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Application Information

Requirements & Forms

Dear Prospective Student:

Thank you for your interest in the Counseling Psychology Program. We are very proud of the training that we offer our students.

We offer doctoral level training under a Scientist-Professional training model to prepare individuals for careers as psychologists in mental health settings and other institutions involved in the direct application of counseling, consulting, supervision, and teaching in higher education. We emphasize the development of skills to utilize and develop the science of psychology within the broad scope of the practice of counseling psychology as a professional discipline. The Ph.D. requires the equivalent of approximately four (4) years of full-time study beyond the Master’s degree, including a dissertation and an internship which may require relocation from the Nashville area.

Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and to discuss their experiences of diversity in the supplemental application. All applicants will be screened using the Applicant Screening Form (ASF). The ASF evaluates 8 domains which include 1) academic performance 2) research and scholarly pursuits 3) quality of writing 4) clinical work experience 5) commitment to professional activities 6) interests and experience with diversity and social justice 7) affirmative action initiative and 8) letters of recommendation.

Sincerely,

Robin Oatis-Ballew, Ph.D., HSP

Program Coordinator

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Ph.D. in Psychology 

Counseling Psychology Concentration 

Program Philosophy: Counseling Psychology Concentration 

The counseling psychology concentration at Tennessee State University is grounded in a scientist-professional model of training. The program is designed to develop competent, ethical practitioners and facilitators of learning with a multicultural perspective capable of integrating science and practice in a variety of settings and modalities. The integration of research and practice is a central theme of the scientist-professional model of training. Problems in professional practice stimulate the need for systematic inquiry through research, the results of which then lead to modification of both the theory and practice of professional psychology. The program curriculum has been designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the study of psychology, a broad range of competencies in research methodology, and the knowledge and skills required for professional interventions in individual, group, and family therapy. The faculty provides an eclectic choice of theoretical orientations which represent, Psychodynamic, CBT, Systems, Interpersonal, and Integrative theories. Graduates of the program are employed in a wide range of settings, including university faculty, university counseling centers, community mental health centers, VA hospitals, and private practices. 

Admissions Requirements 

A Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology or a closely related area such as Clinical Psychology or Mental Health Counseling is required. There is a ceiling on the number of students admitted to the program in a given year. All applicants must submit a complete application in PSYCAS  by December 15th for admission in the Fall: 

1. Create an account in  PSYCAS and select Tennessee State University as your school of choice. The application fee payment is to PSYCAS (not to TSU).  
2. Official Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. *Official transcripts must be sent directly to PSYCAS and not to TSU. 
   
   PSYCAS Transcript Processing Center 
   P.O.Box 9138 
   Watertown, MA 02471                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
3. A minimum grade point average of 3.25 at the Master’s level is strongly recommended. 
4. Beginning in Fall 2021, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogy Test (MAT) are no longer required.  
5. A work history, that is, a CV/Resume curriculum vitae that includes work experience and research experience. 
6. Personal Career Statement 
7. Three letters of recommendation (attesting to your experience, professionalism, and school history). 
8. Supplemental Essays
   Complete the Supplemental Data requested below, in separate essays, and include it with your completed application materials. Limit your response to two (2) single-spaced, typed pages per question. These supplemental essays can be uploaded with the Personal Career Statement. Be sure to clearly mark ‘Supplemental Essays’ at the start of the document containing the Essays.
   
   1. Why do you want a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University? 
   2. What have been your personal and professional experiences with individual and cultural differences? 

 All students entering the program MUST: 

• Hold a Master’s degree in counseling or a related area received prior to June 1 of the year of admission to the PhD program 
• Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or better on last completed degree.

In addition, international applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United must score 500 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to provide evidence of proficiency in English; evidence of financial resources sufficient to provide tuition and fees for the academic year; copies of Visa or Alien Registration card; certificate from qualified medical authority verifying freedom from tuberculosis within thirty (30) days from the first day of classes. Note: TOEFEL score is to be sent directly to PsyCAS.

Program Details

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