USM Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program Re-Accredited for 10 Years
Wed, 09/06/2023 - 11:10am | By: Karelia Pitts
The American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) granted re-accreditation to the counseling psychology Ph.D. program in The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi鈥檚 (USM) School of Psychology through 2033, the maximum period allowed.
鈥淲e are extremely proud of the faculty in our counseling psychology program who achieved this wonderful accomplishment. These outstanding professionals have continued to develop, nurture and implement an excellent training program that prepares graduates to provide quality psychological services to the public,鈥� said Dr. Sara Jordan, director of the USM School of Psychology. 鈥淲ith the demand for mental health services at an all-time high, we remain dedicated to educating psychologists who will use their degrees to make a difference locally and nationally. APA accreditation demonstrates that our program is maintaining the highest standards of excellence in this pursuit.鈥�
Established in 1940, the USM School of Psychology鈥檚 mission is to educate the public through the discovery and creation of psychological knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge through scholarship, teaching, professional service and evidence-based psychological practice. The school has a strong history of supporting the University and surrounding communities through research and psychological service in schools and businesses, in addition to providing low-cost mental health services to residents of South Mississippi. The school鈥檚 three applied programs in school, clinical and counseling psychology are all fully accredited by the APA.
鈥淭his was our school鈥檚 first program to undergo re-accreditation since the APA implemented new accreditation guidelines back in 2017,鈥� said Dr. Emily Yowell, professor and training director for the counseling psychology doctoral program. 鈥淲e were overjoyed to learn that our program was so well regarded that it received re-accreditation for 10 years!鈥�
With a focus on continuous improvement, the counseling psychology faculty have already begun reviewing feedback gained from the re-accreditation process to further strengthen the program.
鈥淎fter reviewing the self-study we submitted, three psychology faculty from across the U.S. visited our program on behalf of APA-CoA to meet with students, faculty and administrators,鈥� said Dr. Melanie Leuty, professor of counseling psychology and director of the Center for Faculty Development at USM. 鈥淲e gained some valuable impressions and recommendations from the site visit, which will guide advances for our program during our next 10-year accreditation cycle.鈥�
There are currently 25 students enrolled in the counseling psychology Ph.D. program at USM, and maintaining accreditation is crucial to providing these students with a path to licensure and job security.
鈥淐ompleting a comprehensive self-study and undergoing a thorough site visit as part of the APA accreditation process ensures that our counseling psychology doctoral program provides the professional and scientific skills and context graduates need to effectively serve others through a career in psychology,鈥� said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of USM鈥檚 College of Education and Human Sciences. 鈥淚n addition to successful re-accreditation, our program also boasts a 100 percent pre-doctoral internship match rate for many years. These achievements confirm that the 51逗奶 Miss School of Psychology鈥檚 faculty and programs are of the highest quality.鈥�
Learn more about the USM School of Psychology and their counseling psychology doctoral program.