Counseling Psychology and School Psychology, PhD
Imagine a future where your work contributes to groundbreaking approaches in mental health, where your research and interventions set new standards in the field and where your commitment to psychological well-being creates real impact.
Transform vision into impact
Our Counseling Psychology and School Psychology doctoral program prepares psychologists to enhance human services through scientific inquiry and practice. Based on the scientist-practitioner model, it offers specialized training in counseling or school psychology. Key features include a foundation in psychological science addressing contemporary issues, integration of research methods with practical counseling, and dedicated advisement for ongoing research and clinical development.
Nurturing Impactful Research
Our annual Student Research Symposium offers a unique stage for students like Amanda Breese, a counseling/school psychology PhD alum and Arthur A. Schomburg fellow, to present their transformative research. Amanda shared her insights on “Examining Implicit Biases of Pre-Service Educators within a Professional Development Context,” exemplifying the symposium's role in turning innovative student ideas into real-world solutions. This event encourages students to push the boundaries of current education paradigms and fosters a dynamic learning environment where interdisciplinary research flourishes. It’s an opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and explore a breadth of academic interests.
Points of Distinction
Our program uniquely integrates the scientist-practitioner model, allowing you to choose specialized training in either counseling psychology (focused on older adolescent and adult populations) or school psychology (centered on child and adolescent populations). This dual specialization equips graduates to excel in diverse client environments with tailored, expert knowledge.
With an emphasis on the integration of science and practice, our program offers comprehensive training in research methods, counseling/intervention techniques and consistent advisement. This structured support empowers students to excel in clinical settings while establishing a strong foundation for impactful research contributions.
This program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, underscoring our dedication to not just educational excellence, but to making a profound difference in the world through practice and service.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 96 |
| Time to completion | 5 to 5+ years |
| Course delivery | On campus |
| Doctoral practicum contact hours | 1000 |
| Application deadline | Fall: Dec. 1 |
Full-time Status
Our combined doctoral program in counseling psychology and school psychology is designed as a full-time program of study. You are required to be registered each semester. Full-time status requires being registered for 12 credit hours each semester. Graduate assistants are considered full-time when registered for 9 credit hours. The intent of the full-time residence requirement is to provide the interactions with faculty and fellow students necessary for acculturation and socialization in the science and practice of psychology.
Maintenance in Progress
Coursework information is being updated. Please check back for an updated list of course requirements.
Standardized Testing No Longer Required
In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.
You must have a bachelor’s (BA/BS) or master's degree in a related field. While an undergraduate major in psychology is not required, we suggest that you present a broad background in the applied social sciences including anthropology, psychology and sociology.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Statement of interest: Statement of your career goals and objectives.
- Diverse backgrounds statement: On the application, you will be directed to submit a 300-400 word response to the following: Describe any interests and experiences you have had working with individuals from different backgrounds than yourself (e.g., ethnic/racial, cultural, socio-economic, religious, ability status, sexual orientation). How have these experiences influenced you?
Personal Interview Upon University Request: Applicants must make themselves available for interviews with faculty on campus. In most cases there will be one current doctoral student interviewing as well.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Our graduates go on to become licensed psychologists in:
- hospitals
- mental health centers
- school systems
- university counseling centers
Program Disclosures
As articulated in Standard I.B.2, programs may have “admission and employment policies that directly relate to affiliation or purpose” that may be faith-based or secular in nature. However, such policies and practices must be disclosed to the public.
This program does not require students, trainees, and/or staff to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose. Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.
Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.
Our combined doctoral program in counseling psychology and school psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA): 750 First St., NE; Washington, D.C. 20002-4242; 202-336-5979.
Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Addictions; Community Wellness; Eating Disorders; Embodiment; Measurements; Meditation, Mental Health and Wellness; Mental Health; Mindfulness; Positive Psychology; Self-regulation; Wellness; Yoga
Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Bullying; Child and Adolescent Development; Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Research; Eating Disorders; Family; Measurements; Mental Health; Quantitative Research Methods; Research Design; Research Methods; School Counseling; Social and Emotional Development; Wellness
Associate Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Bullying; Child and Adolescent Development; Mental Health; Social and Emotional Development
Clinical Associate Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Meditation, Mental Health and Wellness; Self-regulation; Wellness; Yoga
Distinguished Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Bullying; Mental Health; School Environment; Social and Emotional Development
Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Clinical and Career Counseling; Cultural Competence; Cultural Competence and Humility; Diversity; Gender and Sexuality Studies; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; LGBT+ Studies; Mental Health; Multicultural Competence; Queer and Trans People and Perspectives; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice; Training and Supervision
Assistant Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Clinical and Career Counseling; Clinical Supervision; Community Wellness; Cultural Competence; Cultural Competence and Humility; Diversity; Gender and Sexuality Studies; Gender, Culture, and Equity; LGBT+ Studies; Mental Health; Multicultural Competence; Queer and Trans People and Perspectives; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice; Training and Supervision
Associate Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Research Areas: Assessment; Child and Adolescent Development; Clinical and Career Counseling; Measurements; Mental Health; Program Evaluation; Psychometrics; Quantitative Research Methods
Clinical Associate Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Practice Meets Purpose
Professor Amy Reynolds advocates for transformative change in counseling psychology, promoting inclusivity, reparations and accountability. Her work serves as a blueprint for dismantling biases and fostering equity in education and counseling. Specializing in multicultural issues and college student mental health, Reynolds is an expert on race, gender, social class, religion and sexual orientation. Her research also addresses LGBT bullying, high school experiences and the impact of racism-related stress on Native American students' academic motivation. She is a licensed psychologist with extensive experience in higher education.