Transform your professional practice
Ready to elevate your expertise in helping children, youth, adults and families?
Our integrated approach blends evidence-based assessment and intervention with real-world application. This ensures you understand human behavior across professional, educational and clinical settings. You’ll conduct impactful research with knowledge of how cultural and individual factors influence psychological health across various populations.
The 72 semester-credit-hour doctoral curriculum builds on your existing knowledge with advanced coursework in neuropsychology, statistics and clinical research. You'll complete six hours of practicum, six hours of internship and nine hours of dissertation work.
No master's? No problem.
If your current highest degree is a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field, our post-baccalaureate path is built for you. With 99 semester-credit-hours, coursework in this degree plan includes cognitive development, neuroscience, advanced assessment and therapeutic techniques. Your training culminates in nine hours of practicum, six hours of internship and nine hours of dissertation work.
Clinical training and research
Your education extends beyond the classroom through hands-on clinical and field-based experiences. You’ll work with supervisors in individual and small-group settings to refine your professional practice. Access to specialized facilities such as the School Psychology Assessment Center and the Human Neuroscience Laboratory will support your research goals.
Note: You are expected to join professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists throughout your enrollment.
Applying to the school and health services psychology doctoral program
To be eligible for consideration into the program, you must:
- meet the SFA Graduate School requirements
- have at least the minimum overall GPA:
- If you have completed graduate coursework: 3.25 GPA or higher
- post-baccalaureate candidates: 3.0 GPA or higher
- and be one of the following:
- in your final year of undergraduate work
- holding a degree in psychology or closely-related field from a regionally accredited college or university
- or have 95 or more semester hours of undergraduate work at SFA and be approved as an overlap student.
Ready to complete your application?
- Apply to the Graduate School and submit your official transcripts.
- Submit the following to the program coordinator by March 1 for Fall enrollment:
- your current curriculum vitae with previous degrees and experiences in the fields of psychology and education
- three professional references
- essay that tells the story of your life and your character. Focused on two main things:
- Who you are today: How have your life experiences shaped you into the kind of person who will succeed as a school or professional psychologist?
- Your journey and goals: What challenges have you faced (social, educational, cultural, or economic) and how did you overcome them to reach your current point? What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Selected applicants will participate in a livestream interview with the school psychology committee.
See curriculum
Curriculum requirementsIs the GRE required?
No.
Is this an on-campus program? How long does it take?
Yes. It's a full-time residential program.
You're encouraged to complete the program within five years.
What are the program acceptance rates?
We accept 8-10 students per year.
Overall enrollment: 35-42 students.
What is the capstone?
Dissertation
Questions?
Get in touch! We're here to help.
Department of Allied Health Studies
Norton HPE Complex, Suite 204