Ethics Training in Graduate Programs

Ethics training in graduate psychology programs has blossomed in the last decade but the debate continues regarding how graduate ethics should be taught. While an effective model of ethics training is being discussed among professors, student input has been negligible, and information from students in counseling psychology programs nonexistent. This study surveyed student representatives (N=50) from American Psychological Association-accredited doctoral programs in counseling psychology for 1990 on their exposure and type of ethics education, as well as their perception of preparedness to deal with ethical dilemmas. Results indicated that 94 % of the programs require training in ethics. Ethics instruction is varied in format and methods. Formal coursework is apparently the most frequently used format, but seminars and integration with other coursework are also formats being utilized, sometimes i