A cognate--an area of specialization in a degree program--offers you the opportunity to develop expertise in an area relevant to your future professional practice. Doctoral students in counseling must complete one 24-hour cognate in psychology or two 15-hour cognates, at least one of which must be in their field of psychology.
The most commonly chosen cognates include:
- Anthropology
- Consultation
- Educational psychology
- Gerontology
- Health psychology
- Marriage and family counseling
- Multicultural counseling
- Neuropsychology
- Psychology
- Psychology assessment
- Research methodology
- School counseling
- School psychology
- Social psychology
- Vocational psychology
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Wellness management




