Admissions

All U.S. students must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (international applicants must meet Graduate School policies that outline equivalent requirements for the admission of international students) prior to enrollment in the program. Any student who is unable to provide a transcript documenting conferral of the bachelor’s degree by the first day of classes during the term for which they were admitted will be automatically dismissed from the Program.

At the time of application, individuals must indicate whether they wish to be considered as a post-bachelor’s applicant or a post-master’s applicant. Although all students will be admitted to the same doctoral Program, it is expected that students who apply as post-master’s candidates do so because they intend to and agree to complete their master’s degree prior to admission to the Program. Students who are working toward a master’s degree in any field at the time of application and who would like the admissions committee to consider their master’s degree as evidence of their ability to complete graduate coursework should apply as a post-master’s applicant. Individuals who do not intend to complete a master’s degree prior to the start of the Auburn Counseling Psychology PhD Program must apply as a post-bachelor’s applicant and the committee will not include expectation of completion of the master’s degree in evaluating the quality of the application.

Individuals who apply as a post-master’s applicant must provide evidence of completion of the master’s degree (typically in the form of a transcript documenting conferral of degree) by the first day of classes during the Fall term in which they were admitted for enrollment. The program does not offer an option to defer enrollment for failure to complete a master’s degree on the timeline intended. If an individual applied as a post-master’s applicant and has not provided evidence of degree completion by the start of the Fall term, the new student will be placed on remediation with the requirement that they provide evidence of master’s degree completion by the end of that Fall semester of first enrollment (defined as the last day of regularly-scheduled classes of the term). If a student fails to provide evidence of degree completion by that date, the Program Faculty will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be dismissed from the Program.

Because counseling psychologists often work with individuals who have been marginalized, it is imperative that those who aspire to the PhD in counseling psychology hold respect for diversity and strive to contribute to an interpersonal environment of safety and respect for all individuals. Respect for, and the valuing of, diversity is expected of all students who are accepted into the program. In particular, the program expects that students will be respectful of all individuals (including, but not limited to, clients, classmates, students, staff, and faculty), including those who are different from them in terms of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or socioeconomic status. Students found to engage in discrimination or harassment will be subject to University policies with regard to violation of the Code of Student Conduct and will also be subject to the Program’s Due Process, Remediation, and Dismissal Policies.

In addition, Program standards for student behavior exceed the idea of “non- discrimination.” Program Faculty believe the most effective training environment involves an openness to learning about others who are different from themselves, acceptance of diversity, and actions that foster inclusion. When students encounter others who differ from them on one or more identity status, it is the assumption of the Program that students will work to help create a climate of safety and trust for all concerned. Faculty recognize that no one is completely free from all forms of prejudice and bias. Furthermore, it is expected that there will be a range of attitudes and values concerning controversial issues. Nonetheless, enrollment in the Program is seen as a commitment to the valuing of diversity and the process of self-examination so that bias can be evaluated in the light of both scientific data and the traditions of cooperation and mutual respect. In addition, the Program strives to develop counseling psychologists who will actively work toward correcting social injustices by engaging in advocacy and/or activism for and with marginalized communities.

Prospective students who have reservations about their ability to show acceptance of diversity in all the areas listed above should understand that the Program, while committed to supporting the positive personal development of all enrolled students, will not support behaviors judged by the Faculty to be highly intolerant and/or that create a hostile environment for others. Examples of behaviors that can create a hostile environment include, but are not limited to: using derogatory terms, insults, telling derogatory jokes, taunting, and intimidation. Faculty will consider the context, nature, scope, frequency, duration, and severity of incidents to determine whether a student has created a hostile environment. Similarly, although the Program will take no action to abridge one’s constitutional right of free speech, tolerance and respect for the values of others are factors that may be used to evaluate students. Students and prospective students found to violate this Policy will be subject to Program’s Due Process, Remediation, and Dismissal Policies.

Drawing from the recommendations set forth by the APA Board of Educational Affairs, the Program is committed to developing psychologists with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be able to work effectively with members of the public who embody intersecting demographics, attitudes, beliefs, and values. When graduate students’ attitudes, beliefs, or values create tensions that negatively impact the training process or their ability to effectively work with members of the public, the Program Faculty and supervisors are committed to a developmental training approach designed to support the acquisition of professional competence. Professional competencies are determined by the profession for the benefit and protection of the public; consequently, students do not have the option to avoid working with particular client populations or refuse to develop professional competencies because of conflicts with their attitudes, beliefs, or values. The Program will assist graduate students in finding a belief- or value-congruent path that will allow them to work in a professionally competent manner with all individuals.

Students are required to honor not merely the Ethics Code of the American Psychological Association (APA; see Ethics & Respect policy), but also to be familiar with and to abide by the various Guidelines published by the APA for working with individuals from marginalized groups. In addition, students are encouraged to access the website for the Auburn University Office of Inclusion and Diversity for details on University expectations and priorities with regard to diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion.

Students who have previously completed graduate coursework prior to their admission into the Auburn University Counseling Psychology Program may be eligible to substitute one or more of their previous graduate courses for one or more of the courses required by the Auburn Program.
Credit Hour Maximums. The Graduate School allows a maximum of 30 hours to be transferred into a doctoral program. In general, Program students will not be allowed to substitute more than eight courses (24 credit hours). In unique circumstances, a student may be eligible to substitute up to 30 credit hours if careful review of the prior coursework by Program faculty suggests an exception is appropriate.

The following courses will not be considered for substitution. In other words, all students must complete the following courses at Auburn University even if they previously took a similar course at another institution:

• COUN 7910: Practicum (I and II)
• COUN 8220: Psychological Science and Health
• COUN 8230: Colloquium in Counseling Psychology I
• COUN 8240: Colloquium in Counseling Psychology II
• COUN 8250: Colloquium in Counseling Psychology III
• COUN 8260: Colloquium in Counseling Psychology IV
• COUN 8400: Professional Seminar in Counseling Psychology
• COUN 8530: Contemporary Issues in Counseling Psychology
• COUN 8540: Counseling Supervision Theory & Practice
• COUN 8800: Professional Development Internship Skills
• COUN 8910: Advanced Practicum (I and II)
• COUN 8930: Internship in Counseling Psychology (I, II, and III)
• Courses utilized for Elective requirement in the Plan of Study