Counseling and School Psychology, PhD (Counseling Psychology track)

Foundational Courses

• COUNSL 608 Abnormal Psychology
• COUNSL 620 Human Development: Research, Theory and Practice
• CSP 641 Cognitive and Affective Foundations
• CSP 660 Physiological Bases of Behavior
• CSP 680 History & Systems in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 705 Social and Cultural Psychology

Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention Courses

• COUNSL 614 Counseling Theory and Practice I

• Choose one course from the following:

• COUNSL 613 Vocational Development and Career Information
• COUNSL 615 Counseling Theory and Practice II
• COUNSL 622 Theories of Family Therapy
• COUNSL 627 Couples Therapy
• CSP 702 Foundations and Ethics in Counseling Psychology
• CSP 706 Personality Assessment
• CSP 713 Advanced Career and Group Theory and Practice
• CSP 717 Advanced Theory and Practice in counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 752 Health Psychology: Current Theory, Research, and Interventions
• CSP 780 Supervision and Training in Psychology
• CSP 783 Practicum in Counseling Psychology I
• CSP 784 Practicum in Counseling Psychology II: Evidence-Based Practice
• CSP 787 Advanced Practicum III in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 888 Internship in School and Counseling Psychology Seminar I
• CSP 889 Internship in School and Counseling Seminar II
• PSYCLN 727 Emotion-Focused Psychotherapy
• SPY G 602 Standardized Assessment and Report Writing

Research Courses

• CSP 703 Research in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 704 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 708 Intermediate Statistics in CSP
• CSP 770 Advanced Statistics in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 891 Dissertation Seminar
• CSP 899 Dissertation Research

Teaching Requirement

Each student will co-teach at least one semester and also take the following course:

• CSP 782 Teaching in Counseling and School Psychology

Social Justice and Systems Change Courses

• CSP 701 Social Justice in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 702 Foundations and Ethics in Counseling Psychology
• CSP 787 Advanced Practicum III in Counseling and School Psychology
• CSP 801 Transnational Social Justice in Counseling and School Psychology

Other Requirements

Field Work

Every student must participate in two semesters of Practicum and complete a full year of Internship. The internship, typically completed during the fourth or fifth year after having met all course requirements, provides preparation for functioning as an independent counseling psychologist.

Research Team

Every student will participate on at least one Faculty-Student Research Team for five semesters. Research teams are composed of faculty mentors and other graduate students who collaborate on research projects, presentations, and papers.

The Qualifying Paper (QP)

Successful completion of the QP, a critical and synthetic review of a focused body of literature in the area in which the student plans to complete the dissertation, results in admission to doctoral candidacy.

Dissertation

The dissertation is an original empirical research project (quantitative or qualitative) that makes a substantive contribution to the knowledge base in counseling psychology or school psychology. It is usually completed by the end of the fourth year, although students may choose to complete the dissertation during or following the internship year.

Program Coals and Competency Requirements

By the time of graduation, students are expected to demonstrate the knowledge and skills requisite of psychologists ready for practice as delineated in the “Competency Benchmark Student Evaluation Form” (APA, 2012). The program emphasizes evidence-based practice and collaboration; throughout course work and field experiences students must demonstrate skill in delivering effective services that result in positive outcomes for clients. Student competencies will be demonstrated in professional values and attitudes, satisfactory completion of academic and course requirements, satisfactory completion of fieldwork requirements, and satisfactory completion of research requirements. Successful students will demonstrate the following APA competencies with the exception of #15 Management-Administration:

1. Professional Values and Attitudes: as evidenced in behavior and comportment that reflect the values and attitudes of psychology.
2. Individual and Cultural Diversity: Awareness, sensitivity and skills in working professionally with diverse individuals, groups and communities who represent various cultural and personal background and characteristics defined broadly and consistent with APA policy.
3. Ethical Legal Standards and Policy: Application of ethical concepts and awareness of legal issues regarding professional activities with individuals, groups, and organizations.
4. Reflective Practice/Self-Assessment/Self-Care: Practice conducted with personal and professional self-awareness and reflection; with awareness of competencies; with appropriate self-care.
5. Relationships: Relate effectively and meaningfully with individuals, groups, and/or communities.
6. Scientific Knowledge and Methods: Understanding of research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective foundations of behavior, and development across the lifespan. Respect for scientifically derived knowledge.
7. Research/Evaluation: Generating research that contributes to the professional knowledge base and/or evaluates the effectiveness of various professional activities.
8. Evidence-Based Practice: Integration of research and clinical expertise in the context of patient factors.
9. Assessment: Assessment and diagnosis of problems, capabilities and issues associated with individuals, groups, and/or organizations.
10. Intervention: Interventions designed to alleviate suffering and to promote health and well-being of individuals, groups, and/or organizations.
11. Consultation: The ability to provide expert guidance or professional assistance in response to a client’s needs or goals.
12. Teaching: Providing instruction, disseminating knowledge, and evaluating acquisition of knowledge and skill in professional psychology.
13. Supervision: Supervision and training in the professional knowledge base of enhancing and monitoring the professional functioning of others.
14. Interdisciplinary Systems: Knowledge of key issues and concepts in related disciplines.  Identify and interact with professionals in multiple disciplines.
15. (Not Assessed/Expected for this Program): Management-Administration: Manage the direct delivery of services (DDS) and/or the administration of organizations, programs, or agencies (OPA).
16. Advocacy: Actions targeting the impact of social, political, economic or cultural factors to promote change at the individual (client), institutional, and/or systems level.

Attainment Measures

The UMass Boston Counseling and School Psychology PhD Program is competency-based. All students are expected to satisfactorily demonstrate the attainment of the Program Goals, Objectives, and 15 relevant Professional Competencies and Professional Behaviors. Students are also expected to satisfactorily meet competencies of counseling psychology for the relevant benchmarks (e.g., readiness for practicum, internship, and professional practice). Attainment is assessed via varied measures from varied sources:

• Content knowledge assessed by Research Requirements and the defense of the Dissertation.
• Content knowledge as evaluated by departmental faculty and conveyed via grades in specified assignments and courses.
• Knowledge and skills evidenced during practica, as assessed on assignments and via the “Competency Benchmark Student Evaluation Form” in Appendix, p. E105 and in the Practicum Handbook.
• Knowledge and skills evidenced during the internship, as assessed by Field Supervisors using the “Competency Benchmark Student Evaluation Form” in Appendix, p. E105.
• Self-assessment of knowledge and skills attained.