Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology


Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology

Students emerge from our program with training experiences that make them highly competitive to attain positions in academia, mental health organizations, and other related occupations across community contexts.

At a Glance

How many courses?


This program consists of 24 courses.

How long will it take?


You'll need a minimum of five years of full-time study. Students entering without a master's degree in counseling or a related field often need longer.

When can I start?


You can begin the program only in the fall semester.

By the Numbers

91%

licensure percentage

2012–2022

6

median number of years to complete the program

2012–2022

Curriculum

The program is designed to qualify candidates for membership in the American Psychological Association (APA) and its Division 17 (Counseling Psychology), and to provide the pre-doctoral educational requirements for licensure as a psychologist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for inclusion in the National Register of Health Care Providers. 

Requirements


  • Courses: 24
  • Credits: 54
  • Comprehensive Exam

Courses

Faculty

Practicum

Throughout doctoral training, students learn to integrate a social justice approach to intervention at individual, community, and policy levels. Our students are accepted to some of the most competitive practicum and internship training locations in the nation.

We are proud to be leaders in shaping the dialogue about how professional psychology can enhance its impact to be truly inclusive and transformative for people and communities
Lisa Goodman, Professor, Counseling, Developmental & Educational Psychology; Director of Training, Counseling Psychology

Careers

Roles

  • Psychology Professor
  • Dean of the College of Education
  • Psychologist
  • Instructor
  • Psychology Professor

Organizations

  • Lesley University
  • University of Missouri, Kansas City
  • University of Maryland Counseling Center
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • Veterans Administration Medical Center
  • University of Michigan
  • Simmons College Counseling Center

Hear From Our Students

Tuition & Aid

Education should level the playing field. We feel the same way about financial aid.

The Lynch School of Education and Human Development provides more than $10.8 million in financial aid to students each year. As a result, the quality of BC’s instruction, the benefit of our alumni network, and the impact a BC degree will have on your employment options is both affordable and invaluable. 

Application Eligibility & Timeline

Successful applicants typically demonstrate evidence of their preparation for doctoral study, commitment to the scientist-practitioner training model, and commitment to the social justice mission of the program via their academic work, curricular and extra-curricular activities, and research experience. 

To be eligible for the doctoral program, it is highly recommended that applicants already hold a master's degree although some students are admitted without one. Please see below for more information on the different admission pathways.  

Doctoral applications are reviewed by faculty in January, and a small number of applicants are selected to attend a one-day interview in mid February. A final cohort of between five and seven students are offered acceptance to the program. 

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Application & Deadlines

Apply Now

A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required. The fee is waived for select applicants.

Fall 2025:

  • Deadline: December 1, 2024
    This program does not offer rolling admission after the deadline.

Résumé

To be uploaded to your online application.

In addition to your academic history and relevant volunteer and/or work experience, please include any licenses currently held, any social justice-related experience, any language skills other than English, and any research experience or publications.

Personal Statement

To be uploaded to your online application.


How have your personal experiences shaped your academic and career goals?   

Letters of Recommendation


Three letters of recommendation are required with at least one required from an academic source. Applicants may submit one additional recommendation of their choice. Academic letters are a better indicator of your qualifications for doctoral work as compared to professional letters. Ideally, academic letters should be as recent as possible, and from faculty who are in related fields. 

Transcripts

Transcripts from all college/university study are required.

Applicants who have received degrees from institutions outside the United States should view the ""International Students"" section for additional credential evaluation requirements.

Please begin your online application before submitting your transcripts. Details on how to submit transcripts and international credential evaluations can be found within the application. In order to ensure your transcript reaches our office, it is important to review and follow the instructions.

Standardized Tests

GRE scores are not required. If you wish to send GRE scores, the Lynch School GRE code is 3218.

Please view the "International Students" section for information on English Proficiency test requirements.

Writing Sample

To be uploaded to your online application.

All applicants to this program are required to submit one piece of work that demonstrates graduate-level writing ability. This document may be an academic term paper, a published work in which you are the primary author, a training manual or curriculum that you have created, a clinical case formulation, or another representative sample of your writing. The document should be approximately 15-25 pages.

International Students

Applicants who have completed a degree outside of the United States must have a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript(s) completed by an evaluation company approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Submission of falsified documents is grounds for denial of admission or dismissal from the University.

Applicants who are not native speakers of English and who have not received a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction must also submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result that meets the minimum score requirement.

Please click the link below for full details on these requirements.

Requirements for International Students

Quick Links

Contact Us

  gsoe@xyschool.net
  617-552-4214