Combined Counseling/School Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy

Thank you for your interest in our Combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD Program.

This program was previously on “accredited, on contingency” status with an initial accreditation date of April 6, 2017.  At its March 30-April 2, 2022 meeting, the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA) voted to approve full accreditation of the doctoral Counseling/School Ph.D. program at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, with its next site visit scheduled in 2031. To view the program's accreditation status, please visit the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation's program search site.

Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Application deadlines for Educational Psychology (EPS) programs

Admission Deadlines

Completed application files are reviewed and admission decisions are made during one cycle each year.  All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate College online application by the posted application due date to be reviewed for entrance in the subsequent academic year.

***Admission decisions are made by the first week of March and students receive notification of this decision electronically.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their application file is complete.  Incomplete files are not be reviewed.

***The Office of the President at NAU has a special initiative to attract outstanding doctoral students with specific research interests.  This initiative offers a generous fellowship during the individual’s graduate studies at NAU.  Individuals who would like to be considered for this Research Fellowship will be required to apply for the program by November 15th. Applications received by the November 15 date will be reviewed for consideration for this fellowship.

Admission Application Requirements

• NAU Graduate Online application is required for all programs. Details on admission requirements are included in the online application.
• GRE®️ revised General Test - Applicants with a cumulative GPA less then 3.0 are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores on the aptitude portion (verbal and quantitative)  taken within the past six years. Applicants with a cumulative GPA higher than 3.0 have the option to submit GRE scores, if desired. GRE scores must be received by the application deadline for admission.
• Completion of bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in psychology, education, or closely-related field; or a Master’s or Ed.S. degree in Counseling or Psychology
• Transcripts
• Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), or the equivalent.
• 3 letters of recommendation with at least two from faculty
• Responses to specific essay questions
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Interview
• For details on graduate admission policies, please visit the Graduate Admissions Policy
• International applicants have additional admission requirements.  Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy

• Graduate Level Courses:
  • Group Counseling/Group Dynamics
  • Human or Lifespan development
• Graduate or upper level Undergraduate Courses:
  • Psychological or Educational Statistics
  • Applied Behavior Management
  • Research Methods
  • Special Education

Application Review Process

1. 50% Academic Aptitude for Graduate Study GRE scores and GPA,
2. 20% Essay Responses (autobiographical and professional interest questions),
3. 5% Work Related Experiences (relevant paid and volunteer work),
4. 10% Potential to Contribute to Profession and Program (professional activities and letters of recommendation),
5. 15% Goodness of Fit to the Program (areas of focus congruence, fit to College of Education mission, and professional characteristics)

Each applicant is ranked within the applicant pool after points have been assigned.  Highly-ranked candidates will be invited to participate in interviews.  Interviews will generally be held approximately one month after the application deadline.

The interview will be worth 35 points (approximately 25% of the total points) and the average score from faculty interviewers will be added to the overall score (file review [100 points] + interview [35 points]).  Students scoring highest on a combination of the application and interview scores will be offered admission.  Approximately five to seven students will be admitted in a given year for the combined doctoral program.

All applicants will be informed approximately two weeks in advance of the interview date.  At least two faculty members from the combined doctoral program area will be present during the telephone/video conference interview.

Each interview will last for approximately twenty to thirty minutes.  All faculty members present will rate the applicant on a matrix related to the questions which focuses on specific characteristics relevant to doctoral training.

Requirements for Admitted Students

Individuals who are offered admission and accept the program offer must begin the program during the subsequent summer or fall semester. In general, individuals unable to begin at this time must re-apply to the program.  Deferred enrollment is offered in rare circumstances.

The EPS Doctoral Steering committee will consider each request for deferred enrollment individually.

Arizona state law requires that personnel who engage with minors or vulnerable adult populations have an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.  That requirement applies to graduate students in practical psychology experiences as well.  Admitted students will need the Identity Verified Fingerprint Clearance Card (IVP card) by the start of the fall semester.

You may request a packet directly from DPS by either calling (602) 223-2279 or faxing your request to (602) 223-2947.  Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  If you are in-state you may complete the online application and get digital fingerprints at a contracted Field Print site within Arizona.  The link to the agency that provides the fingerprint clearance is: http://www.azdps.gov/Services/Fingerprint/ 

The program of study (POS) is the agreed-upon plan for completing program requirements.  Current and previous programs of study may be downloaded from the NAU Graduate College Programs of Study webpage.  Students complete the POS with their advisers during the first semester of graduate work.  The POS is used as a verification document when students apply for graduation.  The original, signed POS, is submitted to the Educational Psychology department office and  placed in the student’s file.  In most cases, amendments to your POS can be made with your adviser’s approval. Please be aware that the necessary coursework for this plan is only available at the Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff Campus.

Prerequisites

• Graduate Level Courses:
  • Group Counseling/Group Dynamics
  • Human or Lifespan development
• Graduate or upper level Undergraduate Courses:
  • Psychological or Educational Statistics
  • Applied Behavior Management
  • Research Methods
  • Special Education

Notice regarding School Psychology Certification/Licensure

Students who wish to meet the requirements for school-based certification/licensure must either meet the requirements of the Ed.S. degree in school psychology OR complete a doctoral internship in a school-based setting.

Related Forms and Websites

• Combined PhD Recommended Sequence of Courses - provides the year/semester recommended sequence of courses for the Combined Counseling/School Psychology PhD Program
• Recommended Sequence of Courses with MA or EdS - provides the year/semester recommended sequence of courses for students with a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or EdS in School Psychology degree
• Recommended Sequence of Courses with Post-baccalaureate Odd-Year Fall Admission - is an accelerated 5 year sequence but there is also a 6 year option
• Recommended Sequence of Courses with Post-baccalaureate Even-Year Fall Admission- is an accelerated 5 year sequence but there is also a 6 year option
• Recommended Sequence of Courses with Post-baccalaureate Odd-Year Fall Admission - This is a 6 year plan but a more accelerated 5 year sequence plan is available
• Recommended Sequence of Courses with Post-baccalaureate Even-Year Fall Admission - is a 6 year plan but a more accelerated 5 year sequence plan is available
• Recommended Sequence with MA in CMHC or EdS in School Psychology Odd-Year Fall Admission
• Recommended Sequence with MA in CMHC or EdS in School Psychology Even-Year Fall Admission
• EPS Course Offerings by Semester - provides an overview of which courses are typically offered each term
• Program of Study Work Sheet - useful for translating the program of studies into a semester by semester plan

• Combined Counseling/School Psychology, PHD Academic Catalog Listing - provides a list of required courses with links to course descriptions
• Academic Catalog Policies - transfer credit, timelines, doctoral requirements, residency, and other policies

Students in this doctoral program should follow the professional codes of ethics and licensure guidelines established by the following organizations:

Ethical Codes

• • • American Psychological Association 
    • National Association of School Psychologists 

Licensure Guidelines

• • • Arizona: State of Arizona Board of Psychologists Examiners 
    • Other States  and General Licensing Information:  Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards 

• Melissa Wheeler, Combined Counseling/School Ph.D. students selected for the second cohort of Rising Graduate Scholars from Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
• Neshay Mall and Melissa Wheeler, doctoral students in combined counseling/school psychology are named C-CART Scholars.
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS at NAU serves as 2020-22 President of the Division 45 Executive Committee.
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS co-authored a study on Development and Validation of a Community Assessment Survey for Diverse Rural Family Caregivers of People with Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias.
• Julie Baldwin (MPI) and EPS faculty Ramona Mellott (MPI), Co-Investigators Shane Haberstroh, Chesleigh Keene, and other NAU faculty receive grant to develop graduate certificate titled Culturally-Centered Addictions Research Training (C-CART) for health professionals focused on substance use disorders in underserved communities.
• Melissa Wheeler, doctoral student in the combined counseling/school psychology, received the 2020 American Psychological Association Division (APA) 45 Joseph E. Trimble and Jewell Horvat Award.
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS and others conduct study on health equity among ethnic and rural caregivers of people with ADRD.
• Marca McCallie, doctoral student in psychology, co-founded Sage Home residential treatment center in 2017 to assist people in recovery keep their families intact.
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS and co-investigator on the NAU researchers study effects of COVID-19, health disparities on caregivers of people with ADRD.
• Chesleigh Keene, assistant professor in EPS presents on Native American Healers and Helpers at NACP Native American Role Model Speaker Series.
• Melissa Wheeler, NAU Dine Doctoral Student selected for the Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP).
• Chelsey Tarazi, a doctoral student in combined counseling/school psychology wins NAU’s annual 3MRP competition.
• Laura Rodriguez, doctoral student in combined counseling/school psychology nominated Graduate Student of the Month!
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS and co-investigator of SHERC grant receives funding for Alzheimer’s family caregivers study.
• Yolanda Garcia, associate professor in EPS elected President of NLPA.