Home to the largest medical center in the world and some of the longest-accredited and most distinguished doctoral psychology programs of their kind, Texas has demonstrated that it places a high value on psychology, psychologists and the students working to complete doctoral programs in psychology.
With faculty at the state’s schools credited with hundreds of prestigious awards and thousands of academic articles published in scholarly journals, Texas’s psychology students are well positioned to become leaders in their field after earning a doctoral degree.
Psychology students in Texas also enjoy a full range of support when it comes to scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. With skilled academic counselors in your corner, choosing between a PsyD vs PhD in psychology will be easier than you might think. In fact, PsyD programs in Texas are widely available, and many universities here offer both options.
What you do with a PhD in psychology is up to you, but in most cases, psychology doctoral programs in Texas are designed specifically to provide a pathway to becoming a fully licensed, independent psychologist. A PsyD in Texas meets those requirements just as well as a PhD.
As part of the National Alliance on Mental Health, Texas relies on licensed psychologists to improve counseling services and the quality of life for individuals and their families coping with mental health issues. Whether working towards a PhD that follows a traditional clinical research approach or a PsyD built around the experiential-practitioner model, psychology doctoral programs in Texas lead to meaningful careers that contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities statewide.Students who are currently in search of doctoral programs in psychology in Texas stand to benefit from the state’s numerous, top-ranked universities, known for offering some of the most prestigious degree programs anywhere in the country.
Here we present a comprehensive list of APA-CoA accredited psychology degrees in Texas. While considering these programs, look for schools offering concentrations that align with your career goals and with prerequisites for a doctorate in psychology that you may have already satisfied in your undergraduate program.
Psychology Doctoral Programs: Texas (A – Z)
Baylor University
College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology Department
Chartered as a private, Christian college in 1845, Baylor is nationally recognized for its broad range of studies and strong research foundations. In addition to conferring a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, the university offers 34 doctoral programs, including a doctorate in clinical psychology. Baylor enjoys national rankings by organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger and Fiske. Further, its psychology department and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology have been recognized by groups such as U.S. News and the National Research Council.
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
This degree prepares doctoral candidates with the “clinical and conceptual competencies” necessary to provide professional, effective, responsive mental health care. The program’s foundations rely upon interdisciplinary team collaboration, research and evaluation protocols, psychological assessment, intervention techniques and treatment therapies, consultative approaches, patient management and supervision strategies. The degree requires five years of rigorous classroom instruction and on-site training, including: taking advanced core psychology and research classes, working in supervised practicum and internship settings, and participating in applied, research-based lab experiences leading to completion of an independent research project or dissertation.
Also offers:
PhD in Psychology
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Baylor University
Attention: Gary Elkins, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Director
One Bear Place 97334
Waco, Texas 76798-7334
(254) 296-0643 or (254) 710-2417
[email protected]
Our Lady of the Lake University
Psychology Department
Our Lady of the Lake University is a private, Catholic institution serving the greater San Antonio community since 1895. OLLU prides itself on offering a wide variety of programs to students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The university has earned national recognitions in recent years from U.S. News & World Report, Diverse Magazine, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education and Washington Monthly Magazine. OLLU’s philosophy of excellence in education infuses all of its programs, including those in psychology. The university’s highest degree in psychology is offered as a doctorate in counseling and has garnered acclaim for providing proficient Spanish speakers the opportunity to earn Certification for Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations in addition to their doctorate.
Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
OLLU’s Psy.D. program prepares its graduates to serve individuals, couples, families and groups as competent, independent practitioners using appropriate assessment, intervention, counseling and followup protocols. Candidates entering the program must possess a master’s and complete 117 hours for the doctorate, including three hours for an internship and nine hours for a dissertation. Up to 39 approved courses from the master’s degree may be transferred as credits to the doctoral program. In addition to a concentration in Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations, candidates may elect to concentrate in: Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy, or Behavioral Health. The Psy.D. in Counseling also requires written and clinical evaluations in addition to a pre-doctoral internship. To establish residency for Texas licensure, doctoral candidates must take at least 18 or more semesters hours of full-time study yearly for three consecutive years.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Our Lady of the Lake University
Psychology Department
411 S.W. 24th Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207
(210) 431-3914
Joan Biever, Ph.D., Graduate Psychology Program Chair
[email protected]
Sam Houston State University
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University operates on the motto, “The measure of a life is its service.” This guiding principle forms the core basis of all educational opportunities provided at SHSU, including curricula that is grounded in research, creativity, and experiential learning. In addition, the university has earned recognition from the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a “Doctoral Research University”. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is a good example of a doctoral program founded on research principles. Graduates from this program are trained to be licensed professional clinicians who possess a broad knowledge base in scientific psychology and demonstrate competencies as both research clinicians and clinical practitioners.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
This doctorate requires 108 hours of study from classroom instruction, research, and experiential learning in applied settings. Candidates are also expected to complete a dissertation while being enrolled full-time. Coursework and applied practice have a strong forensic foundation to prepare graduates to work within the legal system, intervening on behalf of the client while providing professional interpretation to the court system of psycho-pathology that affects behavior. Candidates gain experience working with multiple faculty mentors in inpatient and residential settings. This includes private psychology practices, neuro-psychiatric facilities, residential and group homes, correctional institutions and the university’s own Psychological Services Center. Graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure and work varied mental illness profiles including those who have: traumatic brain injuries, personality disorders, gender and minority issues, addictive behaviors, behavioral abnormalities, adolescent disorders, and troubled individuals.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Sam Houston State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
Dr. Mary Alice Conroy
Huntsville, Texas 77341
(936) 294-3806 or (936) 294-1971
[email protected] or [email protected]
Southern Methodist University
Dedman College of Humanities and Science, Department of Psychology
Southern Methodist University’s motto of “World Changers Shaped Here” encapsulates its dedication to preparing students for real-world careers that uplift, nurture and sustain communities. Located near Dallas, SMU is world renowned for its research facilities, state-of-the-art programs and interdisciplinary instruction emphasizing 21st-century leadership skills. The university has been classified as having high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and also consistently fares well in U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Clinical Psychology doctorate program uses research in the field with clinical training as a two-pronged approach to therapeutic psychology practice. Cutting-edge digital observation equipment, virtual reality technology, and innovative psycho-physiological assessment complement traditional experiential training and instructional methods.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
This Ph.D. program stresses the scientist-practitioner model, which views the contributions of research and clinical practice of equal importance when assessing and treating mental health conditions. Two areas of focus are offered to program candidates: Health, or Family and Child. Each focus area helps candidates hone their skills sets with regard to their area of interest by completing supplementary coursework and practica experiences in addition to required core material for the degree. The average time for degree completion is six years, requiring approximately 50 hours of coursework with additional time spent in research and clinical training experiences. Practicum and pre-doctoral internship sites are available at public health agencies, correctional facilities, schools, medical centers, rehabilitation clinics, behavioral and counseling centers, and private practices. Program candidates must also complete several written documents, including a thesis, research article review, and a dissertation.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Southern Methodist University
Department of Psychology
PO Box 750442
Dallas, Texas 75275-0442
(214) 768-7792
Ernest Jouriles, Ph.D., Chair
[email protected]
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M boasts of being the Lone Star state’s first public institution of higher learning. Since opening its doors in 1876, TAMU has grown into a world-class research facility with global recognition from organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly and Kiplinger. Part of its driving force behind education is to produce “developing leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good.” This sentiment aptly describes the school’s psychology programs, which offer multiple specialized doctoral degrees in the field.
Clinical Psychology PhD
This degree combines clinical and practitioner models to impart research and practice competencies of psychology to its graduates. The program requires 96 credits from core psychology classes and from a variety of research, practicum and internship experiences, culminating in a dissertation. Students are also encouraged to choose up to two specialization areas such as: child and adolescent psychology, couples and family psychology, interpersonal processes, diversity and cultural issues, quantitative methods, assessment, forensics, prevention, gerontology issues, and neuro-behavioral sciences. The program is designed to be completed in five years with full-time enrollment.
Counseling Psychology PhD
The counseling Ph.D. program heavily incorporates field-based learning experiences to model assessment and therapeutic approaches. The goal is for graduates to provide research-driven services that promote public health and well-being in a personalized manner. Settings for practicum and internship experiences include child and family guidance centers, public health centers, outpatient veteran’s clinics, medical facilities, preschool programs, juvenile justice centers, correctional institutions, and university sponsored counseling centers. The program is approximately 109 credit hours taken over four to five years in the primary areas of: psychology core classes; research courses and experience, including a dissertation; counseling techniques; and practitioner placements.
School Psychology PhD
This Ph.D. programs specifically emphasizes counseling within schools to address the academic, social and behavioral needs of children and adolescents. The curricula span a five-to-six-year time period with numerous practicum and internship opportunities, including a research apprenticeship and dissertation. Practicum experiences begin the very first year of training, working with public school students. This hands-on, experiential framework provides candidates with the opportunity to put theoretical psychological practices into immediate use in real-world situations. The program requires 100-112 credit hours of study and experiential learning that covers: basic psychological sciences, research and statistics, professional school psychology instruction, and work in specialization areas.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-423
John F. Edens, Director of Clinical Training
207 Psychology Bldg, 4235 TAMU
(979) 845-2581
[email protected]
Kristie Stramaski, Academic Adviser II
704 Harrington Tower
(979) 845-1833
[email protected]
Dr. Cynthia Riccio, Professor
716B Harrington Tower
(979) 862-4906
[email protected]
Texas Tech University
Department of Psychological Sciences
As a comprehensive research university, Texas Tech offers diverse, cutting-edge programs that are nationally recognized for their academic excellence. TTU prides itself on being student-centric, providing personalized instruction for its students to complement their learning experiences. This attention to individualized programming especially enhances TTU’s graduate psychology offerings, landing them at 132 for U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 national rankings.
Clinical Psychology Ph.D.
With equal emphasis on the scientific and practice aspects of psychology, the clinical psychology doctorate prepares graduates for work as licensed clinical practitioners, research psychologists or teaching professionals. Instructional coursework and training opportunities occur in on-campus and off-campus settings. Successful students enjoy conducting research as much as doing clinical work with patients. Candidates work closely with a faculty mentor throughout their program which covers 100-135 credits spanning six years. Candidates take core coursework and practicum experiences in years one through four, complete their dissertation in year five, and participate in an extended internship in year six.
Counseling Psychology Ph.D.
The counseling psychology doctorate prepares graduates for work as professional practicing psychologists within a variety of settings, including hospitals and medical health groups, psychiatric and rehabilitation programs, outpatient clinics, community mental health facilities, independent practices, university counseling centers, and correctional institutions. Curricula requirements include study over a five-year period that includes a minimum of 102 credit hours in core psychology and research instruction with additional hours for practicum, internship and dissertation completion.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Texas Tech University
2051 Psychological Sciences Building
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2051
(806)-742-3711
Joaquin P. Borrego, Jr., Ph.D.
Director, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
[email protected]
Sheila Garos, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling Psychology Division
[email protected]
Texas Woman’s University
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Though traditionally noted for focusing on higher education for women, TWU is actually a co-educational university promoting a wide variety of degree program choices, including the field of psychology. Their mission strives to turn out graduates who will be global leaders in their profession while serving their communities. In 2014, TWU was recognized nationally for its student diversity by U.S. News & World Report and Poder Hispanic magazine. This diversity attracts a broad candidate pool that enriches TWU’s psychology doctoral programs.
Counseling Psychology Ph.D.
Using the practitioner-scientist model, the counseling doctorate provides a strong foundation for clinically based practice of psychology in a wide variety of public and private community settings. Graduates are prepared to work with individuals, family groups and diverse populations who experience mental health issues affected by neurological, social, cultural, and institutional factors. The program involves completion of roughly 130 credits in behavioral psychology, neuroscience, research and statistics, ethics, cross-cultural ideologies, assessment, therapeutic approaches, and professional issues. Additionally, candidates must participate in supervised practicum and internship experiences and complete a dissertation.
School Psychology Ph.D.
The focus of the school psychology doctorate guides graduates towards identifying and working with high-risk student populations, as well as becoming counseling resources for school staff, families, and students at all levels of instruction. Graduates may work in community agencies, educational facilities, or in academic and research positions at institutions of higher learning. Candidates will take a minimum of 121 hours of coursework focusing on school psychology principles, cognitive and academic assessments, research design, human development, cross-cultural influences, social and emotional issues, peer interactions, and family support. The program culminates with several practicum and internship placements and completion of a dissertation.
Accreditations
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-CoC)
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)
Contacts
Texas Woman’s University
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
CFO 702
P.O. Box 425470
Denton, TX 76204-5470
Sally D. Stabb, Ph.D.
Director, Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology
(940) 898-2149
[email protected]
Dr. Denise Maricle
Director, Doctoral Program in School Psychology
(940) 898-2260
[email protected]
University of Houston
Department of Educational Psychology
The University of Houston is a public university and exists as the flagship institution of the broader University of Houston System in the state of Texas. Houston is often thought of as the chief academic rival to the University of Texas, and offers many of the same programs and benefits to today’s doctoral psychology students. The school’s Carnegie-rated high level of research activity works well for the doctoral program, giving psychology students the ability to conduct guided research in an area of their choosing. While they conduct this research, they’ll take courses taught by the top professors in Houston and the most seasoned psychologists in the state of Texas. Top-ranked access to job fairs, high post-graduation job placement, and a role in academia, await students who choose this program over competing options.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Clinical psychology students participate in on-campus research at the University of Houston research labs, where they’ll work on everything from focus groups to case studies in the defense of a thesis. A faculty panel will hear their defense and recommend them for graduation at the conclusion of the program when their research meets the department’s high standards. In the classroom, students will cover medical ethics and the nature of inpatient disorder care, and they’ll learn about innovative new methods for treatment that can actually prepare patients for outpatient services, more routine counseling, and effective, independent daily management of their psychological disorder.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Counseling psychology at the University of Houston is focused largely on how to handle specialized cases, including post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses resulting from combat situations or trauma in the home. Students must complete a practical internship alongside a seasoned counselor, where their work experience will count for several credits of on-campus study. Classroom experiences will focus on rare disorders and unique circumstances where more routine disorders are acquired. Counselors will be prepared for work with more challenging patients, as well as academic settings, by the time they present their research, defend its thesis, and move to graduation.
School Psychology PhD
School psychologists at the doctoral level are far more interested in the root causes of psychological trauma in the school environment, and that remains true at the University of Houston. This program is far more theoretical and philosophical than those in counseling or clinical services, with an emphasis on the origins of school violence and bullying, the impact of a turbulent home life on school performance, the nature of school performance on student mental health. All students must be placed into a school psychology department under supervision, and they must conduct and present research and a thesis prior to graduation from the Houston-based program.
Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of Houston
Department of Educational Psychology
4800 Calhoun Rd.
Houston, TX, 77004
Phone: (713) 743-2255
University of North Texas
Department of Psychology
The University of North Texas is another high-activity research institution, funded by public funds, that focuses largely on the sciences and numerous engineering fields. Though the university offers a full range of programs in a wide array of disciplines, its science-heavy focus has netted the northern Texas institution with as much as $30 million in annual research appropriations. Students benefit from this exceedingly high level of research funding in several ways. The university offers innovative on-campus labs and test facilities, provides research-oriented doctoral students with a high level of funding and a stipend, and therefore offers one of the best-ranked psychology doctoral programs in the southwest. UNT’s professors at this level all hold doctoral degrees, and many of them are published psychological researchers who have contributed significantly to the field.
Clinical Psychology PhD
The clinical psychology program prepares students for work in hospitals and clinics, dealing with patients who may require inpatient care to deal with severe depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other major psychological issues that require more careful observation and skilled treatment. As a result, they’ll take advanced courses in diagnosis, treatment, clinical ethics, and more. The University of North Texas’ program will also require a practical work experience during the second year of the program, a research-based thesis, defense of the thesis in order to move to candidacy, and a long-term medical residency, prior to eligibility for graduation.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Counseling services allow psychological professionals to deal with patients largely in an outpatient, casual setting. As a result, coursework in this program is designed to help patients deal with everyday trials and tribulations that might affect their precarious mental state or otherwise interact with mild or low-level psychological disorders. The program is focused primarily on treatment, rather than diagnosis, but also teaches students about rare disorders that they might encounter as high-level counselors. A medical residency is not required, but a practical counseling experience must be pursued. The program also requires on-campus research, a thesis, and defense of that thesis prior to eligibility for the PhD.
Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of North Texas
Department of Psychology
1155 Union Circle #311280
Denton, TX 76203
Phone: (940) 565-2671
Email: [email protected]
University of North Texas and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center Consortium
Department of Psychology
The collaboration between UNT and its North Texas Health Sciences Center is significant, in that it offers one of the most unique degree programs for psychology doctoral students. The consortium offers a health psychology doctorate that is different from programs at all other top-ranked, research-oriented universities in the Lonestar State. This focus prepares students for clinical work in hospitals, serving patients whose health directly impacts their state of mind. The system’s unique collaboration and its programs has earned rave reviews from national rankings and fellow psychology instructors, and ensures graduates are among the most competitive for jobs in academia and clinical practice, especially in hospitals and clinical settings.
Clinical Health Psychology PhD
This clinical program is easily one of the most comprehensive in the country. Students must complete a research-oriented thesis and a long-term medical residency, but they must also devote themselves to classes that are uniquely health-oriented. They’ll learn about the impact on common medical issues, and even terminal diseases and death, on a patient’s psychological well-being. Students will also learn how to treat inpatient disorders that are considered severe, and they’ll learn the ethical considerations associated with handling terminally ill patients, inpatient residents, and diagnosis of unique problems that meet at the intersection of health and psychology.
Also Offers:
PhD in Counseling Psychology
Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of North Texas and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center Consortium
Department of Psychology
1155 Union Circle #311280
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Phone: (940) 565-2671
Email: [email protected]
University of Texas at Austin
College of Liberal Arts
UT’s College of Liberal Arts offers three strong programs in doctoral psychology, taught by nationally published and top-ranked faculty who are among the best in the country. The University of Texas consistently ranks as one of the most prestigious “Public Ivies” in the country, with graduates who enjoy one of the highest job placement rates after completion to the program and defense of their thesis. The system gives students practical experiences and networking opportunities far superior to virtually anything else at any other public, research-oriented state university.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Clinical psychology students focus on the nature of treatment in a hospital setting, especially for those patients who need long-term, inpatient care. Students will take courses that focus on the ethics of this type of treatment, the impact of severe psychological disorders on patients’ ability to respond to counseling and prescription treatments, and the role of family, outpatient counseling, and long-term managed care, on psychological improvement and long-term outcomes. A long-term medical residency is required, as is a thesis based on research conducted in campus labs alongside a supervising professor.
Counseling Psychology PhD
Counseling services require psychologists to be seasoned professionals that understand both common causes of these issues and rare disorders. That’s where this program comes in. Coursework required of doctoral students emphasizes rare psychological disorders and lesser-known causes of more common problems among today’s patients. They’ll also study the ethics of child treatment, parent and family counseling, prescription drug use, and referral to more in-depth or inpatient treatment facilities. All students must complete a counseling internship, and they must successfully defend a thesis based on their research in campus labs during the course of their doctoral program.
School Psychology PhD
This program is heavy on research and practical experience. All students must complete a yearlong internship with a current, doctoral-level school psychologist, where they will interact with students and perform under supervision. On-campus, students must engage in a research topic of their choosing that relates to school and student psychology. They must use this research as the foundation for a thesis, which a faculty panel will hear and approve prior to graduation. Coursework focuses on the origins of bullying and school violence, the impact of heredity and home environment on student psychology, and the impact of student psychology on their ability to learn.
Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of Texas at Austin
College of Liberal Arts
Austin, TX 78712
Phone: (512) 471-3434
Email: [email protected]
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Department of Psychology
Students who prefer to join the UT community, but don’t live in or around the Austin metropolitan area, benefit directly from UT’s partnership with Southwestern Medical Center. Located in Dallas, this teaching hospital is designed to prepare students for careers in both clinical practice and academic venues. The program requires extensive research, offers in-hospital clinical appointments over several years’ time, and fully funds all research and student stipends throughout the full duration of the doctoral program.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Based at an actual hospital, this program requires all students to engage in a long-term medical residency that will familiarize them with the nature of inpatient psychological care. The program also requires research in a hospital-based lab, which will yield a thesis that must be defended to a student-selected faculty panel. Coursework focuses on medical ethics and inpatient treatment, as well as courses in counseling and how to prepare patients for reemergence into the outside world as their psychological disorder becomes more manageable for outpatient counselors to address.
Accreditation
- American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), Commission on Colleges (CoC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Department of Psychology
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390
Phone: (214) 648-3111
Email: [email protected]
A doctorate in psychology can lead to any number of amazing jobs, in Texas and beyond. Check out our list of the highest paying psychology careers.