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School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology

Counseling Psychology, PhD application requirements

Admission process

Applications for fall 2025:
NOW OPEN

The counseling psychology PhD program offers preference to applicants with a master’s degree in psychology, counseling or a closely related field. Please consider applying to the Master of Counseling (MC) program if you do not have a graduate degree.

To apply, applicants must submit both the graduate admission application and the materials required by ASU's counseling psychology PhD program as described below. Here you can find the graduate admission application that is submitted online.

Application materials must be submitted by November 15 to ensure consideration for admission the following fall semester. Processing takes time, so plan to take the English proficiency exam (if needed) well in advance of the deadline.

You may verify that ASU has received your official test scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation through My ASU. It is your responsibility to check the application status and verify that all required materials are received by the deadline. Incomplete applications and applications submitted after the due date will not be reviewed or considered.

As with most doctoral programs in counseling psychology, admission is highly competitive. We receive an average of 120 applications per year and accept approximately six students.

Please review the PhD Handbook (PDF) for more information regarding admission decisions. Please email ccp@asu.edu for questions not addressed in the handbook, or contact individual faculty members. Faculty members welcome your questions and will respond as time permits.

Required supplemental materials

A personal statement, no longer than two pages (single-spaced, roughly 600-800 words), that addresses your professional goals, preparation for doctoral training and reasons for pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology is required. Additionally, please describe your research interests and how these align with both ASU’s counseling psychology program and potential faculty advisor(s). We recommend that applicants contact faculty with whom they are interested in working before applying.
A completed Biographical Information Form (PDF).
An example of your expository writing (e.g., thesis, conference paper or abstract, research manuscript, literature review, or a paper you have completed for a course) not to exceed 1MB. In evaluating these samples, we look for evidence of scholarship and research potential as well as writing ability. For documents exceeding 1MB, please select the excerpt that best highlights your scholarship, research potential, and writing ability.
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) documenting work and research experience. Please include:
- Education history
- Research experience (including presentations and publications)
- Relevant clinically-oriented experiences.
- Honors, awards, and professional affiliations.
- If applicable:
  - Leadership
  - Teaching experience
  - Specialized training
  - Languages spoken.
Proof of English proficiency (if applicable):
- An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency
- Additional details on English proficiency requirements

Recommendations

Three letters of recommendation are required. We prefer that two of these letters be from persons familiar with your academic work, unless you have been away from school for many years. It is in your best interest to request that these letters address, in a detailed way, your promise as a scientist-practitioner, career goals, and interpersonal competence.

As part of the online graduate admission application, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of each of your recommenders. Upon submission of your application, these references will receive an email from Graduate Admission Services. The email will include a link to upload a written letter of recommendation. Please confirm with your references that they have completed and posted the letters of recommendation by the deadline.

You will also be asked if you do or do not waive the right to review the recommendation sent on your behalf. Each recommender will be informed of the decision and asked to upload their recommendation electronically to ASU. Do not email, mail, or fax materials.

Transcripts

You must have one set of transcripts from every college and university from which you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher sent to ASU. Official transcripts must be sent directly to ASU Admission Services from the issuing institution's records office either by mail or through a secured electronic transcript service. For transcripts sent through a secured transcript service, please select Arizona State University from the vendor's dropdown list to ensure the transcript is routed to the correct place. If an email address is requested you can route to gradtranscripts@asu.edu. ASU accepts unofficial transcripts as part of the application. This is the only way we will accept unofficial transcripts. Emailed transcripts are not acceptable. If you are admitted to the university, you will be required to send official transcripts to the university. Official transcripts are original academic credentials issued by the registrar of the institution attended, bearing the original raised or colored seal of the institution and the signature of your institution's registrar, academic official or recognized international organization. If you attended ASU, you do not need to request ASU transcripts to be sent.

GRE Score Report (not required)

The GRE General Test is not required.