Combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD accreditation
The APA-approved 122-hour PhD in Combined Counseling/School Psychology at Northern Arizona University prepares students as well-rounded generalists with a strong foundation in both counseling psychology and school psychology.
Students are equipped to address mental health and educational needs across diverse settings. Grounded in the scientist-practitioner model, the program emphasizes integration of theory, research, and practice through assessment, evidence-based intervention, and evaluation.
The curriculum is sequential, cumulative, and progressively complex, ensuring students gain core skills in both treatment and assessment. Coursework covers shared foundations in counseling and school psychology, with opportunities for specialization through electives, clinical training, and research in one or both areas.
Program goals include preparing graduates to:
- Demonstrate ethical practice and professional standards, including multicultural competence and social justice.
- Attain entry-level practice skills and a strong professional identity as psychologists.
- Apply scientific theory and research methods effectively to counseling and school psychology practice.
2025-2026 Student Admissions, Outcomes, and other Data
Program disclosures
| Yes | No | |
| Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) 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? | X |
If yes, please provide website link (or content from brochure) where this specific information is presented
Time to completion for all students entering the program
| Outcome | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | Total | |||||||||||
| Total number of students with doctoral degree conferred on transcript | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 | |||||||||||
| Mean number of years to complete the program | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.2 | |||||||||||
| Median number of years to complete the program | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5 | |||||||||||
| Time to Degree Ranges | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
| Students in less than 5 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 2 | 40 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 23 | ||
| Students in 5 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 50 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 67 | 2 | 33 | 12 | 46 | |
| Students in 6 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 2 | 33 | 4 | 15 | ||||
| Students in 7 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | 15 | |||||
| Students in more than 7 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
Also, please describe or provide a link to program admissions policies that allow students to enter with credit for prior graduate work, and the expected implications for time to completion. Please indicate NA if not applicable:
NOTE: The first cohort of students began the program in Fall 2016.
The Combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD Program conforms to the NAU Graduate College Transfer Policy.
As detailed in the Doctoral Student Handbook. There is no specific limit to the number of transfer credits applied toward the doctoral degree. Doctoral practica and internship, doctoral topics in health service psychology, and advanced doctoral research courses are not transferrable. Generally, students meet with the advisor to determine which prior graduate courses may potentially transfer to the program of study. During this meeting, students present the transcript and syllabi for the course(s) they wish to have considered for transfer. Based on review of these with the advisor, the student must then follow the policy and procedure as outlined in the Graduate College policy, including completion of the Petition for Transfer Credit form that requires advisor, Department Chair/Training Director, and Graduate College approval.
Program cost
| Description | 2026-2027 1st-year Cohort Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition for full-time students (in-state) | $13,582 |
| Tuition for full-time students (out-of-state) | $33,800 |
| Tuition per credit hour for part-time students (if applicable enter amount; if not applicable enter "NA") | $698 (AZ Resident), $1878 (Non AZ Resident |
| University/institution fees or costs | $1,625 (University) + $1,200 (Program) = $2,825 annually |
| Additional estimated fees or costs to students (e.g. books, travel, etc.) | $4,000 |
Visit tuition and fees and total cost of attendance for more information.
Internship placement
Table 1
| Outcome | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | ||||||||||
| N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Students who obtained APA/CPA-accredited internships | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 3 | 75 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 7 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 100 |
| Students who obtained APPIC member internships that were not APA/CPA-accredited (if applicable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Students who obtained other membership organization internships (e.g. CAPIC) that were not APA/CPA-accredited (if applicable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Students who obtained internships conforming to CDSPP guidelines that were not APA/CPA-accredited (if applicable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Students who obtained other internships that were not APA/CPA-accredited (if applicable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Students who obtained any internship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 7 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 100 |
| Students who sought or applied for internships including those who withdrew from the application process | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 7 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 100 |
Table 2
| Outcome | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | ||||||||||
| N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Students who sought or applied for internships including those who withdrew from the application process | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 7 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 100 |
| Students who obtained paid internships | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 7 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 3 | 0 |
| Students who obtained half-time internships* (if applicable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*Cell should only include students who applied for internship and are included in applied cell count from “Internship Placement – Table 1"
Attrition
| Variable | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 | ||||||||||
| Students for whom this is the year of first enrollment (i.e. new students) | 9 | - | 7 | - | 5 | - | 5 | - | 6 | - | 5 | - | 6 | - | 7 | - | 6 | - | 5 | - |
| Students whose doctoral degrees were conferred on their transcripts | 5 | 55.56 | 6 | 85.71 | 3 | 60 | 4 | 60 | 5 | 50.00 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Students still enrolled in program | 1 | 11.11 | 1 | 14.29 | 2 | 40 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 50.00 | 1 | 80 | 4 | 83.33 | 6 | 85.7 | 5 | 83.3 | 4 | 80 |
| Students no longer enrolled for any reason other than conferral of doctoral degree | 3 | 33.33 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 16.67 | 1 | 14.3 | 1 | 16.7 | 1 | 20 |
Licensure
| Outcome | 2016-2026 |
|---|---|
| The total number of program graduates (doctoral degrees conferred on transcript) between 2 and 10 years ago | 17 |
| The number of these graduates (between 2 and 10 years ago) who became licensed psychologists in the past 10 years | 15 |
| Licensure percentage | 88% |