The Counseling Psychology Program
Program Information
The Counseling Psychology Program in the
College of Education and Human Services at
Cleveland State University is a specialization
in the Urban Education Ph.D. program.
This specialization trains license-eligible
psychologists with comprehensive knowledge and
therapeutic skills for entry into the practice of
professional psychology.
Candidates of this program earn a Ph.D. in one
of the few counseling psychology programs in
the nation that has a focus on diverse urban
populations, uses an interdisciplinary cohort model
of training, and utilizes the urban community as
its laboratory.
The program is accredited by the
American Psychological Association (APA).
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the
Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American
Psychological Association, 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202.336.5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
The Counseling Psychology training sequence at Cleveland
State University:
■■ Educates counseling psychologists with a strong
professional identification with the discipline, knowledge,
skills, and attitudes to work effectively with diverse
populations of clients
■■ Emphasizes counseling psychology as a scientific discipline
based in the tradition of studying individual differences as
well as the social and cultural context of human behavior
■■ Based on a scientist-practitioner model of training and
practice
■■ Provides extensive study of multicultural aspects of
human behavior with emphasis on the impact of urban
environments
■■ Educates students to intervene with clients experiencing
psychological dysfunction and also to facilitate healthy
development
■■ Training model is largely interdisciplinary, integrating
knowledge in urban studies, educational psychology,
organizational development, and educational policy
with core content in research design, foundations of
psychology, and counseling psychology courses
Financial support for training and
educational activities
Program strives to provide graduate assistantships for all
first and second year students who request funding
■■ After the initial two years of study, students may be
eligible for additional assistantships if positions are
available
■■ Most students beyond the second year requesting funding
have been granted assistantships
■■ Assistantships are awarded for one year (students must
reapply on an annual basis)
■■ Limited funds are available on a competitive basis to
assist in funding student travel to conferences to present
research and for dissertation research.
■■ www.csuohio.edu/cehs/departments/phd/counseling-psychology
HOW TO APPLY
Application Information
The Ph.D. Program in Urban Education is seeking
applications for the specialization in Counseling
Psychology. Requirements include:
■■ Successful completion of a Master’s degree in counseling
or clinical psychology or closely related field
■■ Research experience
■■ Experience in an applied setting
■■ Strong academic records (undergraduate GPA of 2.85;
graduate GPA of 3.5)
■■ Above average GRE scores (combined GRE scores of
1000 are preferred)
■■ Good communication skills
■■ Strong letters of recommendation (including letters
from graduate faculty)
Admission Decisions influenced by:
■■ Student’s evidence of commitment and interest in
urban multicultural issues
■■ Match between student interests and faculty expertise
■■ Space limitations*
Finalists in the Selection Process
Each student who meets the above criteria will be asked to
participate in an on-campus interview.
The interview focuses on the applicant’s previous
experiences, current training, and future professional
goals to assess a match with the program goals and
faculty interests.
College of Education and Human Services
Application Materials
Graduate Application
Resumé
■■ Personal Statement
■■ Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate
academic transcripts
■■ Official GRE score reports (Scores must be within the
past five years. Only the general test is required. The
Psychology Subject Area Test is not required).
■■ Three letters of recommendation (at least one must be
from a faculty member from previous graduate work)
■■ ■■ Personal Statement
Your personal statement should not exceed three pages,
single spaced.
Please include the following:
■■ What attracted you to the field of Counseling Psychology
and to Cleveland State University
■■ Description of your experiences in applied settings
(e.g., hotline experience, residential treatment staff,
field placements)
■■ Description of your research experiences (e.g., assisting
with a faculty member’s research, professional
presentations, publications, or master’s thesis)
■■ Description of your goals for graduate study and your
goals for your professional career
■■ Description of your interests in research and practice,
particularly as related to diverse urban populations
Application Deadline: January 15
________
*Approximately six Counseling Psychology doctoral
students will be admitted each year
For further information, visit our website at
www.csuohio.edu/cehs/departments/phd/counseling-psychology or call 216.687.4696 or 216.687.4605
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Welfel, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director of Training
e.welfel@csuohio.edu
Donna Schultheiss, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director of Training
d.schultheiss@csuohio.edu
Cleveland State University
College of Education and Human Services
2121 Euclid Avenue JH284 • Cleveland, OH 44115
Wanda Pruett-Butler
Administrative Coordinator
w.pruett-butler@csuohio.edu
Cleveland State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution. © 2011 11-01141-2
Counseling
Psychology
Specialization in the
Urban Education Ph.D. Program
Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)
Cleveland State University
College of Education and Human Services
Core Counseling Psychology
Faculty Accomplishments
Grant funded research, including a $1.1 million Federal
Grant in 2010
■■ Fellows of the American Psychological Association
■■ Leadership positions in national professional
organizations
■■ Editorial Board Members of counseling psychology
journals
■■ Member of Inaugural Class of American Psychological
Association: Leadership Institute for Women in
Psychology
■■ Recipients of CSU Distinguished Faculty Award for
Teaching
■■ Sought out in consultation, continuing education, and
service activities both nationally and internationally
■■ Core Faculty
Biographies:
Donna E. Schultheiss, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director of Training
■■ Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University
at Albany (APA accredited) in 1993
■■ Completed pre-doctoral internship at Michael Reese
Hospital in Chicago (APA accredited)
■■ Joined the CSU faculty in 1997
■■ Currently serves as Past Chair of the Society for
Vocational Psychology, a section of Division 17 of APA
■■ Served as the U.S. Liaison for Division 16 of the
International Association of Applied Psychology
■■ Served as Chair of the Research Committee for National
Career Development Association
■■ Scholarly interests include the interface of work
and relationships, women’s work, childhood career
development and international issues in psychology
■■ Teaches courses in professional issues, career
development, qualitative research, and assessment
practicum
Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Director of Training
■■ Doctorate in Counseling and Student Personnel
Psychology from the University of Minnesota (APA
accredited) in 1979
■■ Completed pre-doctoral internship at the Counseling
Center at the University of Minnesota (APA accredited)
in 1978
■■ Joined the CSU faculty in 1988
■■ Major scholarly interest is in professional ethics,
specifically the factors that influence professionals
to act responsibly, and the ways mental health
professionals reason about complex ethical issues
■■ Interested in devising more effective methods to
evaluate competencies of students and practicing
professionals
■■ Teaches courses in professional ethics, personality
assessment, supervision, and research in professional
psychology
■■ Licensed in Ohio as a psychologist
Graham B. Stead, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Doctoral Studies
■■ Doctorate in Psychology from the University of
Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University), Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1989
■■ Joined CSU faculty in 2005
■■ Scholarly interests include career development, social
constructionism, discourse analysis, critical psychology
and research methods
■■ Teaches courses in advanced career development,
statistics, and research methods
■■ Licensed as a Counseling Psychologist and a Research
Psychologist in South Africa
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Justin C. Perry, Ph.D.
Associate Professor,
Practicum
Coordinator, and
Director, Center for
Urban Education
■■ Doctorate in
Counseling
Psychology from Boston College (APA accredited) in 2006
■■ Completed pre-doctoral internship at the Cambridge
Hospital (APA accredited) in Boston
■■ Joined the CSU faculty in 2006
■■ Scholarly interests include vocational psychology,
diversity and social justice issues, and school dropout
prevention
■■ Teaches courses in vocational psychology,
intelligence testing, and supervises the practicum
assessment
■■ Licensed as a psychologist in Ohio
Sarah M. Toman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
■■ Doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Kent State University
(APA accredited) in 1995
■■ Completed pre-doctoral internship at the University of
Pittsburgh Counseling Center (APA accredited)
■■ Joined the CSU faculty in 1994
■■ Graduate of the Gestalt Training Program at the Gestalt
Institute of Cleveland
■■ Major scholarly interest is in the effective use of Gestalt
therapy, especially with adolescents and young adults.
■■ Scholarly work includes research in career development
and its place in the individual’s life story and personal
values, has explored models of effective counselor
education
■■ Teaches the doctoral practicum in psychotherapy
■■ Licensed as a psychologist in Ohio
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niversi
tate U
eland S
• Established 1964
• 17,000 students
• Eight Colleges
• Nickname: Vikings
• Mascot: Magnus
• School Colors: Green and white
• Main campus downtown
plus East (Solon, OH) and
West (Westlake, OH) Centers
• $500 million campus makeover by 2011
Current Student Involvement:
Active student researchers on faculty research teams
■■ Multiple research presentations at regional, national, and
international conferences
■■ Co-authored publications with faculty
■■ Student representatives to the Student Affiliates of Seventeen
(SAS) of Division 17 of The American Psychological
Association
■■ Active student members of Division 17 committees, including
the membership committee
■■ Student members of Division 17 (SAS), The American
Psychological Association (APAGS), The Ohio Psychological
Association (OPAGS)
■■ Opportunities for Future Students:
In addition to the aforementioned student involvement, future
doctoral students will have the opportunity to become:
■■ Active members of the Counseling Psychology Student
Organization at Cleveland State, and APA Division 17 (SAS)
■■ Active members of the Urban Education Doctoral
Student Association
■■ Student representatives on the Doctoral Studies Committee
The City is Our Campus
Located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, CSU is
part of a vibrant arts scene with incredible theatre, a
world-renowned orchestra, opera and ballet, a newly
renovated historic art museum, independent film and
more. Cleveland’s legendary legacy in music history
lives in an array of concert venues and includes the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Known as
a sports town, Cleveland is also home to professional
baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams such
as the Cleveland Browns, Cavs, Lake Erie Monsters and
Indians.
A Growing Campus
including Julka Hall
With more than $500 million in new construction and
building renovations, Cleveland State is developing
a 21st century campus for the student of tomorrow.
Campus living options feature Euclid Commons, Fenn
Tower and Heritage Suites. The new state-of-the art
Student Center houses a new bookstore and features
138,000 square feet of food and fun.
Julka Hall
The first-ever home for the College of Education and
Human Services opened for business in April 2010
— the business of educating teachers, principals,
counselors, psychologists, nurses and so many others
who directly impact the quality of life in Northeast
Ohio. The building, located at 2485 Euclid Avenue, near
East 24th Street and Euclid Avenue, has been named
Julka Hall in recognition of a $6 million gift from
alumnus Anand “Bill” Julka.
With 100,000 square feet, the building provides an
innovative teaching and learning space. The halls are
wide, with sky-lit gathering spots where students and
faculty can interact. Classrooms, departments and
faculty offices and labs are interspersed.
The new eastern gateway to campus, Julka Hall is
an award winner – winning a merit award from the
American Institute of Architects.
Julka Hall
The University is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission.
Questions related to the University’s accredited status should be directed to:
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1413
Phone: 800.621.7440 / 312.263.0456; Fax: 312.263.7462
E-mail: info@hlcommission.org; Web: www.ncahlc.org