Frequently Asked Questions

This page provides answers to common questions about your admission application specific to Counseling Psychology. See ALSO General FAQs.

Is the program accredited by the American Psychological Association?

Yes, the program is fully accredited.

What is the program’s philosophy for training students?

The program follows a scientist-practitioner model of training with a great deal of emphasis being placed on students developing research competencies. In general, the program is designed to foster the development of counseling psychologists who are competent researchers, clinicians, and responsible citizens in the field of psychology. More specifically, the program has the following four goals:

The program trains students to become capable scholars in social science research.
The program provides students with a sufficient knowledge base for the practice of counseling.
The program develops graduates with competencies in the applied practice in psychology.
We seek to train students who are socially responsible and ethical in professional practice.

What is the application deadline for admission for the fall semester?

See Deadlines

When will I hear about my application?

We will begin to contact students about interviews in mid to late January. On-campus interviews for invited students will be held in the first half of February. Admissions are usually finalized between late February and early April. You will be able to check the status of your application online anytime by visiting the Admission Application Status website.

What are the most important things that are considered for admissions?

Selection of students is based on multiple factors including GRE scores, undergraduate grades, letters of recommendation, match between student and faculty interests, the strength of the applicants’ recommendation letters, and the quality of the applicants’ personal statement.

How am I matched with an adviser once accepted into the program?

Students are typically matched with a faculty adviser based on common research interests identified in the application and interview process. It is hoped that the faculty adviser will also serve as a mentor for the student’s development as a professional. It is important to note that many students choose to work with more than one faculty on research projects, and that students do not have to remain with the same faculty adviser throughout their program.

What are the average GRE scores of individuals accepted into the program?

For GRE exams that were taken before August 2011, the average combined score for the verbal and quantitative sections is 1250.

For GRE exams taken after August 2011, it is recommended that applicants strive for a score of 160 or higher on the Verbal section and 150 or higher on the quantitative section.

Please note that there is no minimum GRE score requirement. However, an applicant scoring lower than the recommended scores above would need to ensure that the rest of his/her application was very strong in order to remain competitive.

How competitive is the application process?

There are usually between 160 and 200 applicants per year. Of these applicants, 20 - 25 are usually invited to interview and 5 - 6 students are usually accepted into the program.

Is there an interview day? What is involved?

Yes. Interview day is held sometime during the first half of February. It will generally be held on a Monday or Friday. Students who cannot attend will be able to obtain a telephone interview. Interview day consists of introductions the program and faculty, 2-4 interviews with different faculty members, and informal interaction with current students including a campus tour. All of the activities are designed to help both the program and the applicant determine if there is a good match between UT and the student. While in-person interviews are not mandatory, they are strongly encouraged.

Can I visit the program prior to applying?

Potential applicants are welcome to come to the campus prior to applying. However, because we receive such a large number of applications, faculty will not usually be able to meet with individual applicants prior to the interview day. Potential applicants can e-mail the faculty if they have questions, however we strongly encourage you to look for information on the website and in the student handbook to answer most questions about the program.

What are common practicum sites?

One of the strengths of our program is the broad range of practica available to students. Students can obtain practicum experiences in university counseling centers; career counseling centers; inpatient psychiatric facilities for children, adolescents, and adults; veteran’s affairs settings; juvenile detention centers; outpatient mental health clinics; community mental health centers for children, adolescents and adults; and other settings. Students are required to complete practica for at least four semesters, but most students choose to do more than four semesters. Most students will be able to experience at least three different practicum sites.

Are there opportunities to work with diverse client populations?

Yes. Many of the practicum settings listed above draw clients from diverse backgrounds with respect to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Is funding available for students in this program?

Limited funding is available for students in the program. The program makes an effort to extend fellowship offers to students accepted in the program for their first year, but this is not guaranteed to all incoming students. Many fellowships include a waiver of out of state tuition. A number of students beyond the first year in the program receive some aid in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, and assistant instructorships in and outside of the department. Some positions can come with partial tuition waivers, health insurance, and parking permits in addition to a stipend.

What kinds of professional training does the program offer?

The program offers a diverse range of off-site practica. Most students complete three years of practica in at least three different sites. These practica along with the professional interest classes offered by the department offer a wide range of clinical training opportunities.

The program also offers training in many statistical and research methods through the Quantitative Methods area of the Educational Psychology Department. Those wishing to pursue a career in research will find many opportunities to improve their research skills.

Can I transfer credits for relevant graduate coursework?

Students who enter the program with a master’s in a counseling related field are allowed to waive a limited number of courses if the instructor of that course approves the waiver. For a past course to be considered for a waiver the student must complete a course waiver form and submit it to the Graduate Advisor. In the case of program courses, the instructor who teaches that class must approve the waiver. Any past coursework that is to be considered must have been completed in the last six years with a grade of "B" or above. No student will be able to waive more than four program courses or eight courses total without review by the counseling psychology executive committee.

How long will it take me to complete the Ph.D. program?

There are 5-year and 6-year plans available in the Counseling Psychology Student Handbook. The vast majority of students complete the program between 5 and 7 years: over the last 5 years, 8% took 4 years, 50% took 5 years, 27% took 6 years, 11% took 7 years, and 4% took longer than 7 years.

How do I get involved in research?

Many opportunities exist for research involvement in the program and in the department as a whole. Most students will begin working with their advisor in their first year on some current project or they might work with another student on research that student is conducting. As students develop more expertise in research methods they will begin to take on their own projects. During the second year students are expected to complete and present a collaborative research project that they have conducted with their advisor.

What types of employment settings are common for graduates of the program?

Program graduates work in a wide variety of settings, including academia, counseling centers, health centers, hospitals, Veterans Administration hospitals, and private practice.

Last updated on December 4, 2012

Department of Educational Psychology

Frequently Asked Questions