byu phd in counseling psychology

Doctoral Program

Curriculum for the ph.d. degree (post-master's option).

Brigham Young University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Marriage and Family Therapy . Administratively this degree is housed in the School of Family Life . Students admitted to this program will have completed the Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or equivalent at another accredited institution. The Ph.D. degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Eleven full-time faculty have primary instructional responsibility for the graduate program with support from the School of Family Life faculty. Major courses and clinical practice are conducted in the BYU Comprehensive Clinic which houses clinical psychology, speech and language disorders, audiology, and social work in addition to the marriage and family therapy program.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 63 credit hours (listed below). In addition, a minimum of 500 hours of direct client contact (with at least 251 being relational) are required for the Doctoral degree. Additional practicum experience is also available in various inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health facilities in the community once 200 clinical hours are completed in the Comprehensive Clinic. An internship experience is required during the third year of the program while students prepare for their final dissertation defense.

Eligibility for admission to the Ph.D. (post-master's) program is based upon the applicant having an earned master's degree in MFT from a regionally accredited college or university. Some exceptions may be made for individuals who have graduated from a non-accredited program, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis under the direction of BYU's Graduate Studies, the MFT advisor, MFT Program & Clinical Directors. The Graduate School requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above for the last sixty hours for admission. Competitive applicants typically have a 3.75 GPA or higher, a combined score near 300 on the verbal and quantitative tests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a score of 4.0 or higher on the written portion of the GRE. For now the GRE is recommended, but not required for applicants.

Financial assistance is offered to those in the PhD program. Full tuition & fees will be paid for at the LDS rate for all students. All PhD students will also be offered a research stipend of 20 hours a week, amounting to roughly $22,500 a year .

In addition to course work and supervised clinical practicum, each student is required to complete a Doctoral Dissertation as well as a Doctoral Portfolio . More information regarding what is included in the portfolio will be given after admission to the program.

Ph.D. Program Goals . As a program, we aim for the following goals:

• Be an international leader in conducting and publishing research, with an emphasis on process research that informs how change in relational therapy occurs.
• Focus education on the integration of theory, science, and the practice of systemic and relational healing.
• Develop professionals with effective teaching skills
• Foster an environment of compassion, inclusion, and diversity.

Students are expected to demonstrate the following student learning outcomes :

• Graduating students will be competent in research skills
• Graduating students will have submitted for publication at least 2 papers as a primary author
• Graduating students will be competent in designing and carrying out research related methodology
• Graduating students will be clinically prepared
• Graduating students will be ethically prepared
• Graduating students will be prepared to be licensed in the state of Utah
• Student teachers will receive positive evaluations from their students and observing faculty
• Graduating students will be competent in designing and implementing effective teaching strategies
• Graduating students will be competent in relating to clients with regards to gender diversity
• Graduating students will be competent in relating to clients with regards to cultural diversity

Demographics for the Ph.D. Degree

The following areas of study correspond to the curriculum prescribed by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the AAMFT.

BYU DOCTORAL CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS*

(“Areas” of study refer to COAMFTE required areas of study.)

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS, AREAS VII THROUGH XII

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS FOR PhD=63 Hours* *Plus 500 direct face-to-face clinical hours (with at least 251 being relational)

PhD Counseling Psychology: Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Time to completion for all students entering the program.

Note: Our program admits some students with previous graduate credit or degrees, and some graduate credit may be applied toward the doctoral degree. However, these students do not have advanced standing and do not typically complete the program more quickly than students who enter the program with no graduate credit.

Program Costs

Note: Tuition and general fees for all academic programs are established annually by Brigham Young University's Board of Trustees. BYU is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and significant portions of university operating costs are paid with the tithes of Church members. In recognition of this support, the university assesses students who are Church members lower tuition than those who are not members. This practice is similar in principle to that of state universities charging higher tuition to nonresidents. (See https://finserve.byu.edu/students-parents/tuition-fees-deadlines#1 )

In order to enhance diversity of spiritual/religious perspectives in our program, we have committed to provide support to non-LDS students so that they pay the same tuition as LDS students.

Internship Placement—Table 1

Internship placement—table 2.

*Cell should only include students who applied for internship and are included in applied cell count from “Internship Placement—Table 1."

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Administration

Chair : Ellie L Young

Department Information: 

801-422-3857

[email protected]

Advisement Center: 

801-422-3426

Admission to Degree Program

Students must apply to the Counseling Psychology and Special Education Department for admission to the Special Education undergraduate degree. Information can be found online at  education.byu.edu/cpse/bs  and applicants can apply online at  educator.byu.edu . See additional information below.

General Information

Admission to BS Programs

Among  other factors , the application review process involves consideration of the following:

Earn a minimum 3.0 total high school or college GPA (whichever is most recent) 

Complete and pass a  BCA/FBI fingerprint background check  (Contact  Education Advisement Center  for instructions)

Complete the  Technology Skills Assessment (TSA)

Meet the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) requirements

Complete the following prerequisites with a C grade or above: 

Mild/Moderate Disabilities Emphasis:

CPSE 203, CPSE 410, CPSE 480, MthEd 305, MthEd 306

Severe Disabilities Emphasis:

Successfully pass one of the following basic skills tests (minimum scores listed):

PRAXIS Core for Educators

134 Reading ( subtest #5713 )

130 Math ( subtest #5733 )

132 Writing ( subtest #5723 )

Additional Licensing Requirements

As well as state requirements, teacher candidates must complete the following before they can be recommended for graduation and Utah licensure:

Pass the approved end of program  Mild/Moderate  or  Severe  Praxis test

Forward test scores to BYU (Contact  Education Advisement Center  for instructions)

Maintain  fingerprint background clearance

To confirm their graduation status, teacher candidates should contact  Education Advisement Center . 

Graduation Requirements

To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following university requirements:

The University Core, consisting of requirements in general and religious education.

At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student

A minimum of 120 credit hours

A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0

Be in good standing with the Honor Code Office

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

Graduate Programs Available

This department also offers graduate degree programs. For more information, see  Graduate Studies .

Mark E. Beecher

Mark E. Beecher is a licensed psychologist and clinical professor, board certified in counseling psychology (ABPP) and endorsed as a certified group psychotherapist (CGP). He is currently a clinical faculty member in Brigham Young University's (BYU) Counseling and Psychological Services. He has led therapy groups since 1995 and has been actively involved in group psychotherapy research since 2007. He typically runs two or three therapy groups at any given time. He has taught the introductory and advanced group psychotherapy classes in BYU's Counseling Psychology and Special Education doctoral and masters programs.

• Internship: BYU University Accessibilty Center/ Counseling & Career Center
• Dissertation: High School Courses and Scores as Predictors of College Success
• M.S.W., 1995, University of Utah Social Work
• B.S., 1993, Brigham Young University, Provo Psychology, Magna Cum Laude

Awards/Leadership: Mark is a member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and the American Psychological Association's Division 49 (Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy). He served as co-chair of AGPA's Groups in College Counseling Centers Special Interest Group for four years. He currently serves on BYU CAPS' training committee, helping to supervise the training of interns, externs, and practicum students in individual and group psychotherapy. He also has supervised the group psychotherapy rotation of CAPS's psychology internship and co-leads nearly all of his groups with trainees.

Research Interests: Mark's research interests include individual and group psychotherapy (emphasizing practice-based evidence), multiculturalism, disability issues, and psychological and psycho-educational assessment.

Contact me directly at: [email protected]

RD Boardman

RD Boardman was recently hired as a clinical faculty member of the Counseling and Psychological Services at Brigham Young University. He is currently involved in a number of research groups, including the C-GRP. He provides individual, couples and group psychotherapy. He graduated from Brigham Young University's Counseling Psychology doctoral program and attended Colorado State University's doctoral internship to further his group psychotherapy training. He then took a job with the Southeast Alaska Health Consortium (SEARHC) in Sitka, AK where he became the group coordinator and created their group psychotherapy program. He was the associate training director for their APA accredited doctoral internship site and trained both faculty and doctoral students in group facilitation. After 3 years in Alaska, RD took a job with Boise State University as their Assessment and Testing Coordinator, providing group psychotherapy and group training to interns of various professional levels. After 3 years at Boise State, RD accepted an Assistant Clinical Professor position here at Brigham Young University, his Alma Mater. RD has had experience developing culturally-sensitive group programs geared towards underserved populations. His interests include group research with an emphasis on empirically based practices, as well as the implementation of telehealth to facilitate group therapy among geographically diverse clinical settings. RD enjoys spending time with his wife and children camping, fishing, hiking and playing board games.

• Internship: Colorado State University
• BS, 2004, Brigham Young University Psychology

Research Interests: RD's research interests involve both individual and group psychotherapy, as well as multicultural/diversity issues, depression, anxiety, psychological assessment, and supervision/training.

Currently working on a chapter entitled Assessment and Outcome Research for the book, The College Counselor's Guide to Group Psychotherapy with other C-GRP members.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Gary M. Burlingame

Gary Burlingame completed his doctoral work in Counseling Psychology at the University of Utah in 1983 and joined BYU's faculty the same year. He is a professor of Psychology and has been affiliated with clinical psychology doctoral program since 1983. Dr. Burlingame's scholarly work is focused in two areas: factors that lead to effective small group treatments in the treatment of mental and medical illness and measurement. He has contributed over 50 books and book chapters along with over 140 peer reviewed articles to the literature. One third of these publications focusing on the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ 45) and Youth Outcome Questionnaire and other measures with the rest addressing group treatment. Dr. Burlingame's undergraduate and graduate teaching interests include measurement, research methodology, statistics and training in individual and group psychotherapy.

Dr. Burlingame has served as a consultant to over 20 federal, state and private entities including the White House, Department of Labor, Food & Drug Administration. He has served as a consultant to private and state agencies in implementing changes in practice patterns to increase the use of group and outcomes-informed treatment. His direct training has been received by thousands of consumers, clinicians, line administrators and executive staff. He has received a number career awards including national (American Psychological Association; American Group Psychotherapy Association) and international (German College of Psychosomatic Medicine) recognition. He is a fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association and the American Psychological Association (APA) where he served as President of APA's Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy (2009-2011). Notable university awards for excellence in scholarship, teaching and citizenship include a University Professorship (2011-2016), the Wells & Myrle Cloward Teaching and Learning Fellowship (207-2010) and the Abraham O. Smoot Citizenship Award (2005), respectively.

Dr. Burlingame and his colleague Michael Lambert co-developed OQ Measures which disseminates outcome instruments (e.g., OQ 45, YOQ, etc.) on five continents and over 40 languages. His most recent efforts have focused on training and implementation protocols that integrate outcome instruments into daily clinical practice supporting treatment planning and progress notes using evidence-based outcome instruments. Clinical settings that he's worked with include private practice, statewide community mental health systems, state psychiatric hospitals, child/youth treatments (out/inpatient, day-treatment, residential, in-home, wilderness, etc.), military (e.g., VA and active duty), faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, consumer advocacy and federal agencies.

• PhD, University of Utah, 1983
• MS, University of Utah, 1981
• BS, Andrews University 1978

Research Interests: I have been interested in small group treatments for over 30 years. For instance, for the past several decades my students and I have been testing which group treatment protocols produce the best outcomes with different patient populations, and which member characteristics predict greater improvement while in group. We've also developed international collaborations devoted to identifying common mechanisms of change and leader interventions that are linked to more successful groups. This research has led to the development of a selection (GRQ; Group Readiness Questionnaire), leader intervention (GPIRS; Group Psychotherapy Intervention Rating Scale), and group mechanism of change (GQ; Group Questionnaire) measures, which have been linked to process, outcome, and member attrition in studies from three countries and several clinical populations. We just finished a three-site, randomized clinical trial to test the effect of providing leaders with feedback on the GQ and OQ. As a co-developer of the OQ and YOQ, my lab also has a small number of studies that focus on outcome with particular emphasis in the severely mentally ill and children or youth. We typically cooperate with the Utah State Hospital and Professor Jared Warren's lab to support these studies.

• Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association
• Fellow, American Psychological Association
• University Professorship, BYU, 2016
• Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions, American Psychological Association, 2014
• Hickman Scholar, Family, Home and Social Science College, 2012
• President, American Psychological Association Division 49, 2011
• Wells & Myrle Cloward Teaching & Learning Fellowship, Brigham Young University, 2010
• Adolf-Ernst-Meyer-Award for Psychotherapy Research, German College of Psychosomatic Medicine, 2007
• Centennial Global Service Award, Loma Linda University, 2006
• Group Psychologist of the Year, American Psychological Association, 2006
• Abraham O. Smoot Citizenship, Brigham Young University, 2005
• Outstanding Contributions in Education & Training in Group Psychotherapy, American Group Psychotherapy Association, 2003
• Anne Alonso Award for Best Group Psychotherapy Paper, 2002

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Kara Cattani

Dr. Kara Cattani earned her B.S. in Psychology with a Business Management minor from Brigham Young University, and went on to earn her Ph.D., in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University, researching methods to evaluate psychotherapy outcomes and predict/prevent psychotherapy treatment failures. She has a strong interest in psychotherapy outcome research. She has worked on projects including the development of a psychotherapy outcome measure (the OQ-45), development of recovery curves for tracking patient improvement on the short version of the OQ, and studies assessing the impact of therapist training on outcomes.

In her spare time, she operates a taxi service for her kids (usually to tennis courts and soccer fields); enjoys hiking, biking and travelling with family, and spoiling her English Golden Retriever.

• PhD in Clinical Psychology, The Florida State University
• M.S. in Clinical Psychology, The Florida State University
• B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Business Management, Brigham Young University

Awards/Leadership: Dr. Cattani is an Associate Clinical Professor and Associate Director of Counseling & Psychological Services at Brigham Young University. She divides her time between administrative work, clinical practice, training of graduate students, consulting, and clinical research. Her clinical interests are in adult outpatient counseling with individuals exhibiting a wide range of difficulties including anxiety (particularly generalized anxiety and trauma), depression and identity development challenges or conflicts. She uses evidenced based interventions; particularly interpersonal and mindfulness based cognitive-behavioral models, such as Compassion Focused Therapy.

Research Interests: Dr. Cattani’s current research focus is group treatment for Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). She has a personal and professional commitment to meditation/mindfulness practices. Her training as a “teacher trainer” in mindful self-compassion (with Drs Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff), led her to explore more in depth ways to integrate compassion into the heart of psychotherapy. She was thrilled to learn of Dr. Paul Gilbert’s CFT model, a comprehensive biopsychosocial model of psychotherapy oriented around the concept of compassion. Dr. Cattani spent time in England studying CFT and completed advanced training in Compassion Focused Therapy with Dr. Gilbert in 2016. Dr. Cattani collaborated with Dr. Gilbert and an international team of researchers to develop and test a group model for CFT.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Davey Erekson

Davey Erekson is a licensed clinical psychologist and practice-based researcher. He has been an Assistant Clinical Professor in Brigham Young University's Counseling and Psychological Services (BYU CAPS) since 2014, and is board certified in counseling psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has led or co-led groups since 2011 and has been involved with CGRP since 2013.

• APA Accredited Internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School, 2014
• MS in Psychology in Education, Teachers College, Columbia, 2007
• BS in Psychology (Double minor in Media Arts and Scandinavian Studies), Brigham Young University, 2004

Awards/Leadership: Davey is currently the Assistant Director of Research and Technology at BYU CAPS. He has presented research and clinical approaches at local, national, and international conferences, and often consults on mental health issues in his local community. He regularly sits on doctoral dissertation and masters thesis committees, and supervises graduate students in their clinical training. He is open to receiving awards, and if you are an interested award-conferrer, please contact him directly at the email below for consideration.

Research Interests: Davey's research interests are focused on practice-based evidence and bridging the gap between clinical practice and psychotherapy research. He is currently measuring the clinical effects of a Compassion Focused Therapy course he taught and developed, and is involved in BYU's randomized clinical trial for Compassion Focused Therapy groups. He is also leading projects focusing on therapist effects in psychotherapy, naturalistic trajectories of client change in college counseling centers, and the clinical and non-clinical experiences of minority groups on campus.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Derek Griner

Derek Griner is a licensed psychologist and holds a joint faculty appointment with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS; 60%) and the Counseling Psychology and Special Education doctoral program (CPSE; 40%) at Brigham Young University (BYU). He is board certified in counseling psychology (ABPP) and endorsed as a certified group psychotherapist (CGP). He has worked in several settings including the University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute, BYU- Hawaii, Arizona State University's Counseling and Consultation and BYU's Accessibility Center. Derek has co-led groups since 2004 and joined CGRP in 2011.

• Internship: Arizona State University, 2007 - 2008
• BS, 2001, Psychology

Awards/Leadership: Derek is committed to furthering knowledge surrounding diversity, has conducted research in this domain, and received APA's Division 17 Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship on Race & Ethnicity Award as well as APA's Jeffrey S. Tanaka Memorial Dissertation Award in Psychology. He is on CAPS' training committee and helps facilitate trainings regarding multicultural counseling, assessment, and group work for Ph.D. pre-doctoral interns, externs, and practicum students. Derek is committed to training up and coming psychologists and has co-led numerous groups with doctoral students in training. He also sits on dissertation committees and helps graduate students on various research projects.

Research Interests: Derek's research interests include culturally modified and culturally sensitive treatments, multicultural populations, individual and group psychotherapy, evidence and practice-based therapy, and disability issues in college settings. He has been a member of the C-GRP since 2011.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Kristina Hansen

Kristina Hansen is a licensed psychologist and Certified Group Psychotherapist. She holds a joint appointment faculty position at Brigham Young University (BYU) with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Counseling Psychology and Special Education Department (CPSE). Kristina completed her doctoral training at BYU and predoctoral internship at Texas A&M University Student Counseling Service in 2012 with training emphases in existential psychotherapy, individual identity development, LGBT issues, and group psychotherapy. Her experience in group psychotherapy facilitation includes children and young adult populations in public schools and university settings, respectively. She currently facilitates at CAPS each academic year several general process groups and groups for students with specific life experiences and concerns.

• Internship: Texas A&M Student Counseling Service, 2011 - 2012
• EdS, 2008, Brigham Young University, School Psychology,
• BA, 2001, Brigham Young University, English

Awards/Leadership: Kristina is a member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and has worked with the AGPA Membership Committee and as AGPA Principles Course faculty for several years. She enjoys training new psychologists in group and individual clinical work through her appointment with CPSE and supervising the clinical work of interns, externs, and practicum students at CAPS. Through CAPS, Kristina works as a liaison to other campus offices in an effort to increase awareness of mental health issues and to destigmatize help seeking.

Research Interests: Kristina's research interests include individual and group psychotherapy, experiences of minority populations in majority cultures, and women's issues. She has participated with the C-GRP since her hire as clinical faculty at BYU in 2012.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Vaughn E. Worthen

Dr. Vaughn E. Worthen completed his doctoral work in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas, joined the faculty in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in 1991. He is currently serving as a clinical professor and psychologist, with 60% of his time devoted to CAPS and 40% of his time with the Counseling Psychology and Special Education doctoral program (CPSE). Dr. Worthen's scholarly work has focused on clinical supervision, therapy outcomes, and positive psychology. Dr. Worthen has authored and coauthored, chapters and peer reviewed articles in over 20 publications. Dr. Worthen's undergraduate and graduate teaching focus has been career exploration and decision making, career development and assessment, and clinical supervision. During his career he has spent his time as well as a psychologist in CAPS, working with individuals and couples.

• PhD, University of Kansas, 1993
• M.Ed., Brigham Young University, 1985
• BS, Brigham Young University, 1983

Awards/Leadership: Dr. Worthen spent 6 years as the director of the Brigham Young University Career Services and 5 years supervising the Career and Academic Success Center. He has held other administrative assignments.

Research Interests: I have an interest in exploring what makes for good psychotherapy supervision, exploring the contributions of positive psychology to treatment and outcomes in psychotherapy, and more recently to issues in the group treatment of addictions, and Compassion-Focused Therapy.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Yoko Caldwell

Yoko Caldwell is a licensed psychologist and board certified in Biofeedback (BCB). She joined BYU Counseling and Psychological Services as an Assistant Clinical Professor in 2019. She has co-led groups since 2013 and has been involved with CGRP since 2018.

• Internship: BYU Counseling and Psychological Services, 2017-2018
• BS, 2010 Brigham Young University Hawaii, Psychology

Research Interests: Yoko’s research interests include individual and group psychotherapy, impact of mindfulness and stress management skills on college population, experiences of minority groups in majority cultures, and using neuroimaging measurement on aging populations.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Klint Hobbs

Klint Hobbs is a licensed psychologist, assistant professor and assistant director for outreach at Brigham Young University's Counseling and Psychological Service center. His primary theoretical orientations include relational, constructivist, and cognitive-behaivoral theory. He often coordinates and provides presentations and training to administration, faculty, staff, and student groups at BYU. He currently provides both brief individual, group, and couples therapy to university students. He is involved with walk-in/crisis intervention coverage, as well as other after-hour crisis coverage at the Counseling and Psychological Service Center.

• Internship: Texas Tech University Student Counseling Center
• BS, 2003 Utah State University, Psychology

Awards/Leadership: Klint is a member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) and a QPR gatekeeper trainer. He has served as the Assistant Director for Outreach at BYU for the last 4 years. He has overseen outreach initiatives involving Racism Awareness Week, Campus Suicide Prevention Coordination, You are Loved Campaign, Feed Your Body and Soul Week, and Title IX Town Hall Panel.

Research Interests: Klint's research interests include grief and loss, suicide prevention, substance use and recovery, and men's issues.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

Corinne Hannan

Corinne Hannan is a licensed psychologist with professional involvement in the American Group Psychotherapy Association, International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and Utah psychological Association. She is currently an assistant professor at Brigham Young University and has served as a clinical faculty member.

• Internship: University of Washington Counseling Center, 2005-2006
• BA, 1999, University of Utah

Research Interests: Corinne's research interests involve eating disorders and body image, women's issues, marital/couples therapy, as well as individual and group psychotherapy.

Contact directly at: [email protected]

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Master’s or Doctorate: Which Degree Fits My Counseling and Psychology Career Path?

April 26, 2024

School of HHS

Assess Your Goals When Considering an Advanced Counseling and Psychology Degree

Completing your bachelor’s degree opens many new paths on your way to a career in counseling and psychology. With so many options, it’s important to assess your goals when selecting which program of study is the best fit. Consider your career aspirations, academic interests, and lifestyle needs as you embark on this journey toward finding an education that will set you up for success in this fascinating field.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers outstanding programs to help you earn an M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services  or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology  degree. Below, we discuss several options for those looking to advance in their counseling and psychology education and career.

What Can I Do With an M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services?

A M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to become licensed practitioners, such as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Licensed graduates can provide mental health services, including individual counseling, and work in a variety of healthcare and human service settings. This type of work requires patience, empathy, and compassion as well as technical expertise. Mental health counselors are labeled as a “bright outlook” job by the U.S. Department of Labor and are in high demand.

What Can I Do With a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology Degree

Pursuing a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology degree offers graduates the educational requirements and opportunity to make an impact as licensed psychologists. Licensed psychologists often work in clinical practice settings, such as community mental health centers or private practices, where they provide psychotherapeutic services to individuals or families. This type of work is both challenging and rewarding. It is also highly sought-after due to its potential for long-term growth and professional development opportunities.

Earning this degree can also open students up to a wide range of opportunities. Students gain many transferable skills that apply in different practice settings, including advocacy, consultation, critical thinking, and leadership.

Counseling and Psychology Graduate Degrees at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we are proud to offer two state-of-the-art graduate degrees in counseling and psychology.

• A. in Counseling and Psychological Services
• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology

The M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program  offers a unique opportunity to apply for early entry to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program  which allows for an accelerated pathway for earning both your master’s and doctoral degree. This accelerated pathway allows you to achieve your academic goals faster by allowing for simultaneous completion of your master’s degree while beginning your Psy.D. coursework.

Our Psy.D. curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practices in psychological assessment and diagnosis, treatment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and supervision. It is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and prepares students for licensure as health service psychologists.

Get Started on Your Advanced Counseling and Psychology Degree

Both graduate degree programs in Counseling and Psychology provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical application strategies that prepare them for success wherever they go.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a licensed counselor, working as a licensed psychologist,      in clinical practice settings, or pursuing research opportunities, we’re confident a degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will be beneficial to your long-term goals. Serving students throughout Minnesota and beyond, we provide person-centered education with a commitment to the principles of the Catholic Lasallian tradition .

Reach out to us to learn more  or start your application  today.

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Psychology - Clinical: Combined MS/PhD

Application deadline.

• Fall: Dec 1

Contact Information

• Bachelor's Degree: Psychology degree preferred, but not required
• Prerequisite undergraduate courses: To qualify for admission, individuals must either (1) have completed a minimum of 15 credits of study in psychology, including general/introductory psychology, abnormal psychology/psychopathology, statistics, and research methods or (2) have completed the GRE Psychology Subject Test and reported their scores to BYU prior to the application deadline.
• Application: Personal Information, Statement of Intent, Transcripts, 3 Letters of Recommendation, Resume/Vita, Automated Video Interview
• Please indicate in the application a faculty mentor whose research program is most closely aligned with your career goals. You will have the ability to specify up to three potential faculty mentors in the application.
• Virtual interviews with finalists will be held in January
• Finalists will be invited to an optional second look campus visit following virtual interviews. Admission decisions will not be contingent upon attending second look visit. 
• A background check will be required after the start of the program before a student is permitted to see clients.
• Credit hours (33 hour minimum; B grade or better in each class)
• Research data and analysis requirement:  9 hours of statistics and research methodology (Psych  501 ,  502 , and  504 )
• Clinical theory requirement:  3 hours of ethics and professional issues (Psych  609 ); 3 hours of psychopathology (Psych  611 ); 6 hours of assessment (Psych  622  and  623 ); and 6 hours of psychotherapy (Psych  651  and Psych  652 ).
• Master's thesis:  Students will complete a master's thesis that includes no fewer than 6 thesis credit hours (Psych  699R ).  Students have three years to complete the MS degree requirements, including the thesis, and are not allowed to enroll in doctoral level courses during their fourth year if these requirements have not been met.
• Completion of the Psychology MS degree  (including all coursework and the MS thesis) is a requirement to attain the Clinical Psychology PhD.
• The program requires the development of broad competencies described in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program Handbook and the Practicum Handbook. Thus, the program is not merely a series of courses and experiences. In addition to the requirements listed below, the student must demonstrate competence in clinical work, research, academics, and professionalism to advance through the various phases of the degree program, including the year-long predoctoral internship and clearance for graduation. 
• Credit hours (100 minimum including MS coursework; B grade or better in each class).
• Research requirements: 18 hours of dissertation (Psych  799R ).
• General core courses: 3 hours of biological bases of behavior (Psych  585 ); 6 hours of social-cultural bases of behavior (Psych  550 ,  645 ); 3 hours of cognitive-affective bases of behavior (Psych  575 ); 3 hours of human development (Psych  520 ); 3 hours of history and systems (Psych  510 ).
• Clinical core courses: 3 additional hours of psychotherapy (one of the following:  653 ,  654 ,  656 ).
• Clinical practica: 20 hours of clinic practica (Psych  741R ); 2 hours of externships/clerkships (Psych  688R ); 3 hours of case conference (Psych  740R ); 3 hours of pre-doctoral internship (Psych  745 )
• Dissertation (including a manuscript in a form suitable for submission for publication appended to the dissertation).
• Internship: One-year pre-doctoral internship in a setting approved by the clinical director. 
• Examinations: (a) comprehensive examinations in first, second, and third years; (b) oral defense of master's thesis; (c) oral defense of dissertation prospectus; and (d) oral defense of dissertation.

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Why Do We Fall for Hackers? Blame Our Brains

A message from the Dean

Meet some of our new faculty!

Department programs, have questions about course planning or the psych major, have questions about graduation or careers, recent research.

BYU researchers using dirty diapers to develop a new autism test

Student wellness centers: An innovated response to student stress and suicide

Cultivating feelings of indebtedness to God results in increased happiness, desire to serve others

Is Social Disconnection Comparable to Smoking? | Julianne Holt-Lunstad | TEDxBYU

Other Recent Publications

Mission and aims of byu.

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