phd funded in psychology

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The clinical program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.

Your program will typically be fully funded for five years thanks to stipend grant support and guaranteed teaching fellowships. Tuition support is also available for a six-year program. Funding is also available for research, travel, and conferences. You will have access to the latest technology at FAS Research Computing and the Neuroimaging Facility at the Center for Brain Science.

Examples of student dissertations and theses include “Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Developmental Risk Factors and Predictors of Treatment Response,” “Clarifying the Pathway to Suicide: An Examination of Subtypes of Suicidal Behavior and Their Association with Impulsiveness,” and “A Cognitive Neuroscience of Social Groups.”

Graduates have secured positions in academia at prestigious institutions such as Princeton University, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. Others have embarked on careers with companies such as Facebook, BetterUp, and Apple.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Psychology and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Cognition, Brain, and Behavior | Experimental Psychopathology and Clinical | Developmental | Social Psychology

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Psychology .

Academic Background

While an undergraduate concentration in psychology is not required, some social science coursework is recommended. Because the program is heavily quantitatively oriented, college-level math and statistics are also advised. Research experience is extremely helpful; successful applicants have often worked for professors, done research projects as part of college courses, written an undergraduate thesis, or volunteered in a psychology research lab.

Please Note: Before making the decision to apply, the program in Psychology suggests checking individual faculty/lab websites or emailing faculty directly to inquire whether they plan to consider applicants for Fall 2024 admission. It’s important to note that while individual faculty members may have every intention of bringing in a new student this year, we cannot guarantee that they will all be able to do so. The total number of offers of admission to be extended by the graduate program is based on applicant preparedness and fit, availability of university advising and support resources, and target class size. Some of these factors are not able to be determined until after the applicant pool has been finalized.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Psychology

See list of Psychology faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

About the Program

The Graduate Program in Psychology at Georgetown University offers a fully funded five-year, full-time program of study leading to a Ph.D. in Psychology. Students in the program concentrate in either Human  Development and Public Policy (HDPP) or Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience (LCN). The program is fundamentally a research program. Students are expected to meet rigorous research milestones and receive training in conducting independent scholarly research. Students in the HDPP track also take core courses at the McCourt School of Public Policy, while students in the LCN track take core courses in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at The Georgetown University School of Medicine. Students in both concentrations also take core and elective courses in the Psychology Department. A dual degree in Psychology (Ph.D.) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) is also offered in collaboration with the McCourt School of Public Policy to students in the HDPP concentration.

Degrees Offered

• Ph.D./Master’s in Public Policy (M.P.P.)

Admissions Requirements

For general graduate admissions requirements, visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information  page. Review the  program’s website  for additional information on program application requirements.

Application Materials required:

• Application Form
• Non-refundable Application Fee
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
• Writing Sample
• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Transcripts  – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official  transcripts  from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s  Application Information  page for additional details and FAQs.
• TOEFL = 80 minimum
• IELTS = 7.0 minimum

Application Deadlines

Degree requirements.

The core graduate curriculum includes coursework in statistics/methodology; advanced theory and evidence; applications of developmental science; and scientific ethics, as well as experience and instruction in teaching, grant writing and other practical skills.

The requirements of the graduate program are designed to:

• Ensure that students receive solid grounding in the interdisciplinary roots and methods of developmental science.
• Involve students in research immediately upon starting their graduate education and, over the course of their education, encourage them to develop an original line of inquiry.
• Instruct students in the critical analysis, teaching and communication skills that are critical to success in an array of post-Ph.D. positions.

Credits Required

• Ph.D. with a concentration in Human Development and Public Policy: 36 credits
• Ph.D. with a concentration in Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience: 39 credits
• Ph.D./M.P.P. (Master’s in Public Policy): 48 credits

There is no option of part-time study in this graduate degree program.

Connect with Us

Program Contact: Bonnie Ginsberg: [email protected]

Quick Links

Begin your application today!

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

  Hello and welcome to the Graduate Student section of our website.

Northwestern University's Psychology Department is one of the strongest and most prestigious departments in the United States. We offer Ph.D. programs in five areas: Clinical Psychology; Personality, Development, and Health Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Brain, Behavior, & Cognition (BBC); and Social Psychology. Faculty and graduate students in all five areas are conducting some of the most exciting and influential research being done in the psychological sciences today. Graduate students in our program receive rigorous training in methodology, statistics, and broad content areas in psychology and the behavioral sciences. From the first year onward, graduate students are involved in research projects under the supervision of Psychology Department faculty members. Early in their graduate school careers, they present the findings of their work at professional conferences and publish their research in leading psychological journals. They also receive invaluable experience as teachers and mentors of undergraduate students. Northwestern's Psychology Department aims to train the best and brightest of the next generation's scientists in Psychology and the related behavioral sciences. Our graduates have gone on to attain prestigious academic and research positions in universities, colleges, hospitals, and other venues where psychological research is conducted.

All Ph.D. students in the Psychology Department receive full funding (tuition and stipend) for five academic years (including four summers). Many graduate students also receive outside funding through NSF fellowships and other awards. Students work closely with faculty in the Psychology Department in class work and in the laboratory. In addition, students may take courses and do research with faculty in other departments at Northwestern University, including those in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Social Policy, and the Medical School. Many students are involved in interdisciplinary research.

Northwestern's Psychology Department offers an exciting, dynamic, and friendly community of scientists and scholars, set on the beautiful lakefront campus of a world-class university, minutes from one of the world's greatest cities, Chicago. If you would like to learn more about our community and our programs, please contact us.

Program Areas for Graduate Study

• Brain, Behavior, and Cognition
• Personality, Development, and Health

For more information about graduate study at Northwestern:

The Graduate School http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/

Fields include clinical psychology; cognitive psychology; developmental psychology; neuroscience; and social/personality psychology.

• Programs of Study
• PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
• Combined PhD
• Department of Psychology

Melissa Ferguson

Director of Graduate Studies

• [email protected]

Fredericka Grant

Departmental Registrar

• [email protected]
• 203-432-4500

Admission Requirements

Standardized testing requirements.

GRE is optional. 

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

Combined Degree Program Application Deadline

*The deadline to submit an application to a combined program is always the earlier deadline of the two individual programs, or December 15, whichever comes first.

Academic Information

Combined phd information.

Psychology offers a combined PhD in conjunction with Philosophy .

Program Advising Guidelines

GSAS Advising Guidelines

Academic Resources

Academic calendar.

The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.

Featured Resource

Registration Information and Dates

https://registration.yale.edu/

Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.

Financial Information

Phd stipend & funding.

PhD students at Yale are normally full-funded for a minimum of five years. During that time, our students receive a twelve-month stipend to cover living expenses and a fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition and student healthcare.

• PhD Student Funding Overview
• Graduate Financial Aid Office
• PhD Stipends
• Health Award
• Tuition and Fees

Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.

• Utility Menu

Department of Psychology

• https://twitter.com/PsychHarvard
• https://www.facebook.com/HarvardPsychology/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFBv7eBJIQWCrdxPRhYft9Q
• Participate

Graduate Program

The Department of Psychology offers a PhD program in four areas: Clinical Science, Social, Developmental, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior (CBB). Admissions information, program requirements, funding and financial aid details, and other resources for the graduate program are detailed on the   Psychology Graduate Program website  and on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website . 

• Undergraduate Program
• Clinical Psychology
• Postdoctoral Program
• Doctoral Alumni

• English Language Programs
• Postdoctoral Affairs
• Training Grant Support
• Request Information

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

• Academic Programs
• Explore Programs

Clinical Psychology

• MA Requirements
• PhD Requirements

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

Degree Types: MA, PhD

The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is one of only a handful of programs in the United States based in an academic medical center and housed in a psychiatry department. This unique setting provides opportunities for translational research and practice that span molecular to social models of disease, and epidemiologic to clinical and neuroimaging methodologies.

This scientist-practitioner program effectively balances clinical and research training to produce graduates who are competent in the science and practice of clinical psychology. The PhD program also provides opportunities for major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. Training is provided through core and emphasis-specific curricula, intensive research mentoring, and exceptional clinical practica. Major milestones include a research qualifying paper and master's thesis, a clinical qualifying exam, an empirical dissertation with original research, and an APA-accredited clinical internship.

Our mentor-based program prepares students to be competitive for careers as clinical psychologists in academic health centers, children's hospitals, VA medical centers, and related medical facilities.

The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) Program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is intended for students interested in pursuing a career in academic clinical psychology. The MA program is designed to provide a foundation in academic clinical psychology at the graduate level, while also allowing students to gain educational and research exposure to major areas of study within clinical psychology, including Adult Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine or Clinical Health Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Forensic Psychology. 

The goals of the MA Program in Clinical Psychology are to:

• Develop foundational competencies in research design, analytics, and ethics within academic clinical psychology.
• Explore major areas of study within academic clinical psychology.
• Understand educational and career opportunities within academic clinical psychology.

Note: the MA Program in Clinical Psychology does not include clinical training and is not intended to prepare students for clinical practice. Given the academic and research focus of the MA Program, the degree will not lead to licensure for independent practice.  For those interested in master's level programs that prepare students for licensure and practice, please visit the  MA in Counseling website , the  MS in Marriage and Family Therapy website  and  The Family Institute website . 

The MA Program in Clinical Psychology was designed for a variety of students, including students who:

• Are not yet ready to apply to a PhD program, but are considering doing so in the future.
• Wish to improve their competitiveness for a PhD program.
• Are interested in exploring a career in academic clinical psychology.
• With interests in related fields for which a background in academic clinical psychology may be of value.

The MA Program is embedded in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program, with coursework and lab work completed alongside PhD students. Although students in the MA Program are welcome to apply to Northwestern's PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, the MA Program is not intended to be a "gateway" into the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Additional resources:

• Department Website
• Pro gram Handbook

Program Statistics

Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Sarah Bratta Program Coordinator

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

MA Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 17

The MA program requires at least 17 units for graduation across five (5) quarters (15 months) of full-time enrollment; part-time and early graduation is not permitted. Students are required to take the Research Core, including Research Methods/Statistics (3 units), Advanced Research Methodology (1 unit), and Scientific and Professional Ethics in Psychology (1 unit). In addition to these required courses, students are expected to select between five to eight elective courses across the Summer I, Fall, Winter, Spring, and/or Summer II quarters. Elective courses can include Discipline Specific Knowledge and Profession Wide Competency courses, as well as courses in one or more Major Areas of Study. 

In addition to the Research Core and Elective courses, all MA students participate in the weekly Professional Development Seminar for the first four quarters of the MA Program. This Seminar orients students to the MA program, introduces students to various mentors and labs across Northwestern, explores career options in academic clinical psychology, refines interests in academic clinical psychology, and prepares students for the next steps in their careers (e.g., developing applications for PhD programs; preparing for interviews). 

Other MA Degree Requirements

• Research/Projects:  In addition to completion of the coursework requirements, students engage in a Research Lab Experience for at least 10 hours a week.
• Master's Thesis :   Optional (see below)
• Master’s Culminating Academic Experience:  Through the Research Lab Experience, the student will work with her or his research mentor to complete a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is the culmination of the Research Lab Experience provided by the research mentor, providing the final evaluation of the student’s research competencies. Examples of capstone projects include: Substantial participation (i.e., authorship level) on one or more empirical studies submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. First author submission of one or more peer-reviewed poster/oral presentations at regional, national, or international conferences. A comprehensive review paper that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor. A grant proposal (e.g., F31 style) that is submitted to and graded by the research mentor.  

Last Updated: September 12, 2023

PhD Degree Requirements

Total Units Required: 30

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations:  defense of a research paper and a clinical qualifying project serving as examination for admission to candidacy
• Research/Projects:  independent, empirical research study completed in fulfillment of the research qualifying paper
• PhD Dissertation:  original research following third year of coursework
• Final Evaluations:  oral defense of dissertation

30 Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs

These fully funded Ph.D. programs are in fields like business, computer science, education and nursing.

(Getty Images) |

Many Ph.D. programs are fully funded.

Students interested in graduate research in various fields, from public health and English to computer science and engineering, have numerous options for Ph.D. programs that offer full funding. These programs typically provide waived tuition and fees and an annual stipend. Some also offer health insurance and other benefits. Gaining admittance into these small cohorts can be highly competitive, and the programs can be time-consuming . Here are 30 fully funded Ph.D. programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list – there are others out there.

• Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Chicago

Anthropology Ph.D. students at the University of Chicago can receive funding for up to eight years of study, assuming they are in good standing at the university. During that time, they will receive a full-tuition scholarship plus health insurance and a living stipend – which equated to $33,000 for the 2022-2023 school year – and can apply for external fellowships.

Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health at Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston offers a Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health that aims to provide students with expertise in disease prevention and treatment. This program includes tuition, a stipend and health insurance for five years as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress. International students receive the same benefits. Current research in the school's laboratories involves diseases like AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, malaria and tuberculosis.

(Dominick Reuter) |

• Ph.D. in business at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Students enrolled in the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can study a range of fields like organization studies, accounting and information technology. Those pursuing a Ph.D. will receive a full-tuition scholarship plus a monthly stipend of $4,267, capped at $51,204. They will also receive medical insurance, new laptops at the beginning of their first and fourth years of study and $4,500 over five years for conference travel expenses.

(Tommy Lavergne | Rice University)

Ph.D. in business at Rice University (TX)

At the Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business in Texas, students enjoy full financial assistance upon admission to the Ph.D. program. Aiming to prepare students to teach in fields like accounting, finance, organizational behavior and strategic management, the program provides students with a research or teaching assistantship. Students receive a tuition waiver and a $40,000 annual stipend contingent on making satisfactory academic progress and maintaining full-time student status.

Office of Strategic Communication | University of Iowa

• Ph.D. in business at the University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business offers Ph.D. degrees in fields such as accounting, economics, business analytics and marketing. The college says it provides full funding to "virtually all admitted students." This includes tuition and fees, a minimum nine-month stipend of about $20,000 with annual adjustments and comprehensive health insurance covered at 90%. Some departments offer funding for research presentations at major conferences, summer fellowships and paid time off for independent research.

Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Cornell University (NY)

According to Cornell University 's website, all students admitted to the chemical engineering Ph.D. program at the New York school receive a full tuition waiver, health insurance and a stipend. This funding can come from a teaching assistantship, research assistantship or fellowship, and full stipends are granted for nine months with the likelihood of additional aid in the summer.

Chris Taggart | Columbia University

Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University (NY)

Students enrolled in Columbia University 's Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at the Teachers College in New York receive fully funded tuition and a $25,000 stipend annually for three years. The stipend also carries into a student's fourth year. These doctoral fellows "may be expected to serve" as graduate teaching or research assistants. Students typically complete the mentor-matched program, which includes a full-year internship, in five to seven years.

Ph.D. in computer science at Brown University (RI)

Brown University 's Ph.D. students in computer science have access to "full financial support while completing the degree," plus the option to take classes at nearby schools without incurring additional costs, according to the school's website. In fact, doctoral students in any program at the Rhode Island university are guaranteed five years of financial support, which includes tuition remission, a stipend, health services fees and a subsidy for health insurance.

Georgetown University |

Ph.D. in computer science at Georgetown University (DC)

Georgetown University 's Ph.D. program in computer science provides scholarships and assistantships that cover full tuition at the Washington, D.C., school and include a stipend and health insurance for the first five years. Once enrolled in the program, students must complete the Apprenticeship in Teaching Program and ultimately write and defend a full research dissertation in a seminar open to the public.

Ph.D. in computer science at Washington University in St. Louis

Ph.D. students in the computer science or computer engineering program at Washington University in St. Louis receive full tuition support and health insurance. According to the university's website: "As a doctoral candidate, you will also receive a generous stipend to cover living expenses and a new, high-end Apple laptop computer. This support is guaranteed as you continue to make satisfactory progress towards your degree." Doctoral students may also qualify for one of three fellowships.

Jeff Miller | UW-Madison

• Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin—Madison

Incoming Ph.D. students at the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin—Madison are guaranteed full funding for the duration of the time that they are expected on campus, according to the university's department of counseling psychology website. Doctoral students also receive a benefits package that includes health insurance. Funding may come from financial aid, fellowships, assistantships and/or traineeships.

Emory University |

Ph.D. in economics at Emory University (GA)

Students enrolled in the economics Ph.D. program at Emory University typically receive full funding, according to the Georgia university's website. The stipend provided to students is $36,376 per year for five years, starting in fall 2023, and the full tuition scholarship is worth $70,200 per year. Funding for admitted students also includes a $4,370 annual subsidy that covers 100% of a student's cost of health insurance. First-year students have no stipend-related work requirements.

• Ph.D. in education at New York University

New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers more than 30 degree programs. Many can be pursued on campus or online. Ph.D. degrees are offered in areas like developmental psychology, educational leadership and childhood education. Full-time NYU Steinhardt Ph.D. students are eligible for a funding package that includes an annual stipend – $32,000 for the 2022-2023 academic year – tuition coverage for required coursework and student health insurance for five years.

L.A. Cicero, Stanford News Service |

Ph.D. in education at Stanford University (CA)

Stanford University's Graduate School of Education allows students numerous fellowship and assistantship opportunities at the California school, along with a "five-year funding guarantee that provides tuition aid, fellowship stipend, and assistantship salary, and covers the standard cost of attendance," the program website reads. At the Graduate School of Education, doctoral students can choose from a range of academic areas like curriculum studies and teacher education, and developmental and psychological sciences.

• Ph.D. in education at the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education provides full funding to Ph.D. students as part of a fellowship and research apprenticeship package. This funding includes a living stipend, health insurance and coverage of tuition and fees for up to four years if the student maintains full-time enrollment. Some students may also qualify for additional summer funding.

• Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Doctoral students in engineering at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor can choose from numerous areas of specialization under umbrella categories like aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, macromolecular science and engineering, and robotics. All engineering doctoral students are guaranteed full funding, a monthly living stipend and health insurance. The exact amount can vary, according to the program's website, and funding comes from a range of sources, including graduate student instructor positions and fellowships.

Boston University Photography |

• Ph.D. in English at Boston University

Annually, doctoral students studying English at Boston University receive a stipend plus full tuition, fees and basic health insurance. This funding is guaranteed for at least five years, with two of those years typically free from teaching requirements. Funding can sometimes be extended up to seven years, according to the university's website, but it's not guaranteed. Students may also apply for various prizes, fellowships and short-term research and travel grants.

(Stephanie Diani) |

• Ph.D. in English at the University of California—Los Angeles

Applicants to the Ph.D. in English program at the University of California—Los Angeles are automatically considered for various funding options. A six-year funding package includes "a minimum of two years of full fellowship, four years of summer stipend support and up to four years of teaching assistantships," according to the school website. Beyond tuition, fees and health insurance are also covered.

Jeff Watts |

Ph.D. in international relations at American University (DC)

American University offers doctoral students in its international relations program who do not have external funding a renewable four-year Dean's Fellowship that is contingent on making satisfactory academic progress. The fellowship includes the cost of tuition, fees and a stipend that must be earned via a part-time role as a teaching or research assistant. Students also must "demonstrate competency in a modern foreign language" before graduating.

Jonathan Cohen | Binghamton University

• Ph.D. in management at Binghamton University—SUNY

All students admitted to the interdisciplinary management Ph.D. program at the Binghamton University—SUNY School of Management in New York receive a combination of a full-tuition scholarship and a teaching or research assistantship for each academic year, up to four years. This STEM-designated business doctoral degree prepares students for careers in academia and work in the public and private sectors, and has a student-faculty ratio of 1-to-1, according to the university's website.

Duke University Communications |

Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Duke University (NC)

Doctoral students at Duke University in North Carolina studying materials science and engineering generally receive full tuition, a stipend and fee support for the first five years. Students also receive up to six years of health insurance if they are on the university's student medical insurance plan. The doctoral program aims to help students publish with a faculty adviser and develop research skills, with the opportunity to present research at professional conferences.

Homewood Photography | JHU

Ph.D. in nursing at Johns Hopkins University (MD)

The School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland provides most doctoral students with three fully funded years of study. Available financial aid includes graduate assistantships, targeted fellowships and nursing-specific funding. The university aims to "advance the theoretical foundation of nursing practice and healthcare delivery" with the degree, its website reads. "By graduation, most Hopkins nurse scholars have been awarded grants that continue their research and set them well on their way to a successful career."

• Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Virginia

All students admitted to the University of Virginia 's Ph.D. in Nursing program are eligible for four years of scholarship funding to cover tuition, insurance and fees, as well as annual stipends. To receive certain aid, students must work 10 hours per week as a graduate teaching assistant. With a heavy research focus, students can expect courses in qualitative, quantitative and historical research, and will have to submit a research proposal for peer review.

Ph.D. in nursing at Yale University (CT)

At Yale University in Connecticut, the School of Nursing offers full funding to its Ph.D. students. They receive a monthly stipend for four years in addition to paid tuition and health care. The program allows students to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular area of study. Every incoming Ph.D. student gets paired with a faculty adviser "whose area of expertise and active research most closely matches with the student’s scholarly interest," according to the school's website.

University of Minnesota |

• Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

Students admitted to the Ph.D. program to study psychology at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities are guaranteed full funding for five years as long as they maintain satisfactory performance and degree progress. This funding includes full-time tuition, a nine-month stipend and subsidized health insurance. Funding comes from some combination of teaching assistantships, traineeships, research assistantships and fellowships. Students in the program can specialize in areas like cognitive and brain sciences, industrial-organizational psychology and social psychology.

Matt Cashore | University of Notre Dame

Ph.D. within the Romance languages and literatures department at the University of Notre Dame (IN)

University of Notre Dame doctoral students who focus on French and Francophone studies, Iberian and Latin American studies or Italian studies are guaranteed five years of funding. Funding includes a full scholarship, including tuition and fees, plus a stipend and health insurance. Anyone who completes the Ph.D. degree requirements at the Indiana university within five years will automatically receive a one-year postdoctoral fellowship via the university's 5+1 Program. Fellows will have a teaching load limited to one course per semester.

Ph.D. in social work at Bryn Mawr College (PA)

Students admitted to Bryn Mawr College 's Ph.D. program in social work receive full tuition waivers and "substantial stipends" toward living expenses. The Pennsylvania college's website says: "Consistent with our model, all Ph.D. students are funded equally, and do not compete for basic financial support during coursework." The program's cohorts typically include only three or four students each year. According to the college, it awarded the first Ph.D. degree in social work in the U.S. in 1920.

Vanderbilt University |

Ph.D. in special education at Vanderbilt University (TN)

Funding is guaranteed for all admitted doctoral students enrolled in the special education Ph.D. program at the Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. This includes full tuition, a "competitive" monthly stipend and health insurance for up to four years. Students may also be nominated for additional honor scholarships and fellowships. Areas of focus within the Ph.D. program include high-incidence disabilities and early childhood education.

Ph.D. in theatre and drama at Northwestern University (IL)

This interdisciplinary Ph.D. program at Northwestern University in Illinois combines coursework in humanities, social science and the visual arts. The program's students receive a five-year full-tuition scholarship plus an annual living stipend. Ph.D students enrolling at this program in fall 2022 will receive a living stipend of at least $36,960 during the 2023-2024 school year. Stipend amounts may change from year to year. Students can apply for subsidies to facilitate conference travel and summer language study.

(Photo by Sarah L. Voisin | The Washington Post via Getty Images)

• Ph.D. in women, gender and sexuality studies at University of Maryland

At the University of Maryland 's Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Ph.D. students without a master's degree usually have five years of guaranteed funding. Those with a master's degree usually are funded four years, with awards stemming from a mix of departmental fellowships and graduate teaching assistantships. Since the program's establishment in 1999, the department has granted 36 Ph.Ds, according to UMD's website.

Learn more about paying for graduate school.

Finding a fully funded program isn't the only option to offset the costs of graduate school. See these seven strategies to pay for graduate school to learn more. Check out the latest Best Graduate Schools rankings to see the country's top business, medicine and law programs – and more. For additional grad school tips, follow U.S. News Education on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Ph.D. programs that are fully funded

• Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health at Harvard University
• Ph.D. in business at Rice University
• Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Cornell University
• Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Brown University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Georgetown University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Washington University—St. Louis
• Ph.D. in economics at Emory University
• Ph.D. in education at Stanford University
• Ph.D. in international relations at American University
• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Duke University
• Ph.D. in nursing at Johns Hopkins University
• Ph.D. in nursing at Yale University
• Ph.D. within the romance languages and literatures department at the University of Notre Dame
• Ph.D. in social work at Bryn Mawr College
• Ph.D. in special education at Vanderbilt University
• Ph.D. in theatre and drama at Northwestern University

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The doctoral program in Social Psychology at New York University offers training in the scientific study of social psychology and social behavior. To this end, it offers training in the psychological theories, principles, and research methods relevant to understanding human behavior among individuals, groups, and organizations .

Program Vision

Social behavior is best understood from a multi-level perspective. The focal level of analysis often concerns the individual and the situation, with an emphasis on the cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes that drive behavior in social contexts. Our multi-level approach may examined how these processes are shaped by political, societal, and organizational factors, at a higher level, and supported by neural and physiological systems, at a lower level.

Our multi-level perspective is reflected in our methodologies. Students receive training in advanced quantitative methods and in a broad range of approaches such as behavioral experimentation, psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience, big data (e.g., from social media), experience sampling, online data collection, dyadic measurement, computational modeling, and field studies, to name a few. Members of the program have access to fMRI, EEG/ERP, eye-tracking, and peripheral psychophysiology facilities housed within the Psychology Department.

Finally, we are committed to connecting our research to the real world. Although our questions often focus on basic processes that drive social cognition and motivation, our broader goals are to understand real-life human behaviors and pressing societal issues and to contribute solid scientific knowledge to policy makers and human service providers.

Program Culture and Activities

The NYU social program has a history of a special communal, cooperative spirit, with very high morale among the students and faculty. Moreover, the program culture is constantly evolving, influenced by interactions among current students, postdocs, and faculty, by changes in the broader scientific field, and by events in the world. We hold weekly program meetings (our “brownbag” meeting) that emphasize new findings and lively discussions, and we feature multiple talk series featuring prominent outside speakers (e.g., Social Colloquium, Social Neuroscience Series, Distinguished Lecture Series). Members of the program also enjoy interactions with colleagues in Cognition & Perception, Development, Neuroscience, Applied Psychology, Linguistics, Politics, Philosophy, and the Stern School of Business. Our location in an exciting and central neighborhood in New York City makes it easy for students and faculty to come in early and/or stay late to meet with each other and distinguished visitors.

Graduate study in the Social Psychology program at NYU means being part of an unusually active research culture. We share well-equipped laboratories, and we promote 'open door' relationships between professors and students. Although students typically have a primary home in one professor's laboratory, we require that students work in at least one other laboratory to promote breadth of training in a variety of methodological approaches and research issues. Our goal is to prepare students to be highly competitive in the job market for the type of career they seek, and we are proud of the steady success of our students in obtaining academic positions at top research universities and teaching colleges.

All students accepted into our graduate program are fully funded through the Henry M. MacCracken Program or the NYUAD Global PhD Fellowship.

MacCracken funding is provided through a combination of teaching assistantship, research assistantship, and fellowship, in proportions to be determined. The award package typically includes a full tuition scholarship, comprehensive health insurance and a stipend. Funding is typically guaranteed for five years, although students with substantial graduate credits or a Master's degree may only be guaranteed four years of support.

NYUAD Global PhD Fellowships include full tuition scholarship, health insurance, travel benefits, and a stipend. Funding is for five years, which typically includes two years or less of course work in New York and the remaining at least three years or more of dissertation research in Abu Dhabi. Campus housing in Abu Dhabi is provided free of cost and is available to all Global Fellows.

There is a very limited supply of subsidized housing available for graduate students which is generally used for a subset of each entering class to provide them the opportunity to get settled in New York City during their first year of residence.

NYU Abu Dhabi PhD Program

The Program in Social Psychology maintains a relationship with the Social Psychology faculty at NYU Abu Dhabi. This relationship supports opportunities for collaboration between students and faculty across the New York and Abu Dhabi campuses. Students accepted for the NYU Abu Dhabi Ph.D. program will typically spend two years primarily in New York with multiple visits to Abu Dhabi. During those two years, students complete all or most of their coursework as well as carrying out research in collaboration with an NYU Abu Dhabi advisor and a co-mentor in New York. The subsequent three years are spent in Abu Dhabi completing the dissertation research and any remaining course requirements. For further information on the Global Ph.D. program, click here .

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Psychology, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Psychology

The PhD program in psychology offers comprehensive training in innovative research methods and the application of psychological principles across various human conditions. This program stands out with six highly ranked areas of study:

• behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology
• clinical psychology
• cognitive psychology
• developmental psychology
• quantitative research methods ( formal degree concentration )
• social psychology

Each specialization shapes the core curriculum for its students, encouraging interdisciplinary learning opportunities across the university.

Faculty engage students in groundbreaking research, fostering theoretical exploration in areas such as evolution and behavior; cognitive processes such as attention and memory; personality studies; and societal issues such as stigma and prejudices. Students investigate diverse topics, including individual resilience, cultural influences, neurobiological and psychosocial factors impacting behavior and health, child mental health prevention and life span developmental aspects of emotion and cognition.

A unique strength of this doctoral psychology program is the wealth of outstanding faculty who excel in quantitative methods. No matter their specialized area of focus, students gain access to a wide variety of courses and hands-on experiences, seamlessly integrating quantitative methodologies into their work.

Psychology PhD specializations

Behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive science, developmental psychology, social psychology, quantitative research methods, degree requirements.

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (3 or 4 credit hours) PSY 502 Professional Issues in Psychology (3) or PSY 531 Multiple Regression in Psychological Research (4)

Electives and Research (68 or 69 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) PSY 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information In addition to required coursework pertaining to the training area, students take courses related to their area of interest, as determined in consultation with their supervisory committees. Requirements vary across training areas.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• SlideRoom application and fee
• statement of purpose form
• curriculum vitae or resume
• three letters of recommendation
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

To apply to the doctoral programs, applicants must follow the instructions on the doctoral program admission instructions and checklist. It is strongly recommended that applicants download and print this form to ensure completion of the application process and include all of the required supplemental forms.

The Department of Psychology application process is completed online through ASU's graduate admission services, which includes the application form and official transcripts. Application to Department of Psychology doctoral programs is also completed via SlideRoom, for processing of supplemental application materials. The SlideRoom account requires an additional fee.

Applicants must submit three academic letters of recommendation from faculty members who know the student well. Three letters are required, but four letters of recommendation may be submitted.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, career opportunities.

The doctorate in psychology opens up diverse career opportunities across academia, education, health care, industry, government and community organizations. This program equips students with a versatile skill set in research design, data analysis, measurement, mental health assessment, treatment and program evaluation.

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/727-4561

To date, the Department of Psychology has been successful in providing financial support for graduate students in the form of a living stipend, tuition and health insurance through summer quarter of their fifth year. This support can be obtained from different sources of funding. Department financial aid assignments are made at the beginning of each academic year.  Continued financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. 

Department Funding

Research and teaching assistantships.

Stanford University sets a minimum level of support for assistantships each year.  Assistantships cover salary, tuition, and health insurance.

Students with assistantships are paid their salaries through bimonthly paychecks from the Stanford Payroll Office. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up for direct deposit online via AXESS. Usual paydays are the 7th and the 22nd of every month. Student assistantship salary is taxable income, and applicable taxes and deductions will be withheld in accordance with the W-4 Tax Data form completed by each student. This form and other payroll forms will be provided to new students during the orientation in Autumn Quarter.

Pay Periods

Pay periods within each quarter are based on a calendar year, not the academic year. Pay cycles run one week behind the actual pay date. Therefore, a student's first Autumn Quarter paycheck is issued on October 22nd (for work completed during the pay period of October 1st to the 15th). Thereafter, students are paid every 7th and 22nd of the month.

• Autumn Quarter pay periods run from October 1 – December 31
• Winter Quarter pay periods run from January 1 – March 31
• Spring Quarter pay periods run from April 1 – June 30
• Summer Quarter pay periods run from July 1 – September 30

Students who secure external fellowships usually are paid via quarterly stipend rather than assistantship salary. When awarded, fellowship stipends are disbursed on the first day of each quarter provided that students enroll in the required number of units by the published deadline. Students must register in exactly 10 units in Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Quarters (note that students in TGR status must be enrolled in the 0-unit PSYCH 802 course and no more than 3 additional units). If the enrollment deadline is missed, stipends are disbursed a few business days after the student eventually meets the enrollment requirements. Mandatory charges on the student bill, including rent for campus housing, will be deducted from the stipend before it is issued. No taxes are withheld, but stipends are reportable as taxable income. (Fellowship tuition and tuition allowance are not taxable in most cases.)

Banking Funding for Off-Campus Summer Internships

If a student chooses to pursue an internship or similar off-campus opportunity during the summer in years 1-4, the student forfeits their summer funding package (per University policy) and does not enroll in units during the internship. The forfeited summer funding is "banked" and applied to the summer after 5th year, if needed. Funding is banked only if the student is not enrolled and not participating in Stanford research or courses during the summer internship. Students are only eligible to bank ONE quarter of summer funding, and that funding can ONLY be applied to the fifth summer.

Research Support Funding

Departmental funding is also available to specifically support research initiatives by courtesy of generous donors. Click on each link for more information:  

• Norman H. Anderson Research Fund

Outside Funding: Fellowships and Grants

The Department depends on a number of our students receiving outside awards (either external or internal to Stanford). We strongly encourage all students to apply for these funding opportunities.  This spreadsheet  lists some of the funding opportunities available to our students. This resource is a living document that our student and faculty communities are invited to update whenever they learn about relevant opportunities. Current students and faculty have direct access to the spreadsheet; if you are a current student with questions about how to access this document, please contact the Student Services Manager. The Department is deeply grateful to PhD student Julie Cachia for her work in compiling the original resource. 

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Graduate Program

If you are considering applying to a PhD program, you'll have many options. We humbly believe that your best option is UC San Diego Psychology. In fact, there are 17 reasons that support this belief. But in the interest of space, we'll focus on the Top 5 here. If you want to know the other 12, you'll have to come to UC San Diego.

1. Five years fully funded, with TA duties

All of our graduate students, including international students, are fully funded . This means that all tuition and fees are covered and graduate students receive $30,000 in additional support per year. This base level of support is provided by the Department, not individual faculty or student grants, which means that our graduate students can work across labs to collaborate, dabble, and experiment. 

As part of this support package graduate students serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for undergraduate courses during the academic year. Teaching Assistantships  provide students with opportunities to work across research areas, grow their teaching expertise, and build relationships with department faculty and lecturers.

There are other sources of funding from the Department as well, such as a large departmental fund, created by UC San Diego’s own Norman H. Anderson, that supports annual travel to conferences for all graduate students, the McGill Research account, which provides $2,000 in your first year for research-related expenses, and the McGill Post-Advancement Research account which provides $1,000 for additional research-related expenses. 

2. A large campus-wide community

Psychologists at UC San Diego interact with researchers in Human Development, Philosophy, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience. In Psychology, students in each research area - Cognitive, Social, Developmental, and Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience  (see below) - get together weekly at Brown Bag meetings to discuss their research with other students and faculty. Although we don't train Clinical Psychology graduate students , researchers with an interest in interacting with clinicians can find colleagues and friends in the UC San Diego Medical School. Upshot: We interact with each other a lot. 

3. Holistic review

We care about your research interests and experience - not just your grades and GRE scores . If you have an undergraduate degree and a strong track record of research experience , we want to hear from you ( no previous master’s training is required ) . Sure, we'll look at the numbers, but we're much more interested in your research training and your match to our program. Reach out to us individually and we'll help you figure out whether UC San Diego is the right place for you. 

4. New faces

This year all of our labs are accepting students, but we're especially excited to consider graduate student applicants for our newest labs. New faculty members accepting students include Chujun Lin ,  Dhananjay Bambah-Mukku , and Nadia Brashier . These faculty study topics including social cognition, person perception, computational modeling, neurobiology of social behavior, molecular analysis of neural circuits, and memory and misinformation across the adult lifespan. These, and other faculty, can be checked out here .

5. We're happier

UC San Diego isn't just a productive place to do a PhD. It's a happy place, too. Year-round outdoor meetings. A 5 minute walk to the beach. Cycling, hiking, surfing, and just feeling the warm sun on your face all year round.

To apply to our program, please visit our admissions page for details. The application deadline for Fall 2024 admission is December 6th, 2023.   

Please contact any of us for details on our labs, the application process, or life in San Diego; contact information can be found on our Department website as well as individual lab websites. If you apply, we'll connect you to current PhD students to talk about their experience, who can help you decide which lab is best for you and your interests.

Program Emphases

The Department of Psychology at the UC San Diego, provides advanced training in research in core subfields of Experimental Psychology. Having modern laboratories, an attractive physical setting, and distinguished faculty, both within the Department of Psychology and in supporting disciplines, provides research opportunities and training at the frontiers of psychological science. Our graduate training program emphasizes and supports individual research, starting with the first year of study.

The Department offers the following emphases:

• Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience

Graduate students in the psychology doctoral program may also expand their degree and apply to enroll in interdisciplinary PhD programs after being accepted into our program.

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Search Scholarships, Grants and Awards

Welcome to APF’s new Program Match Tool! Below you will find a full listing of APF programs ordered by application deadline. Use the dropdowns to narrow your search based on eligibility, topic, sponsor, or program type, or search for a specific program! Please note that programs for which the current funding year deadline has passed will not appear in the search.

Visit our program FAQs for more information on completing your applications. If you have questions about a program or submitting your application, use our contact form to get in touch.

Want to stay up to date on all of our upcoming funding deadlines? Sign up for our Upcoming Funding Opportunities Newsletter below!

Health, Brain, and Cognition Lab

Persistence pays: successful applicant to a clinical psychology phd. program tells what it’s like.

In the Voss lab, we have a diverse range of graduate students earning a PhD in either Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroscience, or like our newest graduate student addition Liam, in Clinical Science. Applying to a PhD program can be incredibly confusing as the process varies depending on the program type and the specific school. For the sake of this post, I will be focusing on the application process to clinical psychology (aka clinical science) programs specifically. 

Clinical psychology PhD programs are unique as they can produce individuals who conduct research, practice as a clinician, or do a little bit of both in a multitude of settings. This is unlike a Master’s program where the training is much shorter and allows graduates to practice just as a clinician or requires additional training in a PhD program to be able to conduct research. Further, PsyD programs are similar to PhD programs, however they differ as their primary focus is on clinical practice and typically produce sole clinicians. The combination of training to reach expert levels in both clinical work and research conduction is specific to clinical psychology programs. 

Clinical psychology programs are rigorous and commonly last 6 years where 5 years are a combination of classes, clinical work, research, and working on and defending your dissertation. The 6 th year is spent ‘on internship’ where an in-depth clinical training experience, typically at a different institution, takes place. It is common to find clinical psychologists in academic medical centers, hospitals, colleges, or universities, primary or secondary education schools, and private practices. Whether conducting research in a laboratory setting or working with patients in a clinical setting, clinical psychologists typically work in the realm of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in a range of individuals (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). 

Each program will provide students with clinical and research training, but each program has its own training model: some schools emphasize research relatively more than clinical training, clinical over research, or have an even split between the two. Deciding where to apply typically depends on one’s career goals. When applying, the applicant technically first must meet the requirements of the program although they are more so applying to a specific lab within the program. The options of where to apply can be limited depending on the application cycle as: 1) the school must have a clinical psychology training program, 2) the lab one is interested in needs to be accepting a student (labs do not take a student every year, typically due to funding), and 3) the lab should ideally fit with the applicant’s prior experiences and/or research interests. In my experience, I have seen clinical programs report receiving anywhere from 300-800 applications. The number of applications a program receives is the cumulative number of applications each lab at the school receives that year. On average, I have seen schools report taking cohort sizes of around 8-12 students. Typically, specific labs say that they receive at least 100 applications and usually have spots for only 1 or 2 students. Averaging these numbers makes a 1.8% chance of being accepted into a program and about a 1% chance of being accepted into a specific lab (this is the number that matters as you have to be accepted into a lab to be in the program). 

The application process can be expensive costing anywhere from $30 to more than $100 per application. In my experience, individuals apply to upwards of 8-12 schools but I have heard of individuals applying to as many as 20 schools in a given application cycle. Additionally, with the odds of being admitted into a program being so low, it is typical to not get accepted the first or even second time applying to programs, making repeat applicants common. To be as competitive as possible it is recommended (not required) to have postbaccalaureate research experience. Typically, you need to be in this position long enough to produce independent research projects to present as a poster or an oral presentation at national or international conferences. Additionally, it is common to see individuals with first author publications. Getting these experiences typically takes 2+ years with substantial time dedicated to research. 

Filling out applications is not a streamlined process. Each program has its own unique application form. In addition to asking for basic information such as your name, address, schools attended, classes taken, GPA, etc., it is standard for programs to ask for transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation (at least one is expected to be written by the supervisor of a lab you worked in or supervisors from clinical experience), a curriculum vitae, and perhaps the most important piece, the personal statement. 

The personal statement is typically 2-3 pages where you explain  why  you are interested in earning a PhD in clinical psychology,  what   area of research you’d like to pursue,  why   you are applying to this particular program and lab, and  how  your past experiences fit this narrative. This is perhaps the most important part of the application process, and it can take months to come up with a final draft. This statement typically has slightly different requirements per school and certainly needs to be unique to the lab you are applying to. This is an opportunity to convince the lab that you have experiences that relate to their work and offer a unique perspective that wins you an interview. For this reason, it is good to identify programs you are most interested in early, being the summer and the fall before you apply, so that you can reach out to the lab and the program. This ensures the lab you are interested in is taking a student this cycle and to assess your fit.

I personally found it impactful to email early, keep it short by briefly mentioning who I work with, my career goals, the broad scope of my projects, what I hope to do in graduate school in relation to their lab specifically, and find a way to include a fact that will help them remember me! For example, for one of the labs I ended up interviewing with, I mentioned how I am familiar with their work as the Voss Lab modified one of their cognitive computer tasks that I know well as I have administered and scored it. 

Typical due dates for clinical psychology applications are either November 15 th or December 1 st . Once materials are submitted, schools will reach out within a month or two. At this point, more and more labs are conducting ‘preliminary interviews’ where you ‘interview’ to get a spot for the official interview day, which can be virtual or in person. 

Given you are lucky enough to be offered a spot at one program or a few, it is time to decide if their stipend, program, research, location, etc. will be something you are happy with for at least 5 years. If you do not get any offers, it is time to decide if you want to go through this again and if so, start preparing for next year. 

As a multi-time applicant, I believe I made the biggest impact on my application in between the 2022 and 2023 application cycle (the most recent cycle). Everyone’s journey into a PhD program is unique and there is no one correct way to get in, which can be frustrating. In my personal experience the accomplishments that were most positively commented on by interviewers were: my diversified lab experiences, my submitted co-first author paper, giving a presentation at a high-profile conference in my field, submitting my first grant (National Science Foundation- Graduate Research Fellowship Program), and my plethora of experiences with research participants and clinical populations. Lastly, my network of individuals who are currently in PhD programs, are in the field of clinical psychology or related fields, or those who are just great at writing, has grown. Because of this, I was able to receive numerous different perspectives on how to best convey my experiences in a persuasive, clear, and professional way. I cannot thank all of the participants, patients, mentors, friends, and family enough who have supported me in my journey of applying to PhD programs!

Kelsey Baller has recently been accepted into the clinical psychology PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish, she has worked as a post-baccalaureate research assistant at the Health, Brain, and Cognition Lab for the past three years.

Educational Psychology: Counseling Psychology PhD

UWM’s PhD specialization in Counseling Psychology follows a scientist-practitioner model that integrates theory, practice and research to give you the scientific knowledge and skills needed to work with multicultural populations across diverse settings.

Our program sets up students for success. Placement rates for our graduates is 100%, and 87% of our graduates are licensed psychologists in various states.

Program Type

Program format, why choose our program.

• Commitment to diversity: In 2013, the Department of Educational Psychology won the American Psychological Association’s prestigious Bersoff Presidential Cultural Award for its success in recruiting and graduating doctoral students from racial/ethnic minorities as well as other countries.
• Location: We’re located in the state’s economic, cultural and career capital, just 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee and 90 minutes from Chicago.
• Career prep: Since 2008, 88% of our counseling students were matched in internships, compared with the national average of 80%. Most years, it’s 100%.
• Research: Work alongside internationally known faculty as an integral member of their research teams. You may have the opportunity to present your work at national conferences.

Our PhD students are expected to conduct research and to advance the science of counseling psychology through scholarly inquiry. You’ll learn how to apply your scientific knowledge using qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Our program, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association through 2029, will prepare you to work as a counseling psychologist in a variety of settings, including universities, hospitals, mental health clinics and private practice.

Note: Due to pending and recent retirements, and funding restrictions that prevent post baccalaureate students from serving as teaching assistants, most faculty will not consider admitting students for 2024 and into the Fall 2024 semester who do not already have a master’s degree.

Counseling Psychology Handbook

For additional information about the program, see the  Counseling Psychology PhD Program Handbook (PDF) .

Student Data

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data (PDF)

We will assign you a temporary advisor when you are admitted to the program. Once you enter the program, you are free to choose a new advisor who will be the chair of your dissertation committee, or continue with your assigned advisor.

Stipends for teaching or research assistantships at or above 33% time include tuition remission. Stipend salaries vary according to type of assistantship (e.g. teaching, research) and type of student (doctoral, dissertator). For an academic year (nine month) appointment for 2023, stipends are $15,000 for 50% time assistantships and $9,900 for 33% time assistantships.

The following table indicates the type of support given to each cohort of students for the 2022-23 academic year. Assistantships are allocated based on availability of positions, with priority given to first year students, then second year students, and then third year. Students in the counseling psychology program have successfully applied for assistantships in other schools and colleges. After the third year in the program, students are strongly encouraged to seek assistantships through faculty grants or off-campus sources.

Learn more about the Graduate School’s  current assistantship salary schedules .

Counseling Psychology Student Association

Open to all doctoral students in the Counseling Psychology PhD Program, CPSA focuses on student advocacy, professional development, and socialization/peer-to-peer mentorship. Members are also active at the national level (e.g., ACA, APA, APAGS). We encourage all students to get involved.

Career Resources

• Careers as a Counseling Psychologist
• Society of Counseling Psychology
• American Psychological Association
• Licensing Information

The Graduate School provides a range of  resources for student professional development  on its website.

Program Requirements

If you already have a master’s degree, the program involves three years of coursework, a year of dissertation and a year of internship.

Students are required to take 15 credits of courses toward discipline-specific knowledge (psychological foundations), 18 credits of practicum, 13 credits of statistics and 12-18 credits of courses designed to provide profession-wide competencies as a counseling psychologist (Ethics, Interventions, Advanced Multicultural Counseling, Vocational Psychology, Supervision/Consultation and Research).

In keeping with our scientist-practitioner model, we require all students to participate on a faculty member’s research team for two years, registering for ED PSYCH 838 for 12 credits. Many students participate on more than one faculty member’s team, and most students stay involved in research for the entire four years that they are on campus.

Our program is recognized by the state licensing board, and you will be eligible for licensure as a psychologist once you complete the doctorate and the post-doctoral hours required by the state and successfully pass the national licensing exam and state jurisprudence exam.

Application Process

All applications must be completed fully online through the UWM Graduate School’s Panthera Application System .

You should plan to apply a year before you intend to start. Be sure to pay careful attention to the program’s specific deadline.

Final Deadline for Fall Admission : Final application deadline is  Dec. 1  for Fall admission.

Applicants who are invited for interviews will be notified by early January. Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by mid-February.

• The program requires three letters of recommendation. These letters must be submitted through the application’s electronic recommendation feature by the recommenders themselves. Letters uploaded or sent by the applicant will not be accepted.
• Applicants are also required to submit a writing sample completed within the last five years.

• Associate Professor , Educational Psychology
• Program Director , School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS
• [email protected]
• Enderis Hall 791

• University Distinguished Professor , Educational Psychology
• Mary and Ted Kellner Endowed Chair of Educational Psychology , Educational Psychology
• Program Director , Counseling Psychology, PhD
• [email protected]
• 414-251-8328
• Enderis Hall 773

• Assistant Professor , Educational Psychology
• [email protected]
• Enderis Hall 789

• [email protected]
• 414-251-7057
• Enderis Hall 793

• [email protected]
• Enderis Hall 729

• Professor , Educational Psychology
• [email protected]
• Enderis Hall 753

Kelsey Autin, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Florida Dr. Autin’s research interests include how people find fulfillment in their occupations and how this relates to overall well-being. Within this, she focuses on how people’s identities along with their sociopolitical contexts shape their beliefs about their freedom of work choice and barriers to obtaining decent work.

Nadya A. Fouad, PhD, ABPP, University Distinguished Professor and Mary and Ted Kellner Endowed Chair of Educational Psychology University of Minnesota Dr. Fouad’s research interests include cross-cultural vocational assessment, career development, interest measurement, role of race and social class in development, and cross-cultural counseling. Dr. Fouad is board certified in counseling psychology, and a licensed psychologist in the State of Wisconsin. *Note : Dr. Fouad is not taking on any new doctoral advisees at this time.

Xu Li, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Maryland, College Park Dr. Li’s research interests include (1) the process and outcome of individual and group psychotherapy, particularly in cross-cultural and multicultural contexts, (2) the development and training of therapists and the measurement of therapist competency, and (3) the career development and mental health of college students. With a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences, Dr. Li is keenly interested in exploring the use of advanced and novel quantitative methods in counseling psychology research.

Ankita Nikalje, PhD, Assistant Professor Purdue University Dr. Nikalje’s research focuses on systemic issues within the South Asian diaspora and their impact on lived experiences and mental health. She is particularly passionate about the issue of casteism and how caste discrimination continues to be experienced on an institutional, interpersonal and internalized level outside of South Asia. She has theorized Caste Critical Theory (CasteCRIT) and is developing instruments to measure the impact of caste in the diaspora. Similarly, her research also focuses on the impact of colonization, especially as it relates to internalized colonization or colonial mentality among South Asians.

Leah Rouse, PhD, Associate Professor and Electa Quinney Scholar University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Rouse’s research interests include trauma psychology, suicidology and mental health issues facing corrections, EMS and military populations, as well as cancer patients, survivors and their families, and American Indian communities. She works from a qualitative and Indigenous framework in research and practice. Dr. Rouse is board certified in counseling psychology, and a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin.

Stephen R. Wester, PhD, ABPP, Professor University of Florida Dr. Wester’s research interests include male gender role conflict, multicultural expressions of masculinity, gender and emotion, and counseling men, as well as the training of counseling psychologists and counseling supervision. Dr. Wester is board certified in counseling psychology, as well as a licensed psychologist in Wisconsin.

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Nearly two dozen graduate programs at USF considered among the best in America

• April 9, 2024

University News

By Althea Johnson , University Communications and Marketing

The University of South Florida is home to nearly two dozen graduate programs considered among the best in America, according to new rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. USF features 23 graduate programs ranked inside the top 100 among all public and private institutions, including 11 ranked in the top 50.

USF’s highest-ranked programs are industrial and organizational psychology at No. 3, criminology at No. 18 and audiology, which comes in at No. 22. 

Among USF Health’s ranked programs, nursing anesthesia jumped 58 spots into the top 50, the physical therapy program rose by double digits to No. 33 and the nursing master’s program now sits in the top 25 at No. 24. 

In addition, USF’s social work and part-time MBA programs both saw double-digit gains and the education program broke into the top 50.  

“We are thrilled that many University of South Florida graduate programs are included among the nation’s best in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings,” USF President Rhea Law said. “This recognition underscores the commitment of our faculty and staff, who continue to provide high-quality programs that empower our students to enhance their skills, expand their knowledge and progress in their careers by earning an advanced degree.”

Full list of USF’s top 50 programs:

Industrial and Organizational Psychology* – 3 Criminology* – 18 Audiology – 22 Nursing – Master’s – 24 Library and Information Studies* – 27 Public Health – 29 Physical Therapy – 33 Nursing – Doctor of Nursing Practice – 34 Nursing – Anesthesia – 36 Rehabilitation Counseling* – 46 Education – Overall – 48

Full list of USF’s 51-100 programs:

Healthcare Management*– 52 Speech-Language Pathology – 52 Business ‐ Part‐time MBA – 53 Earth Sciences* – 54 Pharmacy – 60 Physician's Assistant/Associate Studies* – 65 Fine Arts* – 73 Social Work – 83  Statistics* – 86  Business – Full-time MBA – 87  Sociology* – 92 Psychology* – 97  

As U.S. News does not release new rankings for every program, every year, rankings denoted with an asterisk have been republished this year. U.S News also announced that medical, engineering and clinical psychology school rankings will be released at a later date. 

According to U.S. News, rankings are generated through “ranking indicators” derived from reputation and/or data reported by each institution.  For some programs, U.S. News evaluates key areas such as expert opinions in the field, opportunities for student engagement, resources for student support and career success, as well as faculty and student performance, in terms of existing credentials, research impact and metrics such as student job placement.

In addition to the graduate program rankings, in September 2023 U.S. News ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for the fifth consecutive year , and the university earned its highest ranking ever among all universities public or private. 

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 08 April 2024

How we landed job interviews for professorships straight out of our PhD programmes

• Violeta Rodriguez 0 &
• Qimin Liu 1

Violeta Rodriguez is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Qimin Liu is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University in Massachusetts.

By staying organized in their job hunt, both authors received several job offers. Credit: Getty

We met during the last year of our PhD training, after securing placements at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Psychiatry for our predoctoral internships — the final step of our clinical doctoral programmes. V. R. came from the University of Georgia in Athens and was pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology, and Q. L. came from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and was working towards a PhD in clinical science and quantitative methods. It was amid the academic rigour and personal stress of the last year of our programmes that we became friends. We bonded over being immigrants and not speaking English as our first language while navigating the complexities of academia. We both wanted to forgo postdoctoral training and instead immediately become junior professors. Now, we’re assistant professors: V. R. is at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Q. L. is at Boston University in Massachusetts.

The odds we faced in the academic job market had seemed insurmountable, particularly to immigrants, and we had been cautioned by mentors and even junior faculty members about the challenge ahead. But we succeeded: we received a combined total of 27 in-person interviews, leading to 15 tenure-track assistant-professor offers across departments of psychology, paediatrics or psychiatry, schools of education and academic medical centres. (You can check out our hints for nailing job interviews in our other article .)

How to move labs

Despite the positive outcome, the process was stressful, fast and unpredictable. Our friendship became a sanctuary: amid the daunting job market and our own self-doubt, we understood and encouraged each other. We want to offer what our friendship provided us — understanding, support and encouragement — to researchers hoping to stay in academia after earning a PhD, so we are sharing our reflections and insights.

We must first make clear: no amount of job-search tips and tricks can substitute for good science and a strong publication record. To gauge our readiness, we looked up the CV of the most recent hire in each department that we applied to. We also made sure we had backup offers of postdoctoral positions. While navigating this process, we learnt that institutions were interested in candidates who planned to pursue external funding.

Qimin Liu is now an assistant professor. Credit: Qimin Liu

We had both obtained federal and private funding before — making us more competitive. We urge aspiring professors to prioritize their research contributions, external fellowship and grant applications and academic achievements above all.

To readers who’ve successfully navigated this process, many of our reflections and insights could seem obvious. However, this kind of advice can be the hardest to follow during a fast-moving job hunt, with several moving pieces involved and new considerations and job offers or advertisements emerging unexpectedly. Treat this as a checklist before beginning to fill out job applications.

Tips and tricks

Start your search early. Allow ample time to prepare for the job hunt; research potential options, such as jobs in academic medical centres, standard department positions or tenure-track jobs in related fields; and submit applications. Plan to reply to job ads long before the first deadline. Starting early gives you time to collect and incorporate feedback from mentors and colleagues.

Training: Free course on peer review

Prepare your networks. The academic job market can be unpredictable, with opportunities emerging unexpectedly. It is important to think about who can write letters for you — sometimes at short notice. Most of our applications required three letters of recommendation from all applicants. Others requested letters from only shortlisted candidates.

Plan ahead. The final drafts of materials took, on average, one to two months in total to prepare and polish. The initial drafts took about 8 hours, and the research statement required a total of 16 hours. (The research statement summarizes your research programme, the work you’ve done so far and what you plan to pursue in future. It can also highlight why a particular institution is well-suited to support your work.) Preparing drafted statements in advance made it easier to adapt them to different positions later — tweaking materials for specific positions took 30–60 minutes per application.

Research potential job opportunities. Don’t just rely on word-of-mouth or googling specific positions to find things you’re interested in applying to. Use online job boards (such as HigherEdJobs or Nature Careers ), and tap into your professional network by sending e-mails or LinkedIn messages to your mentors and colleagues, letting them know you’re on the job market. Scour social media and department websites to find available positions. We both posted on X (formerly Twitter) that we were job hunting, and several people reached out with opportunities.

Develop job application ‘templates’. Create a set of well-crafted templates for your application materials, such as cover letters and statements, on which you can easily fill in your name, relevant details and where you’ve previously worked. Having adaptable documents allowed us to respond quickly to new postings.

Tailor your application materials. Templates can take you only so far. Take the time to customize your application materials, including your CV, cover letter (each of ours was one page long) and research statement, to highlight your relevant skills, experiences and research contributions. Tailoring your materials to each position demonstrates genuine interest and increases your chances of standing out to hiring committees. Generic applications are easy for hiring managers to reject. Mentioning centres or institutes that align with your research; available resources, such as early-career programmes, that you want to take advantage of; and the names of people whom you are interested in working with can help to personalize your application materials.

Stay organized. Maintain a well-organized system to track application deadlines, requirements and submission statuses. Be ready to remind your letter writers to submit their recommendations. Keep a calendar or spreadsheet to ensure that all required materials are submitted on time and to track when to follow up. An example spreadsheet is provided below.

Practise for interviews and job talks. Run mock interviews with your peers or mentors. Practise answering common interview questions and develop concise, compelling responses that highlight your expertise, teaching abilities and fit. Treat these seriously — you’re likely to be nervous in the real interview, so try to recreate that while rehearsing, perhaps by inviting a relatively unknown colleague or professor to join the practice runs. V. R. recorded her job talk on Zoom and sent it to others for feedback.

Practising your job talk — a presentation of your academic research that is often a spoken version of your research statement — until you know it backwards and forwards will prepare you for the unexpected. In addition, rehearsing how you plan to respond to different questions, and practising saying that you want people to hold their questions until the end, can be helpful.

Prepare a start-up budget to get your lab running. Many academic positions include a start-up fund for incoming faculty members. It is typically used for summer salary and staffing or research costs. You might be asked for an estimated budget before, during or after the interview stage — so you should have one ready in advance. When preparing your budget, keep in mind the spending norms at the institution and for your discipline. Ask for more than you think you need, because this amount will often be reduced during negotiations.

As we look back on our job-hunting experiences, we are reminded of how much we grew in this process, in ways that are not related to just our jobs — and this growth continued in our interviews .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01044-1

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged .

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UNC-Chapel Hill graduate programs ranked among best in nation

U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Graduate Schools” list named multiple Carolina graduate degree programs in the top 10, including UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at No. 1.

Numerous UNC-Chapel Hill graduate programs received high rankings – 20 were among the top 10 in the nation in their respective categories – as part of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” list.

For the third time in a row (2016, 2020 and 2024), UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is the top pharmacy school in the U.S. The rankings are based on a survey of peers from accredited pharmacy schools across the country and are published every four years.

The Gillings School of Global Public Health was ranked second out of 213 schools and programs of public health in the U.S. for the seventh consecutive rankings period. The Gillings School has also maintained its position as the top public school of public health and has been ranked among the top schools and programs of public health by U.S. News since the magazine first ranked public health schools in 1987. U.S. News & World Report does not rank all graduate programs each year.

“Carolina’s graduate programs are exceptional, and it’s no surprise that our schools are ranked so highly among peer institutions by U.S. News and World Report, as well as other measures,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Interim Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Carolina is always proud to be recognized for our dedication to a world-class education. Every one of our graduate programs contributes to making us the leading public research university.”

Altogether, 23 programs increased their rankings, including multiple programs in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Education, Kenan-Flagler Business School and UNC School of Law.

“These rankings represent the hard work of our faculty, staff and students who are dedicated to moving Carolina forward through their incredible efforts each day,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Provost Chris Clemens. “It is gratifying to see this public recognition of their commitment to the mission of our graduate programs in research, teaching and public service. Even more than in the rankings, the proof of their work is the quality of our students and our passionate alumni who lead in so many fields.”

The School of Social Work moved up three spots in the latest rankings to a tie for fourth overall and is tied for second among public universities.

This year marks the first time since U.S. News & World Report began ranking law schools in 1987 that UNC School of Law has reached No. 20 out of 196 law schools. The UNC School of Law is also the seventh-ranked public law school.

Additional UNC-Chapel Hill rankings for 2024 follow.

Please note: Not all graduate programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report every year. For a complete list of rankings for UNC-Chapel Hill, visit the U.S. News & World Report website .

UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

Gillings school of global public health.

• First public, second overall

Specialty Areas

• Health Behavior, second
• Biostatistics, third
• Epidemiology, third
• Health Policy and Management, fourth
• Environmental Health Science, eighth

School of Social Work

• Tied for fourth

School of Nursing

• Nursing Schools, Master’s Programs, tied for eighth
• Nursing Schools – DNP Programs, tied for 17th
• Nursing Master’s, Administration/Management, fourth
• Nursing Master’s, Nurse Practitioner: Psychiatric/Mental Health, fourth
• Nursing Master’s, Nurse Practitioner: Family, tied for sixth
• Nursing DNP, Psychiatric/Mental Health, third
• Nursing DNP, Family, tied for sixth

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

• Tied for 20th
• Real Estate, ninth
• Accounting, tied for 13th
• Executive MBA, 14th
• Management, 16th
• Production Operations, 16th
• Finance, 20th
• Marketing, tied for 25th

UNC School of Education

• Tied for 25th
• Special Education, tied for 13th
• Elementary Teacher Education, tied for 14th
• Educational Psychology, tied for 15th
• Education Policy, tied for 16th
• Secondary Teacher Education, tied for 17th
• Educational Administration, tied for 17th
• Curriculum and Instruction, tied for 22nd

College of Arts and Sciences

Computer science.

• Overall, 27th

Public Affairs

• Overall, 39th (Master of Public Policy)

As part of the public affairs category, U.S. News and World Report ranked Carolina programs and specialty areas based in the School of Government and the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of public policy.

School of Government

• Public Affairs, 23rd (Master of Public Administration)
• Local Government Management, second
• Leadership, 10th
• Public Finance, 18th

UNC School of Law

• Legal Writing, tied for 20th
• Criminal Law, tied for 20th
• Tax Law, tied for 20th
• Business/Corporate Law, tied for 22nd
• Clinical Training, tied for 23rd
• Contracts/Commercial Law, 23rd
• Health Care Law, tied for 28th
• Constitutional Law, tied for 29th
• Environmental Law, tied for 45th
• International Law, tied for 52nd
• Intellectual Property Law, tied for 53rd
• Trial Advocacy, tied for 118th

UNC School of Medicine (additional Rankings will be available at a later date)

• Audiology, tied for third
• Occupational Therapy, fifth
• Physical Therapy, 11th
• Speech Language Pathology, 12th

School of Education students networked in Raleigh with representatives from 11 state agencies.

Global studies scholar aspires to diplomacy

After earning a master’s degree, Kat Goodpaster became assistant director of Carolina’s Russian Flagship Program.

Public Service Awards go to 7 people, 2 groups

The Carolina Center for Public Service honored work on health disparities, refugee aid and more.

Broadway writer brings new comedy to PlayMakers

Fresh off the debut of her musical adaptation of “The Notebook,” Bekah Brunstetter ’04 will debut “The Game” in Chapel Hill.

Arts Everywhere Day set for April 12

The eighth annual campus-wide event celebrates artists creating in all mediums.

Are you ready to run, hide and fight/defend?

Active Shooter and Critical Incident Response training customizes emergency preparedness to your workspace.

EcoStudio matches Tar Heels with internships

Since 2018, the program has helped 466 students explore careers in environment and sustainability.

Morrison Art Studio provides place to create

In this video, learn how one student uses this residence hall space to pursue her passion outside the classroom.

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Is a Psychology Degree Worth It?

Know before you read At SNHU, we want to make sure you have the information you need to make decisions about your education and your future—no matter where you choose to go to school. That's why our informational articles may reference careers for which we do not offer academic programs, along with salary data for those careers. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

If you're interested in the human mind, you might want to pursue a psychology degree. But you may also be wondering how you might use a psychology degree and if it’ll be worth it in the end.

Can a Psychology Degree Be Useful?

There are a few different types of psychology degrees  you may consider pursuing, depending on your interests and career goals.

A few of those include:

• Associate of Arts (AA) in Psychology (Not currently offered at SNHU)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
• Master of Science (MS) in Psychology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD-PSY) (Not currently offered at SNHU)
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) (Not currently offered at SNHU)

Dr. Leslie Buddington , an online adjunct psychology instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), suggested a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology  degree if you’d like to apply psychology concepts to the workplace.

Although there are several different areas you can focus on, most psychology programs have some common skills you can learn.

According to Buddington, while pursuing a psychology degree, you may learn about:

• Applying research
• Conducting experiments
• Data analysis and research methods
• Individual differences
• Making measurable changes in an environment  
• Social justice and inequities  

“Those are incredible skills that are useful in any future career,” said Buddington.

Many employers look for individuals with those kinds of skills, across a variety of fields. According to Buddington, psychology is a well-rounded field that demonstrates that you understand people, how situations contribute to behavior, how to predict and change behaviors and how to apply that information in order to make changes to a system. “That is going to help you stand out as a job candidate in multiple careers," she said.

Exploring experiential learning opportunities  can help you to stand out even further, providing real-world experience while you're a student. Buddington noted that you can also work with your school's career center to find an internship.  “An internship or experiential learning opportunity is definitely worthwhile to pursue," she said.

Find Your Program

How hard is a psychology degree.

"Because in psychology there are multiple perspectives (cognitive, developmental, behavioral, evolutionary and so forth), there is often no one ‘correct’ answer,” said Buddington. “Sometimes the fact that an answer is not just black or white doesn’t fit with how some people think.”

Buddington also said that students can sometimes be surprised by the amount of statistics and research work a psychology program involves.

The course load and program requirements may vary from school to school. Taking the time to research and ask questions about the programs you’re interested in can give you a better idea of what to expect while pursuing a psychology degree.

“I don’t necessarily think a psychology degree is hard, but it can sometimes be different from what you are expecting,” said Buddington.

Is a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Worth It?

Buddington said that a BA in Psychology can allow you to work in many careers. Some options you may consider include:

• Data analysis
• Human resources
• Law enforcement
• Sports coaching

“I think because the principles you are learning apply to people, situations, behavior, society, as well as data analysis, they are universal skills that are needed across multiple career fields,” said Buddington.

And the reasons for entering this field of study are just as varied.

With her degree, Molinari hopes to work at a healthcare organization. She wants to help anyone who needs discretion, empathy and care, such as those transitioning or those who don’t have healthcare.

“I would just like to lend a helping hand to anybody who needs it,” she said.

A psychology degree can also help you to change careers.

“I always had an interest in the human mind,” said Parker. Psychology was the obvious choice when choosing his major.

After working 14-hour shifts, traveling all over the country, he would start doing his schoolwork. Since earning his degree, he now works as an HR business partner.

“It’s amazing, the job opportunities you can get with a psychology degree,” said Parker.

Is a Master of Science in Psychology Worth It?

“With an MS in Psychology, you are able to concentrate more fully on a field,” said Buddington.  

You might become a therapist or forensic psychologist, according to Buddington. She said that a master’s degree may also allow you to teach at some community colleges.

Parker said that his degree has already opened doors for him, including the opportunity to pursue further education. He’s currently enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at SNHU. (SNHU is not currently enrolling new students in the graduate counseling program.)

“My ultimate goal is to go back into drug and alcohol counseling, try to help people who suffer with addiction,” he said.

Are Psychologists in Demand?

“Post-pandemic there is more need than ever for psychologists,” said Buddington.

Becoming a psychologist typically requires a master's degree or higher, and licensing requirements vary by state. BLS predicts that job growth for psychologists will grow by 6% through 2032.*

“Teletherapy allows more individuals to have access to therapy that they otherwise may not have had,” said Buddington.

For example, people living in rural areas might not have therapists available nearby. Teletherapy allows those individuals to have access to therapy, said Buddington. “The fact that you can become teletherapy certified is an equity and inclusion triumph,” she said.

Like most fields, psychology is open to more diverse and inclusive perspectives. A psychology degree can provide you with the ability to better understand those from different backgrounds from you.

According to a study on diverse populations by the American Psychiatric Association, people from racial or ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care ( American Psychiatric Association PDF Source ). Some factors contributing to this include:

• Lack of diversity among mental health providers
• Language barriers
• Mental health stigma

Psychologists with unique cultural perspectives can help more people to feel understood.

A degree can change your life. Find the SNHU psychology program  that can best help you meet your career goals.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Ashleigh Worley '22 is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

Explore more content like this article

SNHU Spotlight: Tiffany Daniels, Psychology Instructor

How to Become a Social Worker

What is Political Science All About?

About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.