Counseling Psychology
The SIUC Counseling Psychology doctoral program is a traditional Boulder-model program with an equal emphasis on science and practice. The program provides a balanced training experience with our primary goal being the development of the student as both a scientifically sophisticated researcher and an interpersonally skilled counselor. Our graduates are capable of providing quality services, critically evaluating services, developing new intervention approaches, and contributing to the field through research, teaching, and training.
Features of the Counseling Psychology Program
- Accreditation: We have been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1961. Our most recent site visit resulted in reaccreditation until 2014.
- National Reputation: Historically, the Counseling Psychology Program has distinguished itself as a nationally ranked program based on faculty publication records and other indicators of quality (Buboltz, Ebberwein, Watkins, & Savickas, 1995; Cox & Catt, 1977; Delgado & Howard, 1994; Hanish, Horan, Keen, St. Peter, Ceperich, & Beasley, 1995; Perez, Constantine, & Gerard, 2000).
- Balance: We seek to provide balanced training, with respect to counseling and research training, and with respect to perspective. We aim to provide the graduate with a solid foundation as a counseling psychology generalist, so that she/he can pursue a variety of career paths, change careers successfully, and adapt to inevitable changes in the profession.
- Financial Assistance: We offer substantial support, guaranteed to all first-year students and historically available throughout a student’s four years on campus. Students in good standing can anticipate receiving a stipend and a tuition waiver, and all students complete training assignments as teaching or research assistants or in an externship. For more information, see Doctoral Programs page.
- Graduated Counseling Training: Practicum training begins early (second semester of the first year) and grows in complexity. Students receive individual and/or group supervision throughout their practicum training.
- Wide Range of Counseling Experiences: The program provides many and varied opportunities, occurring through regular counseling practica, specialty practice, and counseling training assignments. Training sites range from the department’s Career Development and Resource Clinic, the campus Counseling Center, regional mental health centers, and adolescent and adult correctional facilities.
- Research Training: We offer solid training in basic and applied research. The program operates on an elective-mentor system: that is, students may choose to work primarily with one faculty member throughout their graduate career, but they are also free to complete the MA thesis with one faculty member and the dissertation with another, while participating in research activities with other faculty. The counseling faculty themselves represent a very broad range of interests. Moreover, students in the counseling program can choose to work with any departmental faculty regardless of program. Students are encouraged and receive travel funds to present research at conferences and to become involved in the publication process.
- Teaching: Students have a variety of opportunities to develop teaching and presentation skills. Most students will have at least one training assignment as a teaching assistant. Further opportunities include class presentations, formal thesis and dissertation research presentations, conference presentations, and teaching Psychology courses.
- Atmosphere: Faculty and students are proud of the program’s collegial and supportive atmosphere. We seek to maintain high academic and professional standards, while being responsive to the goals, strengths, and needs of individual students. In general, students report experiencing the program as being highly facilitative of their professional development.
Counseling Psychology Faculty
Kathleen Chwalisz, Professor and Director of Counseling Program
Ann Fischer, Associate Professor
Patrick Rottinghaus, Associate Professor
Jane Swanson, Professor
Yu-Wei Wang, Associate Professor
Applying to the Counseling Psychology Program
Visit the Department of Psychology's Admissions webpage for more information.
