Admission Requirements
When applying to the counseling psychology program, you will need to submit several documents for review.
- Online application
- $50 application fee
- Goals statement (upload with the application)
- Resume (upload with the application)
- Writing sample (upload with the application)
- Three letters of recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
- Proof of completion of a bachelor’s degree (and master’s degree, if relevant)
- Official transcript(s): graduate (minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA if no master’s). Submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Admissions — Graduate School | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302.
- GRE scores: An official score (within the past five years) on the Graduate Record Examination General Test is required for admission to Ph.D. programs in the College of Education and Human Development (institution code = 5251).
When you apply, in your cover letter, please indicate one or more faculty who might be a good fit as your mentor.
- Don Davis: Program Coordinator. Positive psychology, including relational virtues (humility, gratitude and forgiveness); cultural humility in psychotherapy; religion/spirituality as an aspect of cultural diversity.
- Tamara Turner (practicum coordinator): Exposure and response prevention, motivational interviewing, psychological assessment.
- Jeff Ashby: Stress, trauma, resilience and coping, perfectionism, religiosity/spirituality, child therapy.
- Kenneth Rice: Perfectionism, risk and protective factors associated with stress, psychological assessment and measurement.
- Han Na Suh: The impact of culturally critical constructs (e.g., model minority myth) on academic, career and life satisfaction, and mental health.
- Cirleen DeBlaere: Mental health correlates of marginalization stressors (e.g., discrimination, internalized oppression and stigma); multicultural orientation in therapy, clinical training and supervision, and leadership; equity in mental health and wellness.
Application essay
Your essay should describe your match with our program, including:
- Why a Ph.D. in counseling psychology is the best fit for your career goals
- How this program will help you meet your career goals
- How your background matches characteristics we seek in applicants
- Your research interests and how they relate to those of specific faculty who you would like to work with
Preferences for interviews are given to applicants with:
- Research interests aligned with those of faculty
- Relevant research (e.g., publications or presentations) and clinical experience in alignment with stated training goals, as well as relevant professional or volunteer experiences that involved helping others
- Evidence of conscientiousness, work ethic, and adaptability (e.g., high GPAs in prior academic work)
- Evidence of leadership ability, including initiative, self-direction, creativity, the ability to contribute to the field, etc.
- Evidence for aptitude to complete the research requirements of the degree, including work on an independent research project, collaboration on a research team (and supporting references), and high GRE scores.
- Evidence of writing skill (applicants provide a writing sample, and we also include a writing activity in our interview process).
- Complex understandings of multiple cultural perspectives and experience with diverse cultural populations.
- Strong letters of recommendation with specific evidence of ability to take on high trust roles and demonstrate initiative.
Please note that our program uses a wholistic review process. Doctoral training in Counseling Psychology requires practice at earning trust with clients and professionals with a broad range of values and cultural backgrounds. Counseling Psychology has a unique emphasis on methodological rigor (especially in terms of measurement, interdisciplinary theory) and cultural contextualization.
Although CEHD requires GRE scores for all programs, please note that all information (including GRE scores) is evaluated in the context of culture, nation of origin, and language. GRE scores are one of many ways that applicants can demonstrate their potential as a psychologist. Even if a potential applicant has an area of weakness (e.g., low GRE scores, low GPA, or lack of research experience), candidates have the opportunity to showcase qualities (see list above) that we desire in future doctoral students. In the information provided to potential applicants, we provide additional guidance for applicants with more specific questions related to the admissions process.
