Positioned in the southern region of the United States on the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico as the 31st most extensive and 25th most populous state, there are four top-notch doctoral programs in psychology in Louisiana for aspiring psychologists in a range of specialty areas.
Offered from some of the best universities in the nation in a uniquely diverse community known for its distinct blend of Creole and Cajun cultures, these psychology graduate programs have been given the stamp of approval by the American Psychological Association for excellence. If you have strong interpersonal skills and a passion for making a difference in the lives of others, the following are the doctorate programs that can place you on the right track to a rewarding career in psychology in Louisiana.
Louisiana State University
Department of Psychology
As the state’s flagship public research institution that is one of just 25 universities in the United States to hold both land-grant and sea-grant designations, Louisiana State University is situated in the heart of the capital city at Baton Rouge along the coast of the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the state. Home to a close-knit community of over 26,000 students, LSU is currently ranked as the 135th best college and 68th top public school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Not only is the Department of Psychology nationally acclaimed for having the 117th best psychology graduate programs, but it also has the 79th best clinical psychology doctoral program in the entire nation.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology
With a strong foundation in the Boulder scientist-practitioner model of clinical training to create accomplished clinicians and research scientists to make contributions to the psychology profession, the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program incorporates a seamless blend of theoretical coursework, hands-on research, and clinical experience. The mission of the program is to produce psychologists who are able to effectively assess clinical procedures in a research-based fashion, evaluate clinical literature from a science perspective, and apply relevant empirical findings to clinical practice. While students are required to complete a Master’s thesis like in most other psychology master’s programs, they must also participate in a doctoral dissertation research project and a full-time one-year clinical internship.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in School Psychology
Embracing a scientist-practitioner model of training that is designed to develop competent psychologists who use scientific problem-solving techniques in both their research and practices, the Ph.D. in School Psychology program is oriented in the behavioral/ecological approach with a distinct focus on children as they function within family, school, and community systems. With the mission of training school psychologists who will act as agents of change in children’s lives, the program strongly emphasizes the development of behavior analytic, intervention, treatment, consultation, and communication skills with hands-on education. In addition, this degree is one of the few psychology doctoral programs that offer a course sequence that has been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board for individuals seeking certification for behavioral analysis.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
236 Audubon Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-7792
[email protected]
https://lsu.edu/hss/psychology/index.php
Louisiana Tech University
Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
Known for being the only doctoral public institution with high interdisciplinary research activity classified by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation in the entire state, Louisiana Tech University is situated in the heart of Ruston on an immense 1,774-acre rural campus with more than 11,000 students. According to the U.S. News and World Report, LTU is currently ranked as the 190th best college and 108th top public school in the nation. Also nationally acclaimed for hosting the 209th best graduate psychology programs in the United States, the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences is committed to providing students with a background in both theoretical and applied psychology to enhance the development of ideas in the field.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology
Designed to produce culturally competent professional psychologists who are advocates for social justice and well-equipped with the skills to meet the needs of diverse clientele, the Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program embodies a balanced training experience in the scientist-practitioner model. As one of the few hybrid online doctoral programs, the degree must be earned on a full-time basis with required coursework completed online and other professional activities on-campus. Since the requirements of a teaching practicum, graduate assistantship, research experience, and a doctoral dissertation are intensive, students are strongly discouraged from having outside employment during the program. At the completion of the 118-credit hour degree, graduates are well-prepared for the application of knowledge to the science and practice of counseling psychology.
Resource: What is the Difference Between Psychology and Counseling Psychology?
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
Woodard Hall Room 120A
700 West California Avenue
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 257-5066
[email protected]
https://education.latech.edu/academic-programs/psychology-behavioral-sciences/doctoral-programs/#content
Tulane University
Department of Psychology
Located in historic downtown New Orleans within just four miles from the popular nightlife and shopping hotspot of the French Quarter, Tulane University is a major comprehensive private institution that is home to more than 8,500 students on its 110-acre urban campus. Among the most respected universities nationwide for highly ranked academics and cutting-edge research discoveries, Tulane is currently ranked as the 52nd best college, 14th top up-and-coming school, and 2nd best university for veterans in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. Also nationally acclaimed as having the 101st best graduate psychology programs in the United States, the Department of Psychology is dedicated to excellence in research, teaching, and community outreach as the largest department in the School of Science and Engineering.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in School Psychology
Grounded in an ecological approach to a scientist-practitioner model of training, the Ph.D. in School Psychology degree program is designed to prepare professionals who are particularly sensitive to the complex interaction of the biological, social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors that can impact child development. Requiring student engagement with multiple disciplines, research methodologies, and practice contexts for a well-rounded doctoral education, the program trains school psychologists who possess the requisite skills for providing professional services to children and adolescents in diverse school communities. Typically completed as a four-year degree program, students can choose a subspecialization in Trauma to meet the unique needs of children suffering emotional or behavioral disorders as the direct result of trauma exposure.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
Percival Stern Hall Room 2007
6823 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5331
[email protected]
http://psych.tulane.edu/graduate/School/Aboutourprogram.htm
As the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster than average employment growth in the field due to a greater demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, and social service agencies, it is an advantageous time for aspiring psychologists to search for psychology doctoral programs to pursue licensure for practice. If you call the “Bayou State” home, there are luckily four doctoral programs in psychology in Louisiana that are ideal for individuals interested in studying the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social processes of the fascinating human mind.
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