Doctoral Studies

What are the admissions requirements? - Counseling Psychology

    What are the admissions requirements?
   

We are seeking applicants with a desire to gain multicultural competencies in counseling psychology and who approach their education and training with cultural humility. CSU’s program focuses on urban issues and working within an urban context. We seek applicants who can contribute to a vibrant, diverse community of scholars, practitioners, learners, and advocates.

The Doctoral Program in Urban Education:

Counseling Psychology seeks applicants who

  • have a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field,
  • experience and skills in quantitative research methods/statistics,
  • abilities and traits that will ensure success in a doctoral program that requires a minimum of 3 courses in quantitative research methods/statistics,
  • experience in an applied setting,
  • a strong academic record,
  • good communication skills,
  • strong letters of recommendation (including letters from graduate faculty).

An undergraduate GPA of 2.85 and a graduate GPA of 3.5 are preferred. Admissions decisions also are influenced by space limitations, students' evidence of commitment and interest in urban multicultural issues, and a match between student interests and faculty expertise. Approximately 4-6 Counseling

Psychology doctoral students are admitted yearly.
The admissions deadline is January 15th.

Application Materials

Graduate application, C.V., personal statement, official copies of all academic transcripts. Three letters of recommendation are required (at least one must be from a faculty member from previous graduate work). Applicants may elect to submit one or two extra letters of recommendation if desired. The GRE is not required, however, students may submit GRE scores if they believe it will be helpful to their applications.

Personal Statement

A 3-page single-spaced personal statement regarding your professional interests and goals should be included with your application. We are interested in knowing what attracted you to the field of counseling psychology and to doctoral program at Cleveland State University. Describe your experiences in applied settings (e.g., hotline experience, residential treatment staff, field placements) and your research experiences and skills (e.g., assisting with a faculty member’s research, professional presentations, publications, or master’s thesis). Specifically, also describe your experiences and skills with quantitative research methods and statistics, as well as personal characteristics that will ensure success in a doctoral program that requires a minimum of 3 courses in quantitative research methods/statistics. Please describe your goals for graduate study, as well as your goals for your professional career. Be specific in describing your interests in research and practice (e.g., specific settings and/or populations). Applicants should especially address the goodness of fit with the specialty of Counseling Psychology (e.g., focus on diversity and social justice, prevention, career development) and the urban focus of CSU’s program.