• Printable Application (PDF)
• Reference Form (PDF)
  for Letters of Recommendation

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants to Carlow University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology program must possess a master’s degree in professional counseling or a closely related field. The master’s degree must have been granted by a regionally-accredited institution in higher education. Master’s degrees are considered closely related if they include coursework in the following areas:

• Human growth & lifespan development
• Social & cultural foundations or diversity training for helping professionals
• Helping relationships or counseling skills & techniques
• Counseling or personality theory
• Abnormal psychology or psychopathology
• Group counseling
• Research methods (statistics & quantitative methods)
• Psychological assessment, appraisal, or tests & measurements
• Counseling practicum and internship

Applicants who have a deficit in one or more of the areas listed above, and who otherwise would qualify for entrance into the program, may be considered for admission with the understanding that the deficit must be remedied during the first year of the doctoral program.

Preference will be given to applicants with strong academic credentials and relevant experience as a helping professional. Applicants who are finalists for admission will be invited on campus for a personal interview with representatives from the department.

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DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATION

The following documents are required for application to the Psy.D. Program in Counseling Psychology.  The documents must be submitted in one packet unless otherwise specified:

• Completed application form (PDF) along with application fee ($35.00 payable to Carlow University)
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Two essays:

1. Personal essay that is autobiographical in nature and focuses on the applicant’s developmental history, cultural background and experiences, and explains the applicant’s reasons for pursuing doctoral studies in counseling psychology (3-6 pages of double-spaced text)
2. Reflective essay that addresses the applicant’s thoughts and understanding regarding the etiology of client distress and the nature of the change process (2-3 pages of double-spaced text).

• Three letters of recommendation with reference forms from professionals (i.e., academics and practitioners) who can address the applicant’s suitability for doctoral study. Ideally, the applicant will have two of the three letters and forms of reference come from doctoral-level professionals. Letters are to be typed and submitted on applicable letterhead. (Note: Personal references are not considered.)

1. Download the reference form (PDF).
2. Make three copies. Complete the top portion of the forms and forward the forms to your reference writers.
3. Direct each writer to: (1) Complete the form, (2) seal it with her/his letter in an envelope addressed to the applicant, (3) sign the envelope across the seal, and (4) mail the envelope to the applicant.
4. Applicant submits all three letters along with all the other application materials*.
   
   
• Prerequisite Checklist: Applicants are to complete a Prerequisite Completion Checklist (PDF) detailing the master's level prerequisitites noted above. Next to each prequisite, note the corresponding class number and title as they appear in the transcript.

*If you have not received your three letters of recommendation/reference forms by the time you are ready to submit the rest of the application materials, you may choose to send all three letters together under separate cover at a later date, but in a timely fashion.

The applicant must also arrange for the following information to be sent to Graduate Admissions:

• Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions. Official transcripts should be sent by the institution(s) directly to Graduate Admissions and arrive in sealed envelopes.
• Official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test: The psychology GRE is not required. (Note: GRE scores are only good for five years)

Completed applications should be submitted to:

ATTN: Kathleen Chrisman, Ph.D.
Graduate Admissions
Carlow University
3333 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

For questions regarding the application/admission process, contact:

Kathleen Chrisman, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Graduate Admissions
Phone: 412-578-8812
E-mail: chrismanka@carlow.edu

For program specific questions, contact:

Mary C. Burke, Ph.D.
Director of Training, Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology
Department of Psychology & Counseling
Phone: 412-578-6408
E-mail: burkemx@carlow.edu

Robert A. Reed, Psy.D.
Chair, Department of Psychology & Counseling
Phone 412-578-6349
E-mail: reedra@carlow.edu

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