundations, application of therapeutic skills, and research, and thus prepares skilled counseling psychologists to function successfully in a variety of professional settings with diverse populations. 

In 1982 the Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology Program was approved by the Howard University Board of Trustees. The first four students were admitted in the fall semester of that same year. The Program was first accredited by the American Psychological Association in September, 2002. The Program was re-accredited in spring 2006 and spring 2013. 

The Program embraces the Scientist-Practitioner model and embodies a balanced training experience in the scientific and theoretical foundations of psychology and in applications of practice skills and research. The Program encourages a hypothesis-testing approach toward obtaining and evaluating information and it encourages the examination of empirical literature related to planning and evaluating interventions that focus on prevention or remediation of problems. The Program emphasizes prevention of psychological problems, the teaching of effective coping skills (to prevent problems), and the development of effective problem-resolution skills to remediate negative coping behaviors.

The mission of the Program is to educate and train health service counseling psychology students using a Scientist-Practitioner philosophy who are committed to working with underserved populations. We are committed to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from diverse backgrounds who seek to create and apply evidence based practices and interventions within local, national and international communities. 

Third Spring Fall

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
6

Fifth Year Fall

HUDE-509: Dissertation Research

*Note: Three to six credit hours may be awarded per semester for each dissertation research course. A maximum of six dissertation research credit hours may be counted towards degree completion.

HUDE-520: Internship in Counseling Psychology

*Note: One to three credit hours may be awarded per semester for each internship. A maximum of two internship credit hours may be counted towards degree requirement.

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
4

Fifth Year Spring

HUDE-509 Dissertation Research

*Note: Three to six credit hours may be a warded per semester for each dissertation research course. A maximum of six dissertation research credit hours may be counted towards degree completion.

HUDE-519 Internship in School Psychology

*Note: One to three credit hours may be awarded per semester for each internship. A maximum of two internship credit hours may be counted towards degree requirements.

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
4
Total credits:
90

Overview

Program

Type

PhD