If you enjoy the change of seasons to be found in the northern states but also love the milder winters and charm found in the southern states, seeking doctoral programs in psychology in North Carolina can help you get the best of both worlds. This state boasts world-class educational institutions, a wide variety of recreational activities, and a rich culture of arts, music, and food. Working your way through a psychology doctoral program could lead you to the career and financial stability you need to carve out a piece of the North Carolina lifestyle for yourself.
Duke University
Graduate School, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
In addition to its prowess in earning national championships for its various sports teams, Duke University is also listed among the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report. A top private research university, Duke also boasts a strong background in medical training, with one of the largest units on campus being the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees and placing many of its graduates in top academic positions, in clinical practices, in business and industry, and into positions as faculty in other top educational institutions nationwide.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, Clinical Psychology Program Tract
The psychology doctoral program at Duke provides several program tracts to choose from, all of which result in the degree of PhD in Psychology. The clinical psychology program tract places emphasis on three main areas of knowledge: adult clinical, child clinical, and health psychology. Only four to six students are admitted into this graduate program each year, making this degree a fairly exclusive one. Excellent undergraduate work and academic records have been the norm in past years for those admitted to this program, as have GRE scores in excess of 1300 total. Training follows the scientist-practitioner model, in which students are prepared to excel as both scientists and clinicians, involving both research and practice in an ethical manner and with sensitivity toward various diversities. As a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science, the clinical psychology program also emphasizes training those scientists who will study significant clinical questions.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Box 90086
417 Chapel Drive
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0086
919-660-5640
Program Website
East Carolina University
Graduate School
The Graduate School at East Carolina University offers 77 masters programs and 15 doctoral programs. In addition, the Graduate School offers graduate certificate programs and professional programs to further careers already in motion. With a heavy emphasis on research as part of all graduate programs, students will participate in both scholarly activity and research, regardless of which degree program is chosen. It is the goal of the Graduate School and the University at large that educational, research, and outreach programs continually evolve to meet the needs of 21st century students and citizens, both local and global.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Psychology, Clinical Psychology Concentration
The PhD in health psychology degree involves a five-year program that follows directly after the Bachelor degree. Students must choose one of three concentrations when applying to this graduate program, with clinical psychology being one of the options. Students in clinical psychology are required to participate in a one-year pre-doctoral internship and complete core coursework that involves foundational knowledge in psychology, professional ethics, and research methods involved with the dissertation. Subjects in the core classes include biological and social bases of behavior, cognitive and affective bases, and professional or school psychology ethics. In addition, clinical psychology doctoral candidates will take 38 semester hours in courses specific to this concentration and which include several practicum courses. Other subjects covered involve psychotherapy concepts, techniques, theories, and practices, and assessment, cognitive and clinical. The clinical psychology concentration meets all of the education requirements of the North Carolina Psychology Board to become a licensed psychologist.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
East Carolina University
Graduate School
113 Ragsdale Building
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6073
Program Website
North Carolina State University
The Graduate School, Department of Psychology
North Carolina State University is a major research university located in Raleigh, NC, and globally recognized for its strengths in math and science leadership fields. The Graduate School handles all post-baccalaureate programs, offering over 220 different degrees at the master and doctoral levels. All graduate programs place an emphasis on real world experience by offering partnerships with local businesses, government, and other universities, and by offering unique research opportunities within the various fields. The various psychology degrees to be found are administered through the Department of Psychology but overseen by The Graduate School. Applicants are required to submit GRE scores at the very least in order to be considered for admission.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in School Psychology
The school psychology program, like the other psychology programs at North Carolina State University, does not offer a separate Master’s degree program, but rather allows for students to complete Master’s degree requirements as part of the PhD program. Students wishing to pursue the doctoral degree will follow an approximately four-year program beyond attainment of the bachelor degree. These four years include a master’s thesis, a full-year pre-doctoral internship, and defenses of a doctoral dissertation, done in that order. The program takes a scientist-practitioner approach, striving to produce graduates who are highly knowledgeable in both research and clinical practice. Upon gaining this PhD, graduates may be licensed as health service provider psychologists and can gain their Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential. These graduates can then be employed in public schools, research and academic facilities, and diagnostic centers.
Accreditation
- National Association of School Psychologists
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
Department of Psychology
North Carolina State University
640 Poe Hall
Campus Box 7650
Raleigh, NC 27695-7650
919-515-2251
Program Website
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Psychology
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the nation’s first and oldest public university, having opened originally in 1795. The College of Arts & Sciences is, in turn, the largest unit on the campus and is considered the core of the university experience in that it offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate coursework. With the largest group of graduate students on the campus at about 2,700, the College houses more than 40 academic departments, including the Department of Psychology, offering both traditional and online doctoral programs. Students and faculty of all departments are encouraged to provide meaningful contributions to society within the state, nation, and the world.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology
As with some of the other schools, students seeking to earn a PhD in clinical psychology will be involved in the program directly following completion of their undergraduate degree. The first two years of this degree program will find all students following a common sequence of courses that are designed to provide a thorough foundation in the theories and techniques for their specialty area. Within these first two years, students will also complete their Master’s thesis. From there, students enter more advanced studies within their particular psychology specialty and subspecialty, if applicable, studies that involve more advanced research and dissertation, advanced practicum work, electives, and a one-year full-time internship. Graduates of this program can find themselves contributing at the highest levels of research, teaching, public, and professional service.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Psychology
Like other psychology graduate programs here, this degree program is expected to take four to five years to complete and combines work for the master degree as well as the PhD degree. Students choosing to specialize in Social Psychology are offered a more flexible curriculum beyond the core courses required within the first two years of study. The idea behind the flexibility is to allow students to reach their highest potential as theorists and researchers. Coursework choices for the social psychology degree involve subjects such as interpersonal relationships, prejudice and stereotyping, and moral psychology, subjects that lend themselves well to an ultimate goal of becoming a school psychologist or academic researcher. In addition to the master’s thesis, advanced practicum work, and dissertation required for the psychology doctoral degree, students will also participate in a directed research seminar each semester within the first two years and periodically throughout the remaining time in the program.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
Department of Psychology
235 East Cameron Ave.
Davie Hall
CB #3270
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3520
919-262-2111
Program Website
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Department of Psychology
Located in the state’s largest city, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the state’s urban research university, offering internationally competitive programs and focused community engagement initiatives. It offers more than 100 graduate degree programs through its seven colleges and in conjunction with The Graduate School. The Department of Psychology is part of the largest college of the university and offers one of the eight doctoral degrees available there. Students with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, regardless of major, undergraduate and graduate alike, are expected to leave their comfort zone and learn to think critically and deeply in coursework that values both diversity and inclusion.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Psychology, Clinical Psychology Track
The health psychology doctoral degree provides the opportunity to become licensed health service providers in psychology or to become licensed in one of three specialty areas offered under the umbrella of this degree, including clinical psychology. The clinical psychology program prepares students to be both excellent researchers and excellent practitioners, and encourages coursework across other health disciplines to enhance the required coursework in psychology. Minimum number of credit hours for this degree is a total of 84 to 87 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. As with the other programs discussed here, students are admitted to the PhD program directly from the undergraduate degree program and complete work for both Master and PhD degrees together. In addition, the master’s thesis, a written comprehensive exam, dissertation, and one-year pre-doctoral internship are all requirements for this degree.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Health Psychology PhD Program
Virginia Gil-Rivas, Ph.D
Colvard 4006
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223-0001
704-687-1330
[email protected]
Program Website
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The Graduate School, Department of Psychology
One of the three original institutions within the University of North Carolina system, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the smallest of the three described here, with less than 20,000 total students. It is, nonetheless, a public, research, and residential university with a focus on community leadership and service. The Graduate School encompasses post-baccalaureate programs throughout the university and works in conjunction with the individual schools, colleges, and departments that make up the whole. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers online doctoral degrees as well as traditional degrees, although not in the area of psychology.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Once again, this degree program follows the scientist-practitioner model of training, preparing students to become both skilled scientists and adept clinicians, able to diagnose, research, treat and prevent behavioral disorders, regardless of the chosen work setting following graduation. Students are trained in the scientific method and participate in coursework that provides a broad foundation within the field of psychology, as well as coursework specific to their specialty in clinical psychology and in the practical side of becoming a professional and licensed psychologist. Total credit hours involved with earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology here are 112 hours, of which 57 are applied toward the Master degree achieved as part of the overall program. In addition to coursework and practicums, students are required to complete a year-long pre-doctoral internship, so that the entire program is structured to be completed in five to six years beyond the original undergraduate degree.
Accreditations
- American Psychological Association on Accreditation (CoA)
Contact Information
Department of Psychology</strong>
296 Eberhart Bldg.
PO Box 26170
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5013
[email protected]
Program Website
Regardless of where you choose to matriculate for your graduate degree, a career as a psychologist can bring you both a stable lifestyle and the rewards of knowing you are truly helping others. With the variety of quality doctoral programs in psychology in North Carolina available to you, your studies can prepare you for a bright future.
