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St. Thomas campus in downtown Minneapolis

Doctorate in Counseling Psychology (PsyD)

Admissions and Financial Aid

Browse admissions and tuition information for the Doctorate in Counseling Psychology program below. For information regarding the MA with Direct Admission to the PsyD and all other graduate psychology programs, visit the Graduate School of Professional Psychology admissions and financial aid page.

We highly encourage you to begin preparing your application materials in advance and to save your work on your own device along the way. You can find a comprehensive list of application requirements, including essay prompts, below. If you have any questions about the application, please email us at gradpsych@stthomas.edu!

Contact

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Phone Number
(651) 962-4650

Application Timeline

Application open: August 1

Application deadline: December 15

Application Process

  • Basic Requirements
  • Supplementary Requirements
  • Application Materials
  • Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts
  • Interview with Faculty
  • Deadlines and Timeline
  • Basic Requirements

    • A master's degree in counseling psychology, or its equivalent. The degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
    • Degrees may be considered equivalent if they include:
      1. a counseling practicum and
      2. courses in the following areas: statistics or quantitative research design, biological bases of behavior (e.g., Psychobiology, Psychophysiology), social psychology or group dynamics, psychological assessment or measurement theory, personality or counseling theory, development (i.e. career, family, or life span), psychopathology, counseling skills and techniques, counseling ethics.

    Supplementary Requirements

    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for any candidate whose primary language is not English.

    Application Materials

    • Completed application form (choose “Doctorate” for degree and “Counseling Psychology” for program)
    • Official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Submit transcripts to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu or to the following address:
      Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas
      TMH 251, 1000 Lasalle Ave.
      Minneapolis, MN 55403
    • Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's suitability for the program
    • Candidate's statement of purpose: part of the application form
    • Writing sample: 2-3 pages of scholarly writing related to the field of psychology

    Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts

    Statement of Purpose

    Submit a concise, three-page, double-spaced essay addressing your fit with the field of counseling psychology and more specifically the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). Please describe your reasons for seeking a doctoral degree and what goals you hope to reach through the acquisition of the degree. Additionally, the field of counseling psychology places high value on personal self-knowledge and self-awareness. Please write about your awareness of your place in a diverse society and how you have come to know this. What do you bring to the work of a counseling psychologist?

    Writing Sample

    Attach a 2-3 page writing sample (APA format) from a thesis, practice sample, clinical course or other pertinent high quality work.

    Interview with Faculty

    Upon selection as a finalist, you will be invited to complete an interview with a faculty member as the last component of your application.

    Deadlines and Timeline

    Application Deadline (this is a strict deadline): December 15

    • January: Application Reviews
    • Early February: Selected applicants interview with faculty members in the GSPP
    • Mid-February: Faculty make final decisions and notify each applicant whether or not they are offered admission into the PsyD Program
    • April 15: Applicants notify the GSPP of their decision

    Basic Requirements

    • A master's degree in counseling psychology, or its equivalent. The degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
    • Degrees may be considered equivalent if they include:
      1. a counseling practicum and
      2. courses in the following areas: statistics or quantitative research design, biological bases of behavior (e.g., Psychobiology, Psychophysiology), social psychology or group dynamics, psychological assessment or measurement theory, personality or counseling theory, development (i.e. career, family, or life span), psychopathology, counseling skills and techniques, counseling ethics.

    Supplementary Requirements

    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for any candidate whose primary language is not English.

    Application Materials

    • Completed application form (choose “Doctorate” for degree and “Counseling Psychology” for program)
    • Official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Submit transcripts to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu or to the following address:
      Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas
      TMH 251, 1000 Lasalle Ave.
      Minneapolis, MN 55403
    • Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's suitability for the program
    • Candidate's statement of purpose: part of the application form
    • Writing sample: 2-3 pages of scholarly writing related to the field of psychology

    Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts

    Statement of Purpose

    Submit a concise, three-page, double-spaced essay addressing your fit with the field of counseling psychology and more specifically the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). Please describe your reasons for seeking a doctoral degree and what goals you hope to reach through the acquisition of the degree. Additionally, the field of counseling psychology places high value on personal self-knowledge and self-awareness. Please write about your awareness of your place in a diverse society and how you have come to know this. What do you bring to the work of a counseling psychologist?

    Writing Sample

    Attach a 2-3 page writing sample (APA format) from a thesis, practice sample, clinical course or other pertinent high quality work.

    Interview with Faculty

    Upon selection as a finalist, you will be invited to complete an interview with a faculty member as the last component of your application.

    Deadlines and Timeline

    Application Deadline (this is a strict deadline): December 15

    • January: Application Reviews
    • Early February: Selected applicants interview with faculty members in the GSPP
    • Mid-February: Faculty make final decisions and notify each applicant whether or not they are offered admission into the PsyD Program
    • April 15: Applicants notify the GSPP of their decision

    Tuition and Fees

    Estimated tuition and fees effective for academic year 2023-2024.

    On-campus Tuition (per credit): $1,102


    • Books and materials (estimate per course): $150-250
    • Late registration fee: $100
    • Graduate Writing Center fee (per semester/per term): $15
    • Graduation fee: $75
    • Technology fee, fall/spring/summer (less than 6 credits): $60
    • Technology fee, J-Term: $36
    • Technology fee, fall/spring/summer (6 or more credits): $120
    • Audit fee: Equal to the cost of one credit hour in school in which student enrolled
    • Graduate psychology testing fee (Doctoral CPSY 737, 903): $250
    • Practicum Fee (Master's Doctoral): $150

    Financial Aid may be available to assist you with your direct costs (i.e. tuition and fees) and other indirect costs (off campus housing, food, books, supplies, course materials, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, etc.).

    Find information on the Estimated Financial Aid Cost of Attendance Budget Components for Doctorate in Counseling Psychology.


    Attend an Info Session

    Do you have questions about admissions or the application process? Attend an upcoming information session or drop by during a coffee hour to get your questions answered.