May 31, 2025  
2025-2026 GRADUATE CATALOG {Editing in Progress} 
    
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2025-2026 GRADUATE CATALOG {Editing in Progress}

Psychology - School Psychology, (PhD)

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The primary mission of the School Psychology Program (APA accredited) at The University of Memphis is to prepare school psychologists whose contributions will be through research and academic careers, future trainers of school psychologists, and future leaders in the field of school psychology.  Two aims guide the program’s training: (1) to prepare psychologists who are knowledgeable and competent in the delivery of health service psychology and (2) to prepare psychologists who are knowledgeable and competent in the specialty area of school psychology.  Therefore, our program provides broad and general doctoral education and training that includes preparation in health service psychology as well as the provision of professional services to children, youth, and their families in a variety of settings. 

The MS is preparatory to continuation in the program. In order to be advanced to doctoral study, a student must have satisfactorily completed all requirements for the MS at The University of Memphis, or have completed an equivalent degree, with empirical thesis, from another institution. A thesis completed as part of a master’s degree taken elsewhere must be reviewed and accepted by the program by the end of the first semester of doctoral study. Students possessing a master’s degree without a thesis will be required to complete a thesis before being advanced to doctoral study.

Admission Standards and Procedures

Applications for the MS/PhD degree program in School Psychology are reviewed once each year for admission in the following Fall semester. Applications for Spring admission are not considered. All application information must have been received by December 1 for an applicant to be considered for admission. The following items are required for admission:

  1. A completed application form accessed at https://apply.memphis.edu/portal/graduate_application. As part of the application, list psychology-related courses taken with grades, academic honors and awards, psychology-related publications and presentations, and psychology-related research and work experiences.
  2. An official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate coursework must be sent. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0/4.0 is required for admission without special permission.
  3. A minimum of 18 semester hours in undergraduate psychology courses, including courses in Psychological Statistics and Research Methods. Students lacking some or all of these prerequisite courses, but presenting an exceptional undergraduate record, may nevertheless be admitted. However, students may be asked to remove such deficiencies before or during their first academic year.
  4. Letters of recommendation from at least three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic background and aptitude for graduate work in psychology, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future performance as a psychologist.
  5. A personal statement of 1500 words (maximum) that should address the following: (1) your experiences and interests in clinical work and research, including working with a multicultural and diverse public, (2) your potential match with specific program faculty and with our program’s mission and aims, and (3) your professional and career goals.
  6. Participation the program’s interview day, which includes meetings with current students, an interview with faculty, and other related activities.  

GRE scores are not required and should not be submitted.

Further information about these programs can be found at  https://www.memphis.edu/psychology/graduate/apply.php.

Program Requirements

Credit Hours

A minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for the MS degree in Psychology, and a minimum of 80 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for the PhD degree in Psychology. All work for graduate credit must be approved and must be completed at a level of performance satisfactory to the program faculty, as described in the School Psychology Doctoral Program Handbook. Students also may take coursework for degree credit outside the department with program approval.

Transfer Credit

Students entering the PhD program with graduate credits earned at another institution, upon matriculation at The University of Memphis, may petition to have these credits applied toward the total number of hours required to earn their degree at The University of Memphis and to use transfer credits as substitutes for specific courses required for the degree. Decisions about such transfer are made by the Program Director.

Enrollment

Prior to internship, PhD students are expected to carry a minimum of 9 credits per semester and to devote themselves full time during their enrollment to pursuit of degree-related activities. Enrollment in fewer than 9 hours, but no less than 6 hours, is permitted with the approval of the Program Director and Department Chair.  Students who are currently completing, or have completed, their internship and have late-stage doctoral status must be enrolled in at least 1 hour per semester while engaging in their dissertation research.

Research

PhD students are expected to be active in research collaboratively with members of the program faculty each semester they are enrolled.

Master’s Thesis

PhD students are expected to complete an independent research project, culminating in a master’s thesis. The thesis is intended to be a demonstration of the student’s ability to plan, organize, conduct, and report a research/scholarly project. Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before beginning to write. Only 3 hours of thesis credit (PSYC 7996) can count toward the degree.

Second Milestone Project

After completing the requirements of the master’s thesis, PhD students will complete a second milestone, usually in the third year of graduate work. Students in the School Psychology PhD program satisfy this requirement with a Specialty Examination, referred to the Comprehensive Examination in the Program Handbook. 

Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation is viewed as the capstone of the student’s academic training, reflecting the student’s capacity for independent research. Dissertation credit hours (PSYC 9000) must be taken for a minimum of 6 credit hours and can be taken for a maximum of 9 credit hours. Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before beginning the process of developing their dissertation proposal.

Educational Requirements

School Psychology PhD students are required to complete the following courses. Students should enroll in 7000-level courses before completing a master’s degree (or until 30 hrs of 7000-level courses have been completed) and 8000-level courses after completing a master’s degree.

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